flaughters alfo (and thofe who threaten, would also flaughter, if it were in their power) against the difciples of the Lord. Infatiable therefore as hell, finding he could not refute or ftop the Chriftians by force of argument, he is refolved to do it by force of arms; and therefore went to the high priest (for there never was a perfecution yet without a high priest at the head of it) and desired of him letters iffued out of his fpiritual court, to the fynagogues or ecclefiaftical courts at Damafcus, giving him authority, "that if he found any of this way, whether they "were men or women, he might bring them bound "unto Jerufalem," I fuppofe to be arraigned and condemned in the high prieft's court. Obferve how he fpeaks of the Chriftians. Luke, who wrote the Acts, calls them difciples of the Lord, and Saul ftyles them men and women of this way. I doubt not but he reprefented them as a company of upftart enthufiafts, that had lately gotten into a new method or way of living; that would not be content with the temple-fervice, but they must be righteous overmuch, and have their private meetings or conventicles; and break bread, as they called it, from houfe to house, to the great disturbance of the established clergy, and to the utter fubverfion of all order and decency. I do not hear that the high-prieft makes any objection: no, he was as willing to grant letters, as Saul was to ask them; and wonderfully pleafed within himself, to find he had fuch an active zealot to employ against the Chriftians.

Well then, a judicial procefs is immediately if fued out, with the high prieft's feal affixed to it. And now methinks I fee the young perfecutor finely equipped, and pleafing himself with thoughts how triumphantly he fhould ride back with the men and women of this way, dragging after him to Jerufa

lem.

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1

What a condition may we imagine the poor dif ciples at Damafcus were in at this time! No doubt they had heard of Saul's imprisoning and making havock of the faints at Jerufalem, and we may well fuppofe were apprifed of his defign against them. I am perfuaded this was a growing, because a trying time with thefe dear people. O how did they wrestle with God in prayer, befeeching him either to deliver them from, or give them grace fufficient to enable them to bear up under the fury of their perfecutors? The high priest doubtlefs, with the rest of his reverend brethren, flattered themfelves, that they should now put an effectual ftop to this growing herefy, and waited with impatience for Saul's return.

But, "He that fitteth in heaven laughs them to fcorn, the Lord has them in derifion." And therefore, verfe 3." As Saul journeyed, and came even "near unto Damafcus," perhaps to the very gates (our Lord permitting this, to try the faith of his difciples, and more confpicuoufly to baffle the defigns of his enemies) "fuddenly (at mid-day, as he acquaints Agrippa) there fhined round about him a light "from heaven," a light brighter than the fun; " and "he fell to the earth, why not into hell?) and "heard a voice faying unto him, Saul, Saul, why "perfecuteft thou me?" The word is doubled, Saul, Saul: like that of our Lord to Martha; Martha, Martha or the prophet, O earth, earth, earth! Perhaps thefe words came like thunder to his foul. That they were fpoken audibly, we are affured from verfe 7. His companions heard the voice. Our Lord now arrefts the perfecuting zealot calling him by name; for the word never does us good, till we find it fpoken to us in particular. "Saul, Saul, why "perfecuteft thou ME:" Put the emphasis upon the word why, what evil have I done? Put it upon the word perfecuteft, why perfecuteft! I fuppofe Saul

thought he was not perfecuting; no, he was only putting the laws of the Ecclefiaftical court into execution; but Jefus, whofe eyes are as a flame of fire, faw through the hypocrify of his heart, that, notwithftanding his fpecious pretences, all this proceeded from a perfecuting fpirit, and fecret enmity of heart against God; and therefore fays, "Why perfecutest "thou ME?" Put the emphafis upon the word ME, "Why perfecuteft thou me? Alas! Saul was not perfecuting Chrift, was he? He was only taking care to prevent innovations in the church, and bringing a company of enthufiafts to juftice, who otherwife would overturn the established conflitution. But Jefus fays, "Why perfecuteft thou me?" For what is done to Chrift's difciples, he takes as done to himfelf, whether it be good, or whether it be evil. He that touches Christ's difciples, touches the apple of his eye; and they that perfecute the followers of our Lord, would perfecute our Lord himself, was he again to come and tabernacle amongst us.

