gogue of the Cilicians. To this capital our apostle was also sent, and brought up at the feet of that eminent rabbi Gamalia, in the most exact knowledge of the law of Moses: nor did he fail to profit by the instructions of that great master; for he so diligently conformed himself to his precepts, that, without boasting, he asserts of himself, that touching the righteousness of the law, he was blameless, and defied even his enemies to allege any thing to the contrary, even in his youth. He joined himself to the sect of the Pharisees, the most strict order of the Jewish religion; but, at the same time, the proudest, and the greatest enemies to CHRIST and his holy religion, as evidently appears by the character given of them by the evangelists, and our Lord's description of that self-righteous sect.

Respecting his double capacity, of Jewish extraction, and Roman freedom, he had two names Saul and Paul, the former Hebrew, and the Jatter Latin. It was common for the descendants of Benjamin to give the name of Saul to their children ever since the time of the first king of Israel, who was chosen out of that tribe; and Paul was a name as common amongst the Romans. We must also consider his trade of tent making as a part of his education, it being the constant practice of the Jews, to bring up their children to some honest calling, that, in case of necessity, they might provide for themselves by, the labour of their own hands, with out becoming burdensome to the public.

Having obtained a thorough knowledge of the sciences cultivated by the Jews, and being naturally of a very hot and fiery temper, Saul became a great champion for the law of Moses, and the tradition of the elders, which he considered as a zeal for God. This rendered him impatient of all opposition to the doctrine and tenets he had imbibed, and a vehement blasphemer and persecutor of the Christians, who were commonly reputed the enemies and destroyers of the Jewish economy. We must not however consider our apostle as guilty of the pride and hypocrisy of the Pharisees; for he declares, that he had ever been careful to act in conformity to the dictates of his conscience, by which he thought himself bound to do many things contrary to the name of JESUS of Nazareth. It was therefore the prejudice of his education, and the natural warmth of his temper, that excited him to those violent persecutions of the Christians, for which he became so famous, in the infancy of the church.

We find that the first action he engaged in, was the disputation he and his countrymen had with the martyr Stephen, concerning the Messiah. The Christian was too hard for them in the dispute; but they were too powerful for him in their civil interests; for being enraged at his convincing arguments, they carried him before the high-priest, who by false accu sations, condemned him to death. How far Saul was concerned in this cruel action, it is impossible to say; all we know is, that he kept the raiment of them that slew him, and, consequently, was accessary to his death, The enemies of the church having thus raised a storm of persecution against it, it increased prodigiously, and the poor Christians of Jerusalem were miserably harrassed and dispersed. In this persecution, our apostle was principal agent, searching all the adjacent parts for the afflicted saints, beating some in the synagogue, compelling some to blaspheme, confining in prison, and procuring others to be put to death for their profession: nor could Jerusalem and the adjacent parts confine his fiery zeal; he applied to the Sanhedrim, and procured a commission from that court, to extend his persecution to Damascus. How eternally insatiable is the fury of a misguided zeal! how restless and unwearied in it's designs of cruelty! It had already sufficiently harrassed the poor Christians at Jerusalem but not content with that, it persecuted them to strange cities, even to Damascus itself, whither many of them had fled for shelter, resolving to bring them back to Jerusalem, in order to their punishment and execution there. We think it necessary to observe here, that the Jewish Sanhedrim had not only the power of seizing and scourging offenders against their law

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within the bounds of their own country, but, by the connivance and favour of the Romans, might send into other countries, where there were any synagogues that acknowledged a dependence in religious affairs upon the council of Jerusalem, to apprehend them; and accordingly, Saul was sent to Damascus, to apprehend what Christians he could find in that city, and bring them bound to Jerusalem, to be tried and punished.

