In contemplating the character of this most remarkable man, we may gather valuable principles of gospel truth. He seems to have been peculiarly fitted to show forth, in the first place, what the grace of God _can_ do; and, in the second place, what the greatest amount of legal effort _cannot_ do. If ever there was a man upon this earth whose history illustrates the truth that "salvation is by grace, without works of law," Saul of Tarsus was that man. Indeed, it is as though God had specially designed to present in this man a living example, first, of the depth from which His grace can rescue a _sinner_: and, secondly, the height from which a _legalist_ is brought down to receive Christ. He was at once the very _worst_ and the very _best_ of men--the chief of sinners and the chief of legalists: as he hated and persecuted Christ in His saints, he was a sinner of sinners; and a Pharisee of the Pharisees in his moral conduct and pride.
Let us, then, in the first place, contemplate him as