the superstitious rites and customs of the Magi, cruelly put to death.

and untractable temper, resolved to take away his life, which they effected by first stoning him, and then severing his head from his body.

ST. MARK.

In the dispersion of the apostles for propagating the gospel in different parts of the world, after our Lord's ascension into heaven, St. Mark was by Peter sent into Egypt, where he soon planted a church in Alexandria, the metropolis; and such was his success, that he converted great multitudes of people, both men and women, to the Christian religion.

St. Jude wrote only one epistle, which is placed the last of those seven styled catholic in the sacred canon. It has no particular inscription, as the other six have, but is thought to have been primarily intended for the Christian Jews in their several dispersions, as were the epistles of the apostle Peter. In it he informs them that he at first intended to have written to them concerning the " common salvation," in order to confirm them in their belief; but, finding the doctrine of Christ attacked on all sides by heretics, he thought it more necessary to exhort them to stand up manfully in St. Mark did not confine himself to Alexdefence of the "faith once delivered to the andria and the Oriental parts of Egypt, but saints," and to oppose those false teachers removed westward to Lybia, passing through who so earnestly labored to corrupt them; the countries of Marmarcia, Pentapolis, and that they might know these the better, and others adjacent, where, though the he describes them in their proper colors, people were both barbarous in their manand foretells their future if not impending ners and idolatrous in their worship, yet by danger; but, at the same time, he endeav- his preaching and miracles he prevailed on ors to exhort them, by all gentle methods, them to embrace the tenets of the gospel; to save them, and to take them "out of the nor did he leave them till he had confirmed fire" into which their own folly had cast them in the faith. them.

It was some time before this epistle was generally received in the church. The author indeed, like St. James, St. John, and sometimes St. Paul, does not call himself an apostle, but only "the servant of Christ." But he has added what is equivalent, Jude "the brother of James, a character which can only belong to himself; and surely the humility of a follower of Christ should be no objection to his writings.

ST. MATTHIAS.

Matthias was one of the seventy disciples whom our blessed Lord made choice of to assist him in the discharge of his public ministry. After his death, Matthias was elected into the apostleship, to supply the place of Judas, who was so struck with remorse at having betrayed his Master, as to put a period to his existence.

After this long tour he returned to Alexandria, where he preached with the greatest freedom, ordered and disposed of the affairs of the church, and wisely provided for a succession by constituting governors and pastors of it. But the restless enemy of the souls of men would not suffer our apostle to continue in peace and quietness; for while he was assiduously laboring in the vineyard of his Master, the idolatrous inhabitants, about the time of Easter, when they were celebrating the solemnities of Serapis, tumultuously seized him, and, binding his feet with cords, dragged him through the streets and over the most craggy places to the Bucelus, a precipice near the sea, leaving him there in a lonesome prison for that night; but his great and beloved Master appeared to him in a vision, comforting and encouraging him under the ruins of his shattered body.

After our Lord's ascension into heaven, Early the next morning the tragedy Matthias spent the first year of his ministry began afresh; and they dragged him about in Judæa, where he was so successful as to in the same cruel and barbarous manner till bring over a prodigious number of people he expired. But their malice did not end to the Christian faith. From Judæa he with his death, for they burned his mangled travelled into other countries, and, proceed- body after they had so inhumanly deprived ing eastward, came at length to Ethiopia. it of life; but the Christians gathered up Here he likewise made many converts; but his bones and ashes, and decently interred the inhabitants in general being of a fierce them near the place where he used to

preach. His remains were afterward, with great pomp, removed from Alexandria to Venice, where they were religiously honored, and he was adopted the titular saint and patron of that state.

He suffered martyrdom on the 25th of April, but the year is not absolutely known; the most probable opinion is that it happened about the end of the reign of Nero.

St. Luke wrote two books for the use of the church; namely his Gospel, and the Acts of the Apostles. Both these he dedicated to Theophilus, which many of the ancients suppose to be a feigned name, denoting a lover of God, a title common to all sincere Christians. But others think it was a real person, because the title of excellent" is attributed to him; which was the usual form of address, in those times, to princes, and other distinguished characters.

most

His Gospel, the only writing he left behind him, was written at the entreaty and His Gospel contains the principal transacearnest desire of the converts at Rome, who, tions of the life of our blessed Redeemer; not content with having heard St. Peter and in his Acts of the Apostles, which it is preach, pressed St. Mark, his disciple, to probable he wrote at Rome about the time of commit to writing an historical account of Paul's imprisonment, are recorded the most what he had delivered to them, which he material actions of the principal apostles, performed with equal faithfulness and brev- especially St. Paul, whose activity in the ity, and being perused and approved by cause of Christ made him bear a very great St. Peter, it was commanded to be pub- part in the labors of his Master; and St. licly read in their assemblies. It was fre- Luke, being his almost constant attendant, quently styled St. Peter's gospel, not be- and privy to his most intimate transactions, cause he dictated it to St. Mark, but because was consequently capable of giving a more the latter composed it from the accounts full and satisfactory account of them than any St. Peter usually delivered in his discourse other of the apostles. to the people. And this is probably the reason of what St. Chrysostom observes, that in his style and manner of expression he delights to imitate St. Peter, representing a great deal in a few words.

