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to admit the light, which was offered. Hence he became "a blafphemer, and a perfecutor, and injurious*;" prefumptuously uttering profane fpeeches against the Lord Chrift, fetting himself in oppofition to all, who called upon his name, and treating them with every fpecies of violence. He concluded, that he was doing God fervice; but that fentiment betrayed an extreme blindness and depravity +.

A. D.

34.

The facred history firft introduces his name upon the death of St. Stephen. When that holy martyr was stoned, Saul, who had probably been prefent at Stephen's folemn fermon, gave his approbation and affiftance to the perpetration of the horrid murder t. He proceeded much farther. With a furious and voracious difpofition, like a beaft of prey, he pursued the difciples of Chrift, that he might tear and devour them. He went great lengths indeed, before it pleafed God to ftop his mad career. "He made havock of the Church, entering into every house, and haling men and women," paying no deference to fex or age, committed them to prifon §." He confeffes, that he "imprisoned and beat in every fynagogue them that believed ;" that he "punifhed them oft in every fynagogue, and compelled them to blafpheme, and, being exceedingly mad against them, perfecuted them unto ftrange cities +." It is obvious that he fought nothing lefs than their total extirpation. "He breathed out threatenings and flaughter **;" as if, with every breath he drew, he denounced vengeance and deftruction to the poor faints. He applied for the influence and authority of the high priest, who probably was not backward to countenance and promote his plans, that he might carry his perfecution even to the diftant city of Damafcus. On this expedition he had fet out, with

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↑ John xvi. 2, 3.

Acts vii. 58.

viii. 1. xxii. 20. ** ix. 1, 2.

Acts xxii, 19.

+ xxvi, 11.

furious

urious rage, and almost reached the end of his jour

ney.

After fuch an account, can any doubt be enter tained of the real ftate of his mind at that time? Whatever may be faid of his integrity or good intentions, is it not evident from this defcription, that he was then "in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity?" Shall we not allow his own confeffion, that he was "the chief of finners,' ""not meet to be called an Apostle, because he perfecuted the Church of God?" The principles, by which he was actuated, and the conduct he purfued, were highly offenfive to God; fo that we cannot but confider him, in that period of his life, as obnoxious to the divine indignation. We grant that he preferved a strict regularity of manners, that his deportment was moral, in the common acceptation of morality, and even blame-less before men.. He was, alfo, conftant and exact in all the offices of external devotion: but his religion was the offspring of pride and ignorance. He "went about to establish his own righteoufnefs," and maintained a confident affurance of his fafety. Alas! he " was alive without the lawt:" he understood not the extenfive and spiritual demands of God's precepts or the tremendous confequence of the least deviation from duty. He was therefore elated with a conceit of his goodness; though, at the very time, his obedience was not only partial, but wrong throughout. With all his fair appearances and high pretenfions, he "was in the flesh, and the motions of fins, which were by the law, did work in his members to bring forth fruit unto death ‡.'

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Some have fuppofed, that, on account of his fincerity, he poffeffed a previous difpofition to receive the Gofpel. But men of fuch a Pharifaical fpirit,. as he fhewed, are the most unwilling to "fubmit.

1. Tim. i. 15.1 Cor. xv. 9.

Rom. vii. 9. Rom. vii. §. 0 6.

unt

unto the righteoufnefs of God." Others have reprefented his ftate and character in so favourable a light, that no confiderable change could be neceffary; nay, that he deserved the grace, which was afterwards beftowed, as a reward for his integrity. How contrary to this were his own fentiments! In all his writings, he describes his guilt as extremely heinous and aggravated, and fpeaks with aftonishment of the mercy of God, from which he seemed to be farther removed than any other finner: and therefore he is always ready to produce his cafe as the most extraordinary.