It was however Saul's peculiar happiness, that the Almighty designed to employ him in a work of a very different nature, and, accordingly stopped him in his journey: for as he was travelling between Jerusalem and Damascus, to execute the commission of the Jewish Sanhedrim, a refulgent light, far exceeding the brightness of the sun, darted upon him; at which both he and his companions were terribly amazed and confounded, falling together with their horses, prostrate on the ground, Amidst this confusion, a voice was heard in the Hebrew language, saying, “Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me ?" To which Saul replied, "Who art thou Lord ?" and was immediately answered, "I am Jesus," of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.” As if the blessed Jesus had said, “All thý attempts to exterpate the faith in me, will prove abortive, and, like kicking against the spikes wound and torment thyself the more.”

Being now sufficiently convinced of his folly in acting against JESUS, whom he was now assured to be the true Messiah, Saul asked, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?" On which the blessed Jesus informed him of the true intention of his appearance, "Arise, said he, and stand upon thy feet'; for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness, both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which 1 will appear unto thee; delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee, to open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance amongst them which are sanctified by faith that is in me." Acts xxvi. 16, 17, 18. And for further instruction, the immaculate JESUS referred him to one of his followers, named Ananias, commanding him to repair immediately to the city, and receive further inctruction from that disciple.

The men who were with him heard the voice, but did not see the person who spake from heaven: in all probability they were ignorant of the Hebrew language, and therefore only heard a confused sound'; for the apostle himself tells us, that they heard not the voice of him that spake, that is, they did not hear it with a proper degree of understanding.

Saul now arose from the earth, but found himself deprived of sight, the resplendent brightness of the vision being too intense for mortal eyes to behold. His companions therefore led him by the hand to the city of Damascus, where he entered the house of Judas, and remained there three days without sight, nor did he either eat or drink but spent his time in prayer to the Almighty, beseeching him to pardon the sins of his past life, and be gracious to him. i

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Our blessed Saviour, in the mean time appeared in a vision to Ananias, very devout and religious man, highly esteemed by all the inhabitants of Damascus, though he professed the religion of the crucified JESUS, commanding him to go into such a street of the city, and enquire in the house of Judas, for one Saul of Tarsus, then offering up the most fervent prayers to the throne of grace. Ananias, who was very ready to obey the commands of the Most High, startled at the name, having heard of his bloody practices at Jerusalem, and what commission he was now come to execute in Damascus he therefore suspected that his pretended conversion was nothing more than a share artfully laid for the Christians. But our blessed Saviour soon removed his apprehensions, by telling him that his sus

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picions were entirely destitute of him as a chosen vessel to preach the gospel both to the Jews and Gentiles, and even before the greatest monarchs of the earth; acquainting him, at the same time, with the great things he should do and suffer for the sake of the gospel, what chains and imprisonments. what racks and scourges, what hunger and thirst, what shipwrecks, and that, at last, he should even suffer death itself.

The fears of Ananias being thus quieted, he immediately obeyed the heavenly vision, repaired to the house of Judas, and laid hands upon Saul, saying, That Jesus who appeared to thee in the way, hath sent me to restore thy sight, and, by the infusion of his spirit, to give the knowledge of those truths which thou hast blindly and ignorantly persecuted; but who now is willing to receive thee by baptism into his church, and make thee a member of his body."

This speech was no sooner pronounced, than there fell from his eyes thick films resembling scales, and he received his sight, and after baptism conversed freely with the Christians of Damascus. Nor did he only converse with them; he also to the great astonishment of the whole church, preached the gospel to those Christians he came down with an intention to destroy, boldly asserting, that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of God;" and proving it to the Jews with such demonstrative evidence, that they were confounded, and found it impossible to answer him, or disprove his arguments.

St. Paul did not stay long at Damascus after his conversion; nor did he return to Jerusalem: but being commanded to preach the gospel to the Gentiles, he retired into Arabia Petra, where he received a full revelation of all the mysteries of Christianity; for he himself declares that he conVersed not with flesh and blood. And having preached in several parts of that country for some time, he returned again to Damascus, applying himself with the utmost assiduity to the great work of the ministry, frequenting the synagogues there, powerfully confuting the objections commonly made by the descendants of Jacob against JESUS of Nazareth, and converting great numbers of the Jews and Gentiles to the faith.

