Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1814-04-16

This scriptures are the great mean Us.
I'd by God for the reformation Of the
world Whence their origin, or how
hey came into our possession are en.
anIeies oil the hrst importance. When
Messiah appeared on earth, the Kiss-
tom If Heaven was a, hand, but before
il could commence it was necessary that
be should die, and rising again from the
dead, should sit down On the right band
of the Majesty o. high Things were
faen in train 10 introduce chaages In
the church advantageous in high de-
gree to men of that and oil every sue
cseding age. John the Baptist ronsca
the nstion to repentance and to amend.
meng of life his ministry was followed
by the ministry of Jesus, who spoke As
no man had ever spoken, Uao wrought
astonishing miracles, particularly, who
from among his disciplesselected fs0elue
whom he ordained, % fhat tEey shonts
be nth him and that he might Send them
forth to hreach." When the selection
now made--thcir present preparation
and future work are kn' wn, the evidence
may with more effect be produced. that
the scriptures which they were inspired
10 write, contain an uBerrlipg rule OF
faith and manners.
In the selection now made Simon, cal.
led also Peter, rock, expressive OF MS
possessing firm and rcsoluts mind, is
frsf mentioned with his brother Andrew.
Let it not be supposed because Peter is
FIRST mentioned that be Sas destined to
DO chief. Thi. was not estimated by
cur Lord, it was never claimed by Peter,
nor acknowledg cd BY any of the twelve.
Contentious about superiority they OF.
ten had, which their Lord always silehc-
ed, declaring that they vere brethren,
on an equality, having one master only,
their master in Heaven.
Jawss and jain the sons Of Zebedee
were men OF ardent minds, which was
the occasion Of their being called Bean
erges. or Sons OF ,aunder. Those were
the disciples who wished to call Tor
FIRE from Heaven 10 Consume the lahos-
piiabla mari,sn., who prevailed with
their mother to interceed thatthey might
sit the6one on The righ hand the Other 90
the left, in Chrisr's Kingnm. John
was peculiarlr susceptibleof friendship:
he loved his Lord with glowing Aztec
tion, and The affection was mutual, a cir
Sumstance which attaches to his name
upfading honor. James by the warmth
of HE testimony to the ristn Saviour,
incurred tho resentment OF Jerod, whom
waen Just entering on the duties of the
Apostolic Office, he''.lew,with the sword.
i Philih was associated wit, Barthola-
meg, who also as is generally supposed
he'd the name of Nathaniel, that Israeli
lie indeed in whom was no guide
Thomas was sent out with Matthew
the publican, the writer of one OF the
Gospels. -
In the list of the Apostles We ind
three sons Of Alpheus, who is also cal
led Cleopas, to whom Christ appeared
after his resurrection in the way to &
maus, and 10 whoa be was knosnin the
breaking Of bread toe wife OF Aiphens
was sister to the Virgin Mary, which is
the reason that their sons we're designa;-
the cd as On, IRIS brethren. Trey were OF
SINE name with some others in this list,
but are easily Disseminated from them
being Of different families. and receiving
additional appropriats sarnan,es.
James one Of the sohs of Alpaeus was
associated With his brother Js.das. This
Ia that james who presided at the as
semhiy which met at Jerusalem, To de-
eide whethether obedience to the Mo-
sale law was to be exacted OF converts
sfom am.ng the GentiIes he was OF
great reputstion among the brethren, Z
v ro.e the epistle which bears his name.
JaHe or Jaaas had also the name OF
Lehbens, which charac;erizes his since-
r;tv, very unlike the other Judus whose
conduct has rendered the uarne even to
: proycce, term Of repsoach.
Their brother S'mon Zeiotes burn
iaS and shining light, was Joined with
.5ndss Iseariot who betrayed Christ, and
by that act became fallen star, which
once shone, bat noz- shines no more.
Most of those found in this last had
been Fishermen none of them were
men of learning: they bad 90 weight IN
society from birth, or rank, or peculiar
en3owments'. but they were SIN
cere honest men, whose minds were ex-
ercised wi,hreligicn: some OF then had
been the DiscipIes oil John the Bsptist;
they had oil attended our Lord from his
onehis public ninistratIens.
They believed him TO be the Messiah,
bot like their countrymen they suppos-
cd that the kingdom which be vas about
to erect was Of this world. Their pre-
;1dicss ssre deap!y rooted. For the I
higs osscs to which they were called, |
they we're at present all totally unquali- |
fed But PREPARATORY sfsse imme-
sistsly commences. He ordained |
,he,. that thsv ntip Hf Be with Aim