ST. LUKE.

The Evangelist St. Luke was a native of Antioch in Syria, and by profession a physician; and it is the general opinion of most ancient historians, that he was also well acquainted with the art of painting.

the

In both these treatises his manner of writing is exact and accurate; his style noble and elegant, sublime and lofty, and yet clear and perspicuous, flowing with an easy and natural grace and sweetness, admirably adapted to an historical design. In short, as an historian he was faithful in his relations, and elegant in his writings; as a minister, careful and diligent for the good of souls; as a Christian, devout and pious; and to crown all the rest, he laid down his life in testimony of the gospel he had both preached and published to the world.

ST. BARNABAS.

After our Lord's ascension into heaven, he spent a great part of his time with St. Paul, whom he accompanied to various places, and greatly assisted in bringing over proselytes After our Lord's ascension into heaven, to the Christian faith. This so endeared him Barnabas continued for a considerable time to that apostle, that he seems delighted with with St. Paul, being his constant attendant owning him for his fellow-laborer, and in wherever he went. He travelled with him calling him "the beloved physician," and to a great variety of places in different parts brother whose praise is in the gospel. " of the world, and was of infinite service in St. Luke preached the gospel with great helping him to propagate the gospel of his success in a variety of places, independent great Lord and Master. At length, howof his assisting St. Paul. He travelled into ever, a dispute arose between them while different parts of Egypt and Greece, in the they were at Antioch, the issue of which latter of which countries the idolatrous priests was, that Barnabas left Paul at Antioch, and were so incensed against him that they put retired to Cyprus, his native country. him to death, which they effected by hanging him on the branch of an olive-tree. The anniversary of his martyrdom is held on the 18th of October.

After this separation from St. Paul, the sacred writings give us no account of St. Barnabas; nor are the ecclesiastical writers agreed among themselves with regard to the

actions of our apostle, after his sailing for to him: and when he was come, and had Cyprus. This, however, seems to be certain, given him an account of the churches of that he did not spend the whole remainder Macedonia, St. Paul sent him back to Thesof his life in that island, but visited different salonica, whence he afterward returned with parts of the world, preaching the glad tid- Silas, and came to St. Paul at Corinth. ings of the gospel, healing the sick, and There he continued with him for some time, working other miracles among the Gentiles. and the apostle mentions him with Silas, at After long and painful travels, attended with the beginning of the two Epistles which he different degrees of success in different then wrote to the Thessalonians. places, he returned to Cyprus, his native country, where he suffered martyrdom in the following manner: certain Jews coming from Syria and Salamis, where Barnabas was then preaching the gospel, being highly exasperated at his extraordinary success, fell upon him as he was disputing in the synagogue, dragged him out, and after the most inhuman tortures, stoned him to death. His kinsman, John Mark, who was a spectator of this barbarous action, privately interred his body in a cave; where it remained till the time of the emperor Zeno, in the year of Christ 485, when it was discovered, with St. Matthew's Gospel, in Hebrew, written with his own hand, lying on his breast.

TIMOTHY.

This great asserter of the cause of Christ was a disciple of St. Paul, and born at Lystra in Lycaonia. His father was a Gentile, but his mother was a Jewess. Her name was Eunice, and that of his grandmother Lois. These particulars are taken notice of, because St. Paul commends their piety, and the good education which they had given Timothy.

Some years after this, St. Paul sent Timothy and Erastus into Macedonia; and gave Timothy orders to call at Corinth, to refresh the minds of the Corinthians with regard to the truths which he had inculcated in them. Some time after, writing to the same Corinthians, he recommends them to take care of Timothy, and send him back in peace; after which Timothy returned to St. Paul into They went Asia, who there staid for him. together into Macedonia; and the apostle puts Timothy's name with his own before the second Epistle to the Corinthians, which he wrote to them from Macedonia, about the middle of the year of Christ 57. And he sends his recommendations to the Romans in the letter which he wrote from Corinth the same year.

