forms in support of it : then I shall be indeed con- vinced that it is of Divine original :' I say, suppose a person unreasonable enough to desire such a proof, and determining, like Thomas, not to believe, till this evidence has been afforded him ; we would meet him on his own ground, and produce him precisely such an instance as he requires. In the conversion of the Apostle Paul all these things unite : and, from the frequency with which that event is related in the Scriptures, it seems to have been intended by God as a strong confirmation of the truth of our religion. In the passage before us, it is stated by the historian: but, in two other places, it is related by St. Paul him- self; who adduces the circumstances that attended it as an unquestionable proof of his own Divine mission, and of the truth of that Gospel which he preached.
In considering St. Paul's conversion, we shall notice it in different points of view ;
I. As a record for our instruction —
To enumerate the particular truths illustrated and confirmed by this event, would be endless : we shall therefore wave all mention of them, and confine our attention to the two leading features contained in the history ; and observe,
1. How blindly man acts in the discharge of his duty—
[If ever there was a man that possessed advantages for the knowledge of his duty, it was Saul of Tarsus. He was educated under Gamaliel, the most eminent teacher of his day, and made a proficiency in learning beyond most of his contemporaries ; and he was eminently distinguished for those moral habits, which peculiarly qualify the mind for the reception of truth. Yet behold, this man conceived himself to be rendering ac- ceptable service to his God, while persecuting his Church with the most unrelenting barbarity. Me thinks, even reason itself should have taught him, that men ought not to be so treated, merely for entertaining novel sentiments, and for following the convictions of their minds. If indeed they were violating the public peace, and destroying the welfare of the state, the ring- leaders of them might well be apprehended and tried : but to seize all whom he could lay his hands upon, and to drag women
1762.1 CONVERSION OF ST. PAUL. o.">3
as well as men to prison and to death, for no other crime than that of peaceably professing a new religion, was as contrary to humanity as to common sense.
Happy would it be if this erroneous mode of serving God had been confined to that age ! but there are still many, who " have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge;" many, who can see the wicked going on in their wickedness, and never once stretch forth their hand to turn them back ; but the moment they see persons embracing and obeying the Gospel of Christ, are filled with alarm, and think any methods proper to be used for stopping their progress. Our Lord himself told us beforehand, that it would be so, and that men would even " think they did God service in killing his devoted followers." Were these malignant dispositions found only among the un- godly and profane, we should not so much wonder at them : but they are found equally among the wise, the moral, and the conscientious. And this shews us, that when we see such persons opposing the Gospel, we ought to pity them, and to pray for them, and to give them credit for meaning well, even whilst they are fighting against God with all their might. And it may teach us at the same time, that ive also are fallible, and that we may be deceiving our own souls, even whilst we are most confident that we are acting right. " There is a way, says Solomon, that seemeth right unto a man ; but the end thereof are the ways of death."]