not have been altogether so easy. What he declared, and that "particularly," was-what "things God "had wrought among the Gentiles by his ministry." Exactly on this, as on his last preceding visit,-when all, but himself, were speaking to the question before him-Peter on one side; after him, James on the other side-nothing, is either he, or his companion Barnabas, represented as saying, that belongs to the question; nothing, but "declaring declaring what miracles and wonders," God had wrought among the Gentiles by them." Between what is represented, as having been said on the two occasions,-one difference, and no more than one, is visible. On the former occasion, "miracles and wonders;" on this latter occasion, no miracles, no wonders:-nothing more than things. Supposing any of them particularized-neither miracles nor wonders had, it should seem, been fortunate enough to obtain credence: for that reason, it should seem, that, on this occasion, all mention of them is dropt.

“

Hearing of these things, what did these elders? Being things that "God" (as they were informed) had wrought," they could do no less than glorify "the Lord." As in Paul's Epistles, so here, in the Acts, by the Lord, it is Jesus, who, as far as it appears, is the person, all along meant to be designated. Here, God (it may be observed) is the person, by whom every thing good, that is done, is done: Jesus-the Lord Jesus--the person, who is glorified for it.

To make his boasts, was his business with them: but, to subscribe to those same boasts, was not their business with him.

Their business was-to inform him, of the storm of unpopularity, which by his audacity he had brought upon himself: to inform him of the storm, and to

* Acts xxi. 19, 20.

point out the only course, which, in their view of the matter, presented a chance for his escape from it. "Thou seest,"-(say they)(say they)—" thou seest how many "thousands of Jews there are which believe; and they are all zealous of the law*. 21. And they are "informed of thee, that thou teachest all the Jews "which are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses; "saying, that they ought not to circumcise [their] "children, neither to walk after their customs f. "22. What is it, therefore?" (add they,)" the mul"titude must needs come together: for they will "hear that thou art come."

SECTION 2.

LOW TONE ASSUMED BY HIM ON THIS OCCASION.

ON more accounts than one, remarkable,-and not a little instructive, is the account we have of this last recorded visit: and, in particular, as to what concerns the reception he experienced from the ruling powers of the Church.

It is, in some particulars, more especially to be depended upon,-inasmuch as, at this important meeting, the author of the Acts--if he is to be believedwas himself present.

The first remarkable circumstance is-that, on this occasion, Paul, the self-elected Apostle-instead of taking the lead, and introducing his companions— keeps behind, and is introduced by them: such was the pliancy, with which-even on this expedition, of invasion and projected conquest,-an expedition,-undertaken, in spite of every thing that could be done, both on the part of the intended objects of the conquest, and on the part of his own adherents-such

* Acts xxi. 20.

† Acts xxi. 21.

was the pliancy, with which this man (among whose boasts was that of being all things to all men,) could bend himself to circumstances.

Acts xxi. 15-18. 15. "And after those days, "we took up our carriages, and went to Jerusalem. 16. There went with us, also, [certain] of the "disciples of Cæsarea, and brought with them one "Mnason of Cyprus, an old disciple, with whom we "should lodge." At Jerusalem, not so much as a house, to harbour them, could they have been assured of, but for this old disciple-fellow-countryman, of Paul's old patron, the Son of Consolation, Barnabas. Not even with him could they have been assured of this token of friendship, had he not either been already of their party, or detached himself to meet them, and afford them the assurance: although, at Cæsarea, from some cause, of which, while the effect is brought to view, no intimation is given,-they were fortunate enough to obtain a hospitable reception (Acts xxi. 8.) at the house of Philip. This, however, (be it observed) was not Philip, the Apostle, whether it may have been Philip, stiled here the Evangelist-one of the seven trustees, or directors, (Acts vi. 5.) to whom, with his six colleagues, under the name, so inexpressively rendered, in the English, by the word Deacons,-the management of the common fund had, by the suffrages of the disciples, been committed, must be left to conjecture.

17. "And when we were come to Jerusalem, the "brethren (Acts xxi. 17) received us gladly." What brethren? The Apostles, or any one of them? no: The elders? no. Who then?-Who, but such of the members of the Church, as, notwithstanding the general repugnancy;-as testified at Tyre, and afterwards, by prophet Agabus, at Cæsarea,-could, by the influence of the Cypriot Mnason, or otherwise, be prevailed upon to see them.

And, to whom was it, that this sort of reception, whatsoever it was, was afforded? Was it to Paul? No it was to those, who, on other occasions, were with him; but, with whom, on this occasion, his prudence forced his pride to submit to be.

Witness the next verse (Acts xxi. 18): "And "the day following" (not till the day following) "Paul went in with us unto James." With themwith these his attendants-did Paul, then and there, go in-not they with him.

At the house of James-mark well, now-who were the persons present? Answer-" all the elders." But, forasmuch as these elders were, all of them, present,-notice, within the compass of the two fragments of two days,-notice, to and by all of them must have been given and received: for it has just been seen, whether, between any of them, on the one hand,—and Paul, or, so much as any one of his attendants, on the other, there could have been any such sort of good understanding, as to have produced any the least personal intercourse, but at, and on, the occasion of the general and formal meeting:-a meeting, which—as will be seen presently-had, for its sole object, the imposing upon him, in the event of his continuance at Jerusalein, an obligation: an obligation to a man in his circumstances-it has been seen, of how perilous and repulsive a nature.

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Such, then, was the notice, as to have brought to the place, all the Elders-All the Elders ?-good. But, these Elders-Elders among the disciples in ordinary,―on an occasion such as this, what were they, in comparison of the Apostles-the only known chosen servants, and constant companions of Jesus? Well, then, while at this meeting-this formally convened meeting-those Elders were, every one of them, present-what was the number of Apostles present? Answer-Besides James, not one.

And-why James ?-manifestly, because it was at his house, that the meeting was held.

And-why at his house? Because, on the occasion, and for the purpose, of the partition treaty,that treaty, so necessary to the peace of the Church,on the one hand; and, to the carrying on of Paul's scheme of dominion, on the other hand;-James was one, of the only three, who could ever endure the sight of the self-declared Apostle: Peter and John, as hath been seen, being the two others:—and, because, when, for the purpose of investing the meeting, in the eyes of the disciples at large, with the character of a meeting of the ruling administrative body-the Apostles,-less than that one, if there were any, there could not be. This one, James-under the pressure of the present emergency-prevailed upon himself to be: and, to so irksome an intercourse-notwithstanding the obviousness of the demand for as great a number, as could be collected, of that primarily influential body-of no other of the Apostles, could the attendance be obtained: not even of Peter, who, on a former occasion, had brought himself to endure the hateful presence.

SECTION 3.

POSTERIOR TO ALL HIS SUPPOSED MIRACLES, HIS SILENCE PROVES THEM UNREAL.

Now, then, as to miracles. Had Paul, really and truly, ever received from Jesus, any such pre-eminent and characteristic appendage and mark of Apostleship,-here, of all others, was an occasion, on which it concerned him to make proof of it. Here was an occasion, on which, with the design, and for the purpose the palpable, and almost universally and so strenuously opposed, design and purpose-of consti