ALL SAINTS' VICARAGE, BLACKROCK, _Nov. 4th, 1892_.
ACTS vii. 58; xxii. 3.
St. Paul's Appearance on the Christian Stage and its Results--The Tübingen Theory--His Parentage--Birthplace-- Testimony of St. Epiphanius--Early Friends--Education-- Trade--Gamaliel and his Influence--Evidence of Talmud-- Pharisaic Schools--Their Casuistry and Exegesis--Parallel between Hagar and Sarah 1-21
ACTS viii. 3; ix. 1-6.
Saul of Tarsus and St. Stephen--Saul and the Sanhedrin-- Conduct of Saul when Unconverted--Continuity of Judaism and Christianity--Saul and Blasphemy of Christ--Sense of Sin compatible with Sense of Forgiveness--Hooker on the Litany--Jeremy Taylor on Humility--Saul's Mission to Damascus--Domestic Tribunal permitted to the Jews by the Romans--Used against the Men of the Way--Meaning of this expression--Influence of it--Saul's Journey--Scene of Conversion--Lord Lyttelton's _Observations upon St. Paul's Conversion_--Supernatural Accompaniments appropriate to--Apostle's own Narrative--Reflections of the Venerable Bede 22-47
ACTS ix. 10, 11.
Saul and the Vision--Which probably produced Ophthalmia-- Portrait of St. Paul--Ananias of Damascus--Straight Street--St. Chrysostom on the Spiritual Greatness of Ananias--Seventeenth-century Travellers in Palestine-- Conversation between Jesus Christ and Ananias--Its Theology--Meaning of word Saint--Protest against Antinomianism--St. Paul and title Vas Electionis--And Doctrine of Election--Balance of Doctrine--The New Convert and Prayer 48-67
ACTS ix. 19, 20.
Visit of Ananias to House of Judas--Christ the True Visitor--Keble's Hymn for Easter Monday--Restoration of Saul's Sight--His Baptism--Language of Ananias-- Importance of this fact--Saul's Work in Damascus-- Narrative in Acts and in Galatians--Difficulties-- Reconciliation--Saul in Arabia--Ancient Explanations of--Discipline of--Value of Seasons of Retirement--Waste of Vital Spiritual Tissues in Activity--Abuse of this Principle in Monasticism--Celtic Monasticism--Saul, the Vas Electionis, trained like Jesus Christ 68-91
ACTS x. 1-6.
The Turning-points of Primitive Church History--Conversion of Saul and of Cornelius--Saul's earliest Ministry at Jerusalem--His Escape to Tarsus--St. Peter and Church in Joppa--Temporary Peace after Saul's Conversion-- Caligula's attempt to erect his Statue in Jerusalem--St. Peter and Simon the Tanner--Time of Conversion of Cornelius was Providential--Place, Cæsarea-by-the-Sea, Providential--Cornelius, a Roman Centurion--The Legions and Palestine--Modern Authorities confirm the Acts--New Testament and Favourable Estimate of Soldiers--Catholic Nature of Christianity--Value of Discipline--Lessons Taught by Example of Cornelius 92-114