When St. Paul returned from Rome, in 64, he left Timothy at Ephesus to take care of that church, of which he was the first bishop, as he is recognized by the council of Chalcedon.

St. Paul wrote to him from Macedonia the first of the two letters which are addressed to him. He recommends him to be more moderate in his austerities, and to drink a little wine, because of the weakWhen St. Paul came to Derbe and Lystra, ness of his stomach, and his frequent infirmiabout the year of Christ 51 or 52, the breth- ties. After the apostle came to Rome in the ren gave such an advantageous testimony of year 65, being then very near his death, he the merit and good disposition of Timothy, wrote to him his second letter, which is full that the apostle took him with him, in order of marks of kindness and tenderness for this to assist him in propagating the doctrine of his dear disciple; and which is justly looked his great Lord and Master. Timothy applied upon as the last will of St. Paul. He desires himself to labor with St. Paul in the busi- him to come to Rome to him before winter, ness of the gospel, and did him very impor- and bring with him several things which he tant services, through the whole course of had left at Troas. If Timothy went to Rome, his preaching, St. Paul calls him not only as it is probable he did, he must have been his dearly beloved son, but also his brother, an eyewitness of the martyrdom of Paul, the companion of his labors, and a man of God.

This holy disciple accompanied St. Paul to Macedonia, to Philippi, to Thessalonica, to Beræa; and when the apostle went from Beræa, he left Timothy and Silas there, to confirm the converts. When he came to Athens, he sent for Timothy to come thither

which happened in the year of Christ 68.

After Timothy had visited Paul at Rome, he returned to Ephesus, where he continued to govern the church as its bishop, without the least interruption, for a considerable time, till at length he fell a victim to the malice of the pagans, who were his most inveterate enemies. These heathen made a great

feast, in the celebration of which they carried | inform Paul of the state of the church in in procession the images of their idols, being that city. Paul was well pleased with the all masked, and armed with clubs and other account he gave, and the success of his emoffensive weapons. Timothy, seeing the bassy; and intending himself to go to Corprocession, was so irritated at their idolatry inth, desired Titus to return thither, to make and superstition, that he rushed in among some necessary preparations previous to his them in order to stop their proceedings; departure for that city. Titus readily unupon which they immediately fell upon him, dertook the journey, and immediately set and, with their clubs, beat him in so unmer- off, carrying with him St. Paul's second ciful a manner that he soon expired. They Epistle to the Corinthians. left the body on the spot where they had murdered him, which was removed thence by some of his disciples, and decently interred on the top of a mountain at a small distance from the city. The Greeks commemorate his martyrdom on the 22d of January, the day on which it is supposed he gave up his life in defence of the doctrine he had long labored to propagate; and during which time he had brought over great numbers of people to embrace the truth of the Christian religion.

TITUS.

Titus was a native of Greece, and a Gentile by birth; but was converted to the Christian faith by the apostle Paul, who, in consequence of his strict adherence to the doctrine of Christ, calls him his son. St. Jerome tells us that he was St. Paul's interpreter; and that, probably, because he might write what Paul dictated, or translate into Greek what he had written in Latin.

Soon after the conversion of Titus, the apostle Paul took him with him to Jerusalem; which was at the time when he went thither about deciding the dispute then in agitation relative to the converted Gentiles being made subject to the ceremonies of the Mosaic law. On their arrival there, some of the people were desirous that Titus should be circumcised; but this was not only refused by Titus, but totally objected to by Paul.

After this controversy was ended at Jerusalem, Paul sent Titus thence to Corinth, in order to adjust some disputes which had taken place in the church of that city. Titus was received by the people with the greatest marks of respect; and, from the various discourses he preached on the occasion, was so successful as effectually to discharge the business on which he was

sent.

After staying some time at Corinth, Titus went thence into Macedonia, in order to

Titus was made bishop of the island of Crete, about the sixty-third year after Christ, when St. Paul was obliged to quit that island, in order to take care of the other churches. The following year, Paul wrote him to desire, that as soon as he should have sent Tychicus to him for supplying his place in Crete, he would come to him at Nicopolis, in Epirus, where the apostle intended to pass his winter.

