Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB
[blocks in formation]

Bye and Law, P.iters, St. John's Square, Clerkenwell.

LETTER

ΤΟ

GILBERT WEST, Esq.

SIR,

IN

Na late converfation we had together upon the fubject of the Christian religion, I told you, that befides all the proofs of it which may be drawn from the prophecies of the Old Teftament, from the neceffary connection it has with the whole fyftem of the Jewish religion, from the miracles of Chrift, and from the evidence given of his refurrection by all the other Apostles; I thought the Conversion and the Apostleship of St. Paul alone, duly confidered, was of itfelf a demonftration fufficient to prove Chriftianity to be a Divine Revelation.

As you seemed to think that so compendious a proof might be of ufe to convince thofe unbelievers that will not attend to a longer feries of arguments, I have thrown. together the reafons upon which I fupport that propofition.

In the 26th chapter of the Acts of the Apoftles, writ by a cotemporary author, and a companion of St. Paul in preaching the Gofpel, as appears by the book itself, ch. xx. ver. 6, 13, 14. xxvii. 1. &c. St. Paul is faid to have given himfelf this account of his converfion and preaching, to King Agrippa and Feftus the Roman governor: My manner of life from my youth, which was, at the firft, among mine own nation at Jerufalem, know all the Jews, ⚫ which knew me from the beginning (if they would testify) that after the strictest fect of our religion, I lived a pharifee. And now I ftand and am judged for the hope of the promise made by God unto C our fathers: unto which promise our twelve tribes, inftantly ferving God day and night, hope to come; for which hope's fake, King Agrippa, I am accused by the Jews. Why fhould it be thought

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

• a thing

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

a thing incredible with you, that God fhould raife the dead? I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. Which things I alfo did in Jerufalem, and many of the faints did I fhut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I gave my voice against them. And I punished them oft in every fynagogue, and compelled them to blaf"pheme, and being exceedingly mad against ← them, I'persecuted them even unto strange cities. Whereupon as I went to Damafcus • with authority and commiffion from the chief priests, at mid-day, O King, I' faw in the way a light from heaven, above the brightness of the fun, fhining round about me, and them which journeyed with me. And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice fpeaking unto me, and faying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why perfecuteft thou me? It is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. And I faid, Who art thou, Lord? And he faid, I am Jefus whom thou perfecuteft. But rife, ftand upon thy feet; for I have ap

པ་

.

[blocks in formation]
[graphic][subsumed][subsumed][merged small]
« AnteriorContinuar »