gratified over the belly of truth, of innocence, of humanity, of law, and of religion itself. It cannot brook the least good office done to human-kind; all its absurdities are sacred; and yet nothing is sacred enough to mollify or restrain it, ever unforgiving, ever gnashing its teeth. Truth will perpetually be its foe, and therefore it will perpetually be in a flame.

This shows, too, the amiableness of an opposite spirit ; I mean, the amiable spirit of the gospel. Where did our blessed Saviour, who held all power in heaven and earth, and could command legions of angels-where, or when did he, in the midst of dangers, opposition, and abuses, ever oppress or punish even his unbelieving and implacable enemies? Where did ever Paul, who had the power and assistance of the Holy Ghost, and who had the power and assistance of miracles-where and when did ever he show any resentment to his bitterest foes among the Jews, or his most idolatrous gainsayers among the Gentiles?

What account is to be given for this diametrical opposition between these two spirits? I mean the spirit of the gospel, and the spirit of high-priests? None but this, that Christ and his apostles sought no empire but over wickedness and error, by the sole means of grace, gentleness, and persuasion; and they who have no opposite ends to serve, must bring them about by delusion, violence, and force. This is a certain criterion to mark out truth and falsehood, and true and false teachers. I defy all the priests upon earth to show, that the religion of Jesus, wants for its stay or its advancement, the external influence of worldly power. It was always purest, and flourished most, when all human power was against it. Slaves and hypocrites may be made by it; but religion rejoices in liberty and sincerity.

When men are angry in defence of their opinions, and oppress for their sake, let them not belie Christ, and say, it is for him but let their passions be made to answer for what nothing but their passions can produce. Why must ambition, avarice, and revenge, be fathered upon religion,

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which abhors them all? Why must bitterness and cruelty be laid at the door of the Father of mercies?

We cannot bear such violence offered to our reason and our language, as any longer to hear things called by wrong and unnatural names; or to see barbarous and impious actions varnished over with holy colors and godly pretences. It is an affront to our religion. We cannot find Christ in the actions of Belial; nor can we see the holy man in the oppressor. They that would resemble Jesus Christ, must do as he did, and not do what he never did; and they who will in any case follow the measures taken by the idolaters of Diana, in the case of Paul, must forego their title to Christianity, and argue as these idolaters did, "by this craft we have our wealth." And then the religion of the New Testament will not be profaned in their quarrel.

But why seize Paul, or any body that belonged to him? Is one man such a terror to many, that he must be punished before it appears that he deserved any punishment at all, and before he is heard? or is it dangerous to hear him? Are they afraid of his defence in a legal trial, as much as of his preaching and of his reasoning?

Downright oppression, that is, power without law, was the whole scope of their proceedings, and revenge their only motive. Paul was not running away. His whole business was to publish truth. He was at Ephesus on purpose. He did it every day; he preached in public; he taught in their synagogues, and disputed in their schools, so publicly and so effectually, that the arch-craftsman charged him with having persuaded and turned away much people. That griped; his reasoning prevailed, and the craft was in danger.

Mark the very different situation of Paul and his adversaries. They were in possession of an established church, and of all its revenues, and of the superstition of the people, who run mad for the church at the pleasure of the priest. The law was partial to them, being made by men of their own religion; and the judges and magistrates were all of the

same. The people were of opinion that their church was of divine institution, and that Heaven was on their side. The philosophers, and all they who governed their schools, and had the education of youth, were of that church, being every one heathens, except perhaps a few who judged for themselves, and could distinguish natural religion instituted by God, from the absurd medley of rituals invented by the priests. The Christian religion was as yet but in its infancy. The craftsmen governed all things; earth was in their possession, and Heaven they pretended was their champion.

Here are securities and advantages enough to put truth out of countenance, had truth been amongst them. In reality, she wants not so many. But falsehood can never have enough. The craftsmen knew this, and showed that they did so by their outrageous behaviour.

View Paul, and see what terrible arms he bears, that are so frightful to the craftsmen. He was a stranger; he was a dissenter; he had no equipage to dazzle people's eyes; no pompous garments to win their reverence, nor wealth to bribe their affections; and he sought no popularity, by indulging men in their vices, or encouraging them in their errors. All the numerous advantages of his adversaries, the priests, were so many obstacles and disadvantages to him, the apostle. He had only truth on his side; which rendered him an over-match for all the priests in the world. All the privilege, all the advantage which he desired, was a fair hearing. This, it seems, he had obtained of the town; and it had its effect. That was his crime, and there began the priestly fury, the fiercest, the most brutish of all others.

Shameless men! was it not enough that reason and religion were both against you; and that you would neither be proselytes to them yourselves, nor suffer that others should? Must you likewise proclaim their invincible power, and your own imbecility and nakedness, by virulently using direct, undisguised force, to stop their mouths? What impudence! What folly!

You that boasted your conformity to the law, and your establishment by the law! you that were the possessors of all scholarship! that were proprietors of the arts and sciences, and of the great endowments given for their support! you that instructed the young and old, and controlled the consciences of both! you that shut and opened heaven and hell! you that were the privy-counsellors of Diana! What could undermine you; what could annoy you? If you are not hurt yourselves, why do you oppress others? By this method you show your cloven feet. "Jesus we know, and Paul we know, but who are ye?"