Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

with a pompous detail of all the amazing miracles which he had performed in different parts of the world, though he had fo fair an occafion of doing it, but with a modest and fimple expofition of his abun dant labours and fufferings in preaching the gofpel, and barely reminding them, "that the figns of an apostle had been wrought among them in all patience, in figns, and wonders, and mighty deeds," 2 Cor. xii. 12. Could he fay lefs than this? Is not ach boafting humility itfelf? And yet or this he makes many apologies, exprefng the greatest uneafinefs in being obliged fpeak th himfelf, even in his own dicatio r. xi. 1, 16, 17, 18, 19, fame epiftle, and for the e mentions the vifion he how modeftly does he do s own name, but in the knew a man in Christ, &c. be third heaven, 2 Cor. xii. ediately after he ad lest any man fbould which he feeth me to h of me, 2 Cor. xii. 6. his to a fpirit of vanity! how m the practice of enthufiaftic

[graphic]

endeavour to prove, that he could not have imposed on himself by any power of enthufiafm, either in regard to the miracle that caufed his converfion, or to the confequential effects of it, or to fome other circumftances which he bears teftimony to in his epiftles.

The power of imagination in euthiaftical minds is no doubt very strong, but it always in conformity to the opinions imprinted upon it at the time of its working, and can no more act against them, than a rapid river can carry a boat against the current of its own ftream. Now nothing can be more certain, than that when Saul fet out for Damafcus with an authority from the chief priests to bring the Christians which were there, bound to Jerufalem, Acts ix. 2. an authority folicited by himself, and granted to him at his own earnest defire, his mind was ftrongly poffeffed with opinions against Chrift and his followers. To give thofe opinions a more active force his paffions at that time concurred, being inflamed in the highest degree by the irritating confcioufnefs of his paft conduct towards them, the pride of fupporting a part Fart he had voluntarily engaged in, and

[ocr errors]

the credit he found it procured him among the chief priests and rulers, whose commif fion he bore.

If in fuch a state and temper of mind, an enthusiastical man had imagined he faw a vifion from heaven denouncing the anger of God against the Chriftians, & commanding him to perfecute them without any mercy, it might be accounted for by the natural power of enthufiafm. But that in the very inftant of his being engaged in the fiercest and hotteft perfecution against them, no circumftance having happened to change his opinions, or alter the bent of his difpofition, he fhould at once imagine himself called by a heavenly vifion to be the apostle of Chrift, whom but a moment before he deemed an impoftor and a blafphemer, that had been justly put to death on the crofs, is in itfelf wholly incredi ble, and fo far from being a probable effect of enthufiafm, that just a contrary effect must have been naturally produced by that caufe. The warmth of his temper carried him violently another way, and whatever delufions his imagination could raise to impofe on his reafon, muft have been raif

ed at that time agreeably to the notions imprinted upon it, and by which it was heated to a degree of enthusiasm, not in direct contradiction to all thofe notions, while they remained in their full force.

This is fo clear a propofition, that I might reft the whole argument entirely upon it : but ftill farther to fhew that this vifion. could not be a phantom of St. Paul's own creating, I beg leave to obferve, that he was not alone when he faw it; there were many others in company, whofe minds were no better difpofed than his to the chriftian faith. Could it be poffible, that the imaginations of all thefe men fhould at the fame time be fo ftrangely affected, as to make them believe that they faw a great light shining about them above the brightness of the fun at noon-day, and heard the found of a voice from heaven, though not the words which it fpake, Acts ix. 3. xxii. 9. when in reality they neither faw, nor heard any fuch thing? Could they be fo infatuated with this conceit of their fancy, as to fall down from their horfes together with Saul, and be fpeechless through fear, Acts xxvi. 14. ix. 7. when nothing had

happened extraordinary either to them or to him? Efpecially confidering that this apparition did not happen in the night, when the fenfes are more eafily impofed upon, but at mid-day. If a fudden frenzy had feized upon Saul, from any dif temper of body or mind, can we fuppofe his whole company, men of different conftitutions and understandings, to have been at once affected in the fame manner with him, fo that not the diftemper alene, but the effects of it should exactly agree? If all had gone mad together, would not the frenzy of fome have taken a different turn, and prefented to them different objects? This fuppofition is fo contrary to nature and all poffibility, that unbelief muft find fome other folution or give up the point.

I fhall fuppofe then, in order to try to account for this vifion without a miracle, that as Saul and his company were journeying along in their way to Damafcus, an extraordinary meteor did really happen which caft a great light, as fome meteors will do, at which they being affrighted fell to the ground in the manner related.— This might be poffible, and fear grounded

« AnteriorContinuar »