1

with perfecuting the Chriftians who were at Jerufalem, but breathing out threatening and flaughter against the difciples of the Lord; went unto the high priest, and desired of him letters to Damafcus to the fynagogues, that if be found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerufalem *. His request was complied with, and he went to Damascus with authority and commiffion from the high priest. At this inftant of time, and under thefe circumstances, did he become a Difciple of Christ. What could be his motives to take fuch a part? Was it the hope of increasing his wealth? The certain confequence of his taking that part was not only the lofs of allthat he had, but of all hopes of acquiring Thofe whom he left, were the dif pofers of wealth, of dignity, of power in Fudea: those whom he went to, were indigent men, oppreffed and kept down from' all means of improving their fortunes. They among them who had more than the rest,

more.

*Acts ix. 1, Z. + Acts xxvi. 12.

fhared

fhared what they had with their brethren, but with this affiftance the whole community was hardly supplied with the neceffaries of life. And even in the Churches he af terwards planted himself, which were much more wealthy than that of Jerufalem, so far was St. Paul from availing himself of their charity, or the veneration they had for him, in order to draw that wealth to himself, that he often refufed to take any part of it for the neceffaries of lite.

Thus he tells the Corinthians,

Even unto

this prefent hour we both hunger and thirft, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwelling-place, and labour, working with our own hands *.' In another Epifle he writes to them, • Behold the third time I am ready to come to you, and I will not be burthenfome to: you, for I feek not yours but you; for the children ought not to lay up for the " parents, but the parents for the childrent.

I Cor. xv. 8.

† 2 Cor. xii. 140

Το

To the Theffalonians he fays, 'As we were allowed of God to be put in truft with the Gofpel, even fo we speak, not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts. For neither at any time used we flattering words, nor a cloak of covetoufness, God is witnefs; nor of men fought we glory, neither of you, nor yet of others, ⚫ when we might have been burthenfome, as the Apostles of Christ. For ye remember, brethren, our labour and travel: for labouring night and day, because we would not be chargeable to any of you, we • preached unto you the Gospel of God *.* And again in another letter to them he repeats the fame teftimony of his difintereftedness: Neither did we eat any man's bread for nought, but wrought with la• bour and travel night and day, that we might not be chargeable to any of you t.*.. And when he took his farewel of the church of Ephefus, to whom he foretold that they fhould fee him no more, he gives this tef

• 1 Theff. ii. 4, 5, 6, 9.

+ 2 Theff. iii. 8.

timony of himself, and appeals to them for the truth of it; I have coveted no man's • filver or gold, or apparel. Yea, you yourfelves know that thefe hands have miniftered unto my neceffities, and to them' that were with me *.' It is then evident, both from the state of the church when' St. Paul first came into it, and from his be-' haviour afterwards, that he had no thoughts' of increafing his wealth by becoming a Christian; whereas, by continuing to be their enemy, he had almost certain hopes of making his fortune by the favour of thofe who were at the head of the Jewish state, to whom nothing could more recommend him than the zeal that he fhewed in that perfecution. As to credit or reputation, that too lay all on the fide he forfook. The fect he embraced was under the greatest and most univerfal contempt of any then in the world. The chiefs and leaders of it were men of the lowest birth, education, and rank. They had no one advantage of

Acts XX. 33, 34+

parts

parts or learning, or other human endowments to recommend them. The doctrines they taught were contrary to those, which they who were accounted the wifeft and the most knowing of their nation profeffed. The wonderful works that they did, were either imputed to magick or to imposture. The very author and head of their faith had been condemned as a criminal, and died on the crofs between two thieves. Could the difciple of Gamaliel think he fhould gain any credit or reputation by becoming a teacher in a college of Fishermen? Could he flatter himself, that either in or out of Judea the doctrines he taught could do him any honour? No; he knew very well that the preaching Chrift crucified was a fumbling-block to the Jews, and to the Greeks foolishness. He after wards found by experience, that in all parts of the world, contempt was the portion of whoever engaged in preaching a mystery fo unpalatable to the world, to all its paffions and pleasures, and fo irreconcileable to the pride of human reafon. We are made (fays

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