This apostle was indeed remarkably zealous in his preaching, and blessed with a very extraordinary method of reasoning, whereby he proved the fundamental points of Christianity beyond exception. This irritated the Jews to the highest degree: and, at length, after two or three years continuance in those parts, they found means to prevail on the governor of Damascus to have him put to death: but they knew it would be difficult to take him, as he had so many friends in the city; they therefore kept themselves continual watch, searched all the houses where they supposed he might conceal himself, and also obtained a guard from the governor to observe the gates in order to prevent his escaping from the place.

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His Christian friends were far form deserting him in this distress; they tried every method that offered, to procure his escape: but finding it impossible for him to pass through either of the gates of the city, they let him down from one of their houses through a window in a basket, over the wall, by which means the cruel designs of his enemies were rendered ineffectual. St. Paul having thus escaped from his malicious persecutors, repaired to Jerusalem, and, on his arrival, addressed himself to the church: but they knowing well the former temper and principles of this great persecutor, shunned his company, till Barnabas brought him to Peter, who was not yet cast into prison, and to James our Lord's brother, bishop of Jerusalem, informing them of his miraculous conversion, and that he had preached the gospel with the greatest boldness in the synagogue of Damas cus; upon which they gladly received him, and entertained him fifteen days with the greatest hospitality and affection.

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He was remarkably assiduous during this interval, in preaching pel of the Son of God, and confuting the Hellenistic Jews, with the great

est courage and resolution. But snares were soon laid for him, as malice can as easily cease to be, as to remain inactive; and being warned by God în a vision, that his testimony would not be received at Jerusalem, & therefore it was necessary for him to départ and preach the gospel to the Gentiles. Accordingly, being conducted by the brethren to Cæsarea Philippi, he set sail for Tarsus, his native city; from whence he was soon after brought by Barnabas to Antioch, to assist him in propagating Christianity in that city. In this employment he spent one whole year, and had the pleasure of seeing the gospel flourish in a very remarkable manner in those parts.

Here the disciples first acquired the name of Christians, for before they were styled Nazareens; but this appellation soon prevailed all over the world, and the former was, in a few ages, almost entirely laid aside.

A terrible famine, foretold by Hgabus, happened about this time, in several parts of the Roman empire, particularly in Judea; which induced the Christians at Antioch to compassionate the miseries of their brethren at Jerusalem; and accordingly raised considerable contributions for their relief, which they sent to the capital of Judea by the hands of Barnabas and Saul who, immediately after executing their commission, returned to Antioch. But while they were performing the public exercises of religion, it was revealed to them by the Holy Ghost, that they should set apart Barnabas and Saul, to preach the gospel in other places, which was accordingly done, and they were immediately deputed for that service by prayer, fasting, and the imposition of hands,

They first of all visited Seleucia, where they did not continue long, but sailed for Cyprus; and at Salamis, a great city in that Island, they preached in the synagogue of the Jews. From hence they removed to Paphos, the residence of Sergius Paulus, the proconsul of the Island, a man of great wisdom and prudence, but miserably seduced by the wicked artifices of Bar-Jesus, a Jewish imposter, who styled himself Elymas, or the magician, vehemently opposed the apostles, and kept the proconsul from embracing the faith, as preached by them.

However, the proconsul called for the apostles, who, after checking Elymas for his malicious opposition to the truth, told him the divine vengeance was now ready to seize upon him ; and immediately he was deprived of his sight. The vengeance of the Almighty, in depriving him of the use of his bodily eyes, bore a remarkable analogy to the blindness of those of his mind, which were so wilfully and maliciously shut against the light of the gospel, and also endeavoured to keep others in darkness and ignorance. This miracle convinced the proconsul of the truth of the doctrines taught by the apostles and made him a convert to Christianity.

After this remarkable success in Cyprus, St. Paul repaired to Phrygia and Pamphilia, and taking Titus with him in the room of Mark, who was gone to Jerusalem, travelled to Antioch, the metropolis of Pisidia. Soon after their arrival, they entered the synagogue of the Jews on the Sabbathday, and after the reading of the law, Paul being invited by the rulers of the synagogue, delivered himself in the following manner: 66 Hearken, all ye descendants of Jacob, and ye that fear the Almighty, to the words of my mouth. The God of Israel made choice of our fathers, and loved them, when they had no city of their own to dwell in, but were strangers, and slaves in Egypt, bringing them from thence with a mighty hand, and a stretched out arm; fed them in the wi e wilderness forty years, and would not suffer his anger to rise against them, though they often provoked him in the desert. On their arrival in the land he promised their fathers, he destroyed the nations, that inhabited it, and placed them in that fruitful country, dividing it to them by lot, for their inheritance.

"As soon as they were settled in the land, he gave them Judges during

hundred and fifty years, till Samuel the prophet: but on their desir

ing a king, he placed over them Saul, the son of Cis, a Benjamite whe reigned about forty years; and after his death he placed David on the throne of Israel, giving him this testimony, "I have found David, the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will." And according to his promise, the Almighty hath raised up to the sons of Da-. vid a Saviour JESUS, which is CHRIST the Lord. The baptism having been preached before his coming by John: and as the forerunner executed his office, he asked his followers, Whom think ye that I am par You must not mistake me for the Messiah; he will soon follow me: but I am not worthy to perform the meanest office for him.

"Therefore ye descendants of Abraham, and all others who fear the Almighty, to you "is the word of this salvation sent." For the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and rulers of Israel, being ignorant of him, and the voices of the prophets, though read every Sabbath in their synagogues, fulfilled their predictions by condemning the immaculate Son of the Most High. These found indeed no fault in him, though they earnestly desired Pilate that he might be crucified.

Every thing that had been written by the prophets concerning him, being now fulfilled, they took him from the tree, and deposited his body in the chambers of the grave: but death had no power to detain him: his Almighty Father raised him from the habitations of the dead. After which, he was seen during many days by his disciples who attended him from Galilee, and who are the witnesses, chosen by Omnipotence, of these great and miraculous works. And we now declare unto you glad-tidings, namely, That the promise made by the Almighty to our forefathers, he hath performed to us their children, by raising JESUS from the dead. The prophet David also said, "Thou art my Son, this day have 1 begotten thee." He also foretold, that he should return from the chambers of the dust, and no more be subject to corruption: "I will give him," said he, "the sure mercies of David." And again," Thou shalt not suffer thine Holy One to see corruption." Now this prophecy must relate to the Messiah, for David himself, after he had swayed the sceptre of Israel a certain time fell asleep, was deposited in the chambers of the grave and his flesh saw corruption: but the great Son of David, whom the Almighty raised from the dead, never saw corruption, as it was written of him.

"Therefore, be it known unto you, men and brethren, that through this Saviour is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: it is by his merits we are justified from all things, which were impossible by the law of Moses. Be careful, therefore, lest what was foretold by the prophets come upon you," Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish: for I work a work in your days, a work which you shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it unto you."

The apostle's speech had the desired effect; for several of the Jews, who were convinced of the truth, desired to hear him on the next Sabbath, and the apostles persuaded them to continue firm in the belief of these things. The ensuing Sabbath almost the whole city flocked to hear the apostles; at which the Jews were filled with envy, and contradicted Paul, uttering many blasphemous expressions against the name of JESUS of Na zareth: but their opposition could not daunt the apostles, who boldly declared, that our blessed Saviour had charged them to preach the gosper first to the Jews; but as they so obstinately rejected it, they were now to address themselves to the Gentiles; who, hearing this, rejoiced exceedingly, magnifying the word of the Almighty, and many of them embraced the doctrines of the gospel. This increased the malice and fury of the Jews, who by false and artful insinuations prevailed on some of the more devout and honourable women to bring over their husbands to their party; by which means, Paul and Barnabas were driven out of the city. At which the apostles departed, shaking off the dust from their feet, as a testimony against their ingratitude, infidelity, and rejection of the gospel.