Yet we allow, that his ignorance, though it forms not an excufe, is in fome sense a palliation*. Had he proceeded the fame lengths in oppofing Chrift, againft clear information and ftrong convictions of his own mind, we apprehend, that he would have been given up to a judicial hardnefs, and forgiveness have been impoffible. Let none flatter themfelves, that the want of inftruction will be a fufficient fecurity. The moft awful denunciations are levelled against those, who know not God and his truth +. Poffibly, you may be confident of your own rectitude, and yet be grievoufly deceived. Even a mifguided confcience may prove deftructive. Though you abftain from grofs immoralities, and be admired for your punctual attention to religious duties, your prevailing tempers may be fuch, as render you odious to God. Come, and learn from the example before us the neceffity of a total renovation. There is an univerfal depravity of nature, which requires to be fubdued. You must, therefore, "put off the old man, and be renewed in the fpirit of your mind :" and till this be effected, your pretended obedience is deteftable, as proceeding from corrupt motives.

Such a change took place in Saul, when he A. D. was about the age of tenty-four years, as is generally fuppofed, and within two or three

35.

1 Tim. i. 13. † 1 Cor. xv. 34. 2 Theff. i. 8. Eph. iv. 22, 23.

years

years after the death of Chrift. Young as he was, he had given full proof of a decided and bitter oppofition to the Gospel. He had, indeed, been "feparated from his mother's womb *," in the counfels of God: but the call of grace was long deferred, that the riches of this grace might be more gloriously exhibited. We are now to behold the Lord Jefus, who had fhewn all long-fuffering, taking to himself his great power, in an inftant fubduing the fierce enmity of the rebel, and attaching him by the frongest ties of affection to his own perfon and fervice.

Saul had come into the neighbourhood of Damaf cus, with murderous rage against all the difciples of Jefus, and probably was anticipating the pleasure he fhould receive in binding and torturing them t. He was within view of the city, when fuddenly the appearance of an uncommon brightness and glory thining from heaven, which far exceeded the splendour of the fun, checked his progrefs. This occurred at mid-day, which rendered the phenomenon the more fingular. Both Saul and his companions were inftantly ftruck to the ground, dazzled and confounded. The voice of infulted majefty reproved him with peculiar folemnity, and thus called him to account for his injurious conduct; "Saul, Saul, why perfecuteft thou me ?"

It should seem, that not only was this remarkable address diftinctly heard, but fome auguft perfonage was exhibited to his view. Saul enquired, "Who art thou, Lord?" Probably, Chrift manifefted himseif in human form, with a measure of that luftre, which be poffeffes in his prefent exaltation, while the anfwer was returned, "I am Jefus, whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. As if he had faid, " I, who appear before thee with fuch marks of elevated dignity, am no other than the

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* Gal. i. 15.

† Asix, 3-22. xxii. 6—16. xxvi. 12—20. deipifed

defpifed Nazarene, against whom thy rage is ultimately directed. I confider the infults and oppreffion, which my faithful people fuffer, as offered to myself. But thy furious attempts, in the final event, cannot hurt me or my caufe: thou art only wounding thyfelf.. Ceafe, then, from thy foolish and wicked oppofition."

Wonderful indeed was the condefcenfion of the Lord, in arguing with one fo full of enmity! It was amazing forbearance and compaffion, that he did not "make bare his holy arm," to deftroy the perfecu-tor, and leave him a monument of righteous vengeance. But he spoke in mercy, and yet fpoke effectually. Saul inftantly fubmitted with unfeigned contrition, and prefumed not to allege any thing in his own defence. A fudden conviction of his enormous guilt, and a fight of the glory of the Redeemer, whom he had fo daringly provoked, almost overwhelmed him with fear and aftonishment. Perhaps doubting whether there could be any hope for him, yet refolved to try the effect of an humble application, he cried out, "Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?" Thus refigning himself into the hands of Jefus, he obtained forgiveness. He was directed to go into the city for further instruction, and encouraged by an affurance, that he should be appointed a minister of the Gospel with a divine commiffion, under the immediate protection of Heaven. It was declared, that he fhould be the favoured inftrument of carrying the glad tidings of falvation to Heathen lands, and ex-tending to many fouls the various bleffings of the redemption, that is in Chrift Jefus.

The vifion being ended, Saul arofe; but the ftu. pendous luftre, which had fhone upon him, deprived him of fight. His eyes were clofed in darknefs; an emblem of the former blindness of his foul. Unable, therefore, to guide himfelf, he was conducted to Damafcus, where he continued, probably in extreme confufion and diftrefs, for three days without beholding

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