CONVERSION

AND

APOSTLESHIP

от

ST. PAUL.

BY GEORGE LYTTLETON, Esq.

Member of Parliament, and one of the Commissioners of
the Treasury,

IN A LETTER

ΤΟ

GILBERT WEST, E$2.

BURLINGTON, N. J.

PRINTED for DAVID ALLINSON, by S. C. USTICK,

1

LETTER,

&c.

SIR,

IN a late converfation we had together upon the subject of the chriftian religion, L 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 system of the Jewish religion, from the miracles of Christ, and from the evidence given of his refurrection by all the other apoftles, I thought the converfion and the apostleship of St. Paul alone, duly confidered, was of itself a demonstration sufficient to prove christianity

to be a divine revelation.

As you seemed to think that fo compen, dious a proof might be of use to convince those unbelievers that will not attend to a longer feries of arguments, I have thrown together the reasons upon which I fupport that propofition.

346

(RECAP)

“

In the xxvith chapter of the Acts of the apostles, writ by a cotemporary author, and a companion of St. Paul in preaching the gospel (as appears by the book itself, chap. xx. ver. 6, 13, 14. chap. xxvii. ver. 1, &c.) St. Paul is faid to have given himself 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 first, among mine own nation at Jerufalem, know all the Jews, which knew me from the beginning (if they would testify) that after the stricteft 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 our fathers: unto which promife 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 a thing incredible with you, that God fhould raise the dead? I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jefus of Nazareth. Which thing I also did in Jerufalem, and many of the faints did I fhut up in prifon, 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 blafpheme, and being exceeding mad against them, I perfecuted them even unto strange cities. Whereupon, as I went to Damafcus with authority and commiflion 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 fay-. ing 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 appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minifter, and a witnefs both of those things which thou haft feen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee; des livering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I fend thee, to open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive for