Study Desk

after this man, Judas of Galilee appear'd, at the time of the registry, and seduc'd many people: he also perished, and all his followers were dispersed.

but as they were not able to withstand the force of that sublime knowledge which appeared in his discourse,

and all that sat in the council, looking stedfastly on him, saw an air of majesty in his aspect.

thereupon he went out of Chaldea, and dwelt in Charran: from thence, after his father's death, he removed him to this very country where you now dwell.

he gave him no inheritance in it, not even a foot of land: yet he promised to give it to him for a possession, and to his posterity after him, tho' he had then no child.

God declar'd likewise, "that his posterity should sojourn in a strange land, where they should be enslaved and abused four hundred years.

at length he gave him the covenant of circumcision: accordingly Abraham circumcised his son Isaac eight days after he was born, Isaac was father of Jacob, who was father of the twelve patriarchs.

he delivered him out of all his afflictions, and gave him wisdom to become acceptable to Pharaoh king of Egypt; who made him governor of Egypt, and all his houshold.

at the second voyage Joseph discover'd himself to his brethren; and Joseph's kindred were made known to Pharaoh.

after this, Joseph sent to invite his father Jacob to come with all his kindred, being threescore and fifteen persons.

this prince employ'd all his arts against our nation, and persecuted our fathers, by obliging them to expose their young children, in order to extirpate the race.

in which time Moses was born, who was exceeding fair, and nourished in his father's house three months:

at length Moses was instructed in all the sciences of the Egyptians, and had great influence by his counsels and actions.

when he was full forty years old, he took the resolution to visit his brethren the children of Israel.

for he supposed his brethren would have perceiv'd by this, that God design'd to make him the instrument of their deliverance; but they did not perceive it.

but he that did his neighbour the injury repelled Moses, saying, who made thee a ruler and a judge over us?

but he, full of the holy spirit, fix'd his eyes towards heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.

and on his knees he cried with a loud voice, "Lord, lay not this sin to their charge." and having said this, he expired.

and Saul was accessory to his death. At that time the persecution was so violent against the church at Jerusalem, they were all dispers'd through the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles,

and some devout men who carried Stephen to his burial, making great lamentation over him.