I do not find that Saul gives any reafon why he did perfecute; no, he was ftruck dumb; as every perfe cutor will be, when Jefus Chrift puts this fame queftion to them at the terrible day of judgement. But being pricked at the heart, no doubt with a fenfe not only of this, but of all his other offences against the great God, he faid, ver. 5. "Who art thou, Loid?' See how foon God can change the heart and voice of his moft bitter enemies. Not many days ago, Saul was not only blafpheming Chrift himfelf, but, as much as in him lay, compelling others to blafpheme allo: But now, he who before was an impoftor, is called Lord; "who art thou, Lord" This admicably points out the way in which God's Spirit works upon the heart: It first powerfully convinces of fin, and of ous damnable state; and then puts us upon enquiring after Jefus Chrift. Saul being ftruck to the ground, or pricked to the heart, cries out after Jefus, "Who art

"thou, Lord?" As many of you that were never fo far made fenfible of your damnabie ftate, as to be made feelingly to feek after Jefus Chrift, were never yet truly convicted by, much lefs converted to, God. May the Lord, who ftruck Saul, effectually now strike all my Chrift efs hearers, and fet them upon enquiring after Jefus, as their ALL in ALL! Saul faid, "Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord faid, I am "Jefus, whom thou perfecuteft." Never did any one enquire truly after Jefus Chrift, but Chrift made a faving difcovery of himfelf to his foul. It should feem, our Lord appeared to him in perfon; for Ananias, afterwards, fays, "the Lord, who appeared to "thee in the way which thou cameft; " though this may only imply Chrift's meeting him in the way; it is not much matter: It is plain Chrift here speaks to him, and fays, "I am Jefus, whom thou perfecutest." It is remarkable, how our Lord takes to himself the name of Jefus; for it is a name in which he delights: I am Jefus, à Saviour of my people, both from the guilt and power of their fins; a "Jefus, whom thou "perfecuteft." This feems to be fpoken to convince Saul more and more of his fin: and I doubt not but every word was sharper than a two-edged fword, and came like fo many daggers to his heart: O, how did thefe words affect him! a Jefus ! a Saviour! and yet I am perfecuting him! This ftrikes him with horror; but then the word Jefus, though he was a perfecutor, might give him fome hope. However, our dear Lord, to convince Saul that he was to be faved by grace, and that he was not afraid of his power and enmity, tells him, "It is hard for thee to kick against the "pricks." As much as to fay, though he was perfecuting, yet he could not overthrow the church of Chrift: For he would fit as King upon his holy hill of Zion; the malice of men or devils fhould never be able to prevail againft him.

Ver. 6. And he "trembling and aftonished, faid,

"Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?" Thofe, who think Saul had a difcovery of Jefus made to his heart before, think that this question is the refult of his faith, and that he now defires to know what he fhall do, out of gratitude, for what the Lord had done for his foul; in this fenfe it may be underflood*, and I have made use of it as an inftance to prove, that faith will work by love; but perhaps it may be more agreeable to the context, if we fuppofe that Saul had only fome diftant difcovery of Chrift made to him, and not a full affurance of faith: For we are told, "he trembling and aftonish'd," trembling at the thoughts of his perfecuting a Jefus, and aftonished at his own vileness, and the infinite condefcenfion of this Jefus cries out," Lord, what wilt thou have me to

do? Perfons under foul-trouble, and fore conviction, would be glad to do any thing, or comply on any terms, to get peace with God. Arife (fays our "Lord) and go into the city and it fhall be told thee "what thou fhalt do."

And here we will leave Saul a while, and fee what is become of his companions. But what shall we say? God is a fovereign agent; his facred Spirit bloweth when and where it lifteth; "He will have mercy on "whom he will have mercy Saul is taken, bur, as far as we know to the contrary, his fellow-travellers are left to perifh in their fins; For we are told, ver. 7. "That the men who journeyed with him ftood, "indeed fpeechlefs, and hearing a confused voice." I fay a confufed voice, for fo the word fignifies, and must be fo interpreted. in order to reconcile it with chap. xxii. ver. 9. where Saul giving an account of thefe men, tells Agrippa, " They heard not the voice "of him that (pake to me." They heard a voice, a confufed noife, but not the articulate voice of him