cause, and in his conversion, there was as wonderful a display of Divine grace.-There are, often, instances of conversion, in which the special power and grace of God do not so visibly and strikingly appear: But he was overtaken in his full career of malice and opposition to Christ.Having destroyed or dispersed a great part of the Christians in Judea, he had solicited letters or a kind of commission from the Sanhedrim, to go to Damascus and drag away to trial, all who embraced Christianity. Though Damascus was a chief city of Syria; yet it was inhabited by many Jews, and the gospel had been preached there. That' there were many Jews at Damascus, is evident from Josephus, who tells us that eighteen thousand of them with their wives and children were massacred at one time: At another, ten thousand in an hour. Saul, as appears by our text, had approached very near Damascus, and was just ready to enter on his purpose, when God, in a marvellous manner, arrested his career and saved his people from his rage. There was something wonderful in the means of his conviction. There was a wonderful power which operated on him and those who were with him, so that they fell at once to the earth. There was a wonderful light that was very visible, and far surpassed the noon-day sun. Dr. Doddridge supposes this to be the shechinah, or glory, that appeared, and was wont to fill the temple, as a symbol of the Divine presence; and that, as the Apostle had been trained up there, he knew what it meant, and therefore cried out, "who art thou, Lord :" He also heard a voice, the voice of Christ, speaking to him probably with great power, so that trembled: He not only heard Christ's voice, but saw him bodily, as really as any of the Apostles. Therefore Ananias says, "the Lord, even Jesus that appeared to

thee in the way &c." To this the Apostle alludes when he "last of all seen of me also, as one says, born out of due time."-These means are accompanied with such a power, that truth sunk with weight on his conscience. His convictions of conscience were probably short, but very powerful. It seems, from the relation which he gives of himself, that he had a most striking view of the malignity of his heart. When the commandment / came, sin revived and I died. It wrought in him all manner of concupiscence: He had been alive without the law, and had thought that he loved God and his law: But he now felt the most dreadful opposition to God, and saw himself wholly lost. It was, no doubt, from this view of himself, that he trembled and was so perfectly overcome.

There appear to be different views relative to the question how long his conviction lasted, and when he was converted. Some suppose that he was not converted, till Ananias came to him, and the scales fell from his eyes: But to me, it is evident it was before this time. God told Ananias before he went, that "he need not fear him, for behold he prayeth." Indeed, I consider that he was converted when he saw Christ, and that the words uttered by him, "Lord what wouldest thou have me to do?" are some evidence of it,as also the disposition which he shewed to comply with Christ's direction. It was a wonderful change which he experienced. He had, as he expresses it, been exceedingly mad against Christians: But he now turned directly about, and at the risk of every thing, preached that faith which so lately he had destroyed. He could now give up every thing and follow Christ.

I propose to consider

I. The state out of which sinners are called by the power of God.

II. The awakening and conviction which they experience.

III. Their conversion.

I. I shall consider the state out of which sinners are called by Divine power..

1. It is a state of entire estrangement from God. Sinners are wholly alienated in their minds from the glory of God, and perfectly blind to the beauty of holiness. The Apostle, no doubt, wondered that he had not before seen something of that Divine beauty which he now saw in Christ.-So it is generally with others: When renewed in their souls, they see a glory and beauty in things which they saw not before. The earth appears full of Divine glory; and more especially does God's word appear thus. But naturally they see none; it is all perfect darkness.

2. It is a state of enmity. Impenitent sinners not only see no beauty, but have hearts entirely. opposed. The Apostle represents himself as exceedingly mad, as filled with enmity and rage against Christ. He wanted to spill the blood of every Christian. Not content with distressing the Christians in Judea, he persecuted them even to strange cities.- -This is a picture of the nat

ural heart.

3. Therefore the difficulty is seated in the heart or will, and is of a moral, nature. Depravity, no, doubt, greatly darkens the understanding and cons science; but is originally seated in the heart.

4. Hence, there was such surprizing ignorance and stupidity in the Apostle.. He walked, he tells us, in all good conscience, and verily thought in his opposition, that he did God service. He was alive as to his hopes and expectations: And sa there are thousands at this day, that are violently opposing God and the gospel; who think, notwithstanding, that they are friends to religion, while

they put light for darkness, and darkness for light. This is the ground of the necessity of a work of conviction. As grace only gives a holy taste, so it is necessary that the creature should see whence his help comes; that he should have truth objectively held up to the view of his mind, in order to exercise saving graces.

II. I shall make some observations on awakenings and convictions of conscience in the Apostle and others.

1. This may be considered a work preparatory to regeneration. There is more reason to hope in regard to one awakened, than with regard to one unawakened. I would not say that he is, in a moral view, to be considered in a more favorable light; for as light and conviction increase, so does opposition. The law work, therefore, which we are considering, is a natural, not a moral fitness and preparation.

2. God has various means by which truth is applied to the conscience of the sinner, and he is led to see his native opposition of heart to God. The law, or the Bible system, is the grand instru-ment. If sinners would only let this come home to them, it would serve as a glass, in which they might clearly see the state of their hearts. But there is in sinners, such a disposition to shut their eyes, that nothing but special influence will lead them to look into the glass of the Divine law.God therefore makes use of various means and. instruments to fasten truth on the conscience.. Very extraordinary means were used with regard, to the Apostle Paul. I take it that something more than the influence of the light, made Paul and those with him fall to the earth. There was the glory of the light, and the voice of Christ, accompanied with wonderful power. So it was at

the day of Penticost, and so with respect to the Jailor. God works by various ways; sometimes he accompanies afflictions and bereavements with his blessing; sometimes solemn deaths are instrumental in awakening attention; and at other times, the faithful endeavors of parents, and Christians, and the administration of the word. are succeeded.

3. This work often begins with terror and fears of hell. This is properly no part of conversion; yet may be a mean of exciting the attention. God, by degrees, lets light into the conscience, and leads sinners to a clear view of the opposition and malignity of their hearts, and the pressing danger in which they are, of sinking into hell. When they come to have truth deeply impressed upon them, they see that they never shall turn, without Divine power; that it would be perfectly just in God to send them to hell: They perceive, that their hearts are no more reconciled in consequence of their convictions, and that the difficulty lies in their perverse temper. -It is often the case that Satan has various stratagems.Thus when a sinner becomes convinced of his past sinful life, and is led to amend his conduct as to many external things, Satan is ever ready at hand to tempt him to make a righteousness of such external reformation. Others he tries to drive to despair; and many, that God begins with, are, through his devices, soon persuaded to turn back.

4. The sovereignty of God is displayed in this work, as well as in conversion. It is displayed as to subjects and means. It is displayed with respect to the length of time that conviction continues. The time was short with Paul, and so also with the Jailor. With others it continues for months; and possibly, in some instances, for years. God's sovereignty is displayed also with respect