The subject of this epistle is to represent to Titus what are the qualities that a bishop should be endued with. As the principal function which Titus was to exercise in the isle of Crete was to ordain priests and bishops, it was highly incumbent on him to make a discreet choice. The apostle also gives him a sketch of the advice and instructions which he was to propound to all sorts of persons: to the aged, both men and women; to young people of each sex; to slaves or servants. He exhorts him to keep a strict eye over the Cretans; and to reprove them with severity, as being a people addicted to lying, wickedness, idleness, and gluttony. And, as many Jews were in the churches of Crete, he exhorts Titus to oppose their vain traditions and Jewish fables; and at the same time to show them that the observation of the law ceremonies is no longer necessary; that the distinction of meat is abolished; and that every thing is pure and clean to those that are so themselves. He puts him in mind of exhorting the faithful to be obedient to temporal power; to avoid disputes, quarrels, and slander; to apply themselves to honest callings, and to shun the company of a heretic, after the first and second admonition.

Titus was deputed to preach the gospel in Dalmatia, where he was situated when the apostle wrote his second Epistle to Timothy. He afterward returned into Crete, from which it is said he propagated the gospel into the neighboring islands. He died at the age of ninety-four, and was buried in Crete. The Greeks keep his festival on the

25th of August, and the Latins on the 4th | the sick were cured by his shadow only. It of January.

JOHN MARK.

John Mark, cousin to St. Barnabas, and a disciple of his, was the son of a Christian woman named Mary, who had a house in Jerusalem, where the apostles and the faithful generally used to meet. Here they were at prayers in the night, when St. Peter, who was delivered out of prison by the angel, came and knocked at the door; and in this house the celebrated church of Sion was said to have been afterward established.

John Mark, whom some very improperly confound with the Evangelist St. Mark, adhered to St. Paul and St. Barnabas, and followed them in their return to Antioch. He continued in their company and service till they came to Perga, in Pamphylia; but then, seeing that they were undertaking a longer journey, he left them and returned to Jerusalem. This happened in the year 45 of the common era.

Some years after, that is to say in the year 51, Paul and Barnabas preparing to return into Asia, in order to visit the churches which they had formed there, the latter was of opinion that John should accompany them in this journey: but Paul would not consent to it; upon which occasion these two apostles separated. Paul went to Asia, and Barnabas with John Mark to the Isle of Cyprus. What John Mark did after this journey we do not know, till we find him at Rome in the year 63, performing signal services for St. Paul during his imprisonment.

The apostle speaks advantageously of him in his epistle to the Colossians: Marcus, sister's son to Barnabas, saluteth you. If he cometh unto you, receive him." He makes mention of him again in his Epistle to Philemon, written in the year 63, at which time he was with St. Paul at Rome; but in the year 65 he was with Timothy in Asia. And St. Paul, writing to Timothy, desires him to bring Marcus to Rome, adding that he was useful to him for the ministry of the gospel.

In the Greek and Latin churches, the festival of John Mark is kept on the 27th of September. Some say that he was bishop of Biblis, in Phoenicia. The Greeks give him the title of apostle, and say that

is very probable that he died at Ephesus, where his tomb was very much celebrated and resorted to. He is sometimes called simply John, or Mark. The year of his death we are strangers to, and shall not collect all that is said of him in apocryphal and uncertain authors.

CLEMENT.

Clement is mentioned by St. Paul in his Epistle to the Philippians, where the apostle says that Clement's name is written in the book of life. The generality of the fathers and other interpreters make no question but that this is the same Clement who succeeded St. Paul, after Linus and Anaclet, in the government of the church of Rome; and this seems to be intimated when, in the office for St. Clement's day, that church appoints this part of the Epistle to the Philippians to be read.

We find several things relating to Clement's life in the recognitions and constitutions. called apostolic; but as those works are not all looked upon as authentic, though there may be truths in some of them derived from the tradition of the first ages, little stress is to be laid upon their testimony. St. Chrysostom thinks that Clement, mentioned by St. Paul in his Epistle to the Philippians, was one of the apostle's constant fellowtravellers. Irenæus, Origin, Clemens of Alexandria, and others of the ancients, assert that Clement was a disciple of the apostles; that he had seen them and heard their instructions. St. Epiphanius, Jerome, Rufinus, Bede, and some others, were of opinion, that as the apostles St. Peter and St. Paul could not be continually at Rome, by reason of the frequent journeys which they were obliged to make to other places, and it was not proper that the city of Rome should be without a bishop, there was a necessity to supply the want of them by establishing Linus, Anaclet, and Clement, there. constitutions inform us that Linus was ordained by St. Paul; Tertullian and Epiphanius say that St. Peter ordained Clement. Rufinus tells us that this apostle chose St. Clement for his successor. But Epiphanius believes, that after he had been made bishop of Rome by St. Peter, he refused to exercise his office till, after the death of Linus and Anaclet, he was obliged to take upon him the care of the church; and this is the

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