~ future Account, the chief Subject of his SERM. Sermon before Felix; when he argued V. (as his Manner of Preaching upon other Occafions fhews that he did) from Principles of natural Light, how great Reason Men had to practise the two firft of these, and to believe and expect the latter; when he enlarged upon the intrinsick Beauty and Loveliness of those Vertues, and their manifest Subferviency to Mens present and future Happinefs; and urged the univerfal Confent of Mankind to this Purpose, who had always acknowledged themselves to be under these Obligations, and, accordingly as they did, or did not fulfill them here, liable to be rewarded, or punished hereafter. St. Paul, we may be fure, thought himself all this while to be preaching Jefus Chrift and his Gofpel: And from the Effect we learn, that this moral preaching of the Apostle was fufficiently powerful, awakening, edifying; for it had fuch a fpiritual Efficacy in it, as to make his Auditor tremble. But SERM. But the fubject Matter of St. Paul's V. Difcourfe is not more obfervable, on the Account of its Excellence and Importance at large, than it is, for the particular Fitness and Propriety of it, with Regard to the Perfon to whom it was ad dreffed. The two Vices of which Felix was moft remarkably guilty, were Injustice and Intemperance; as Hiftorians of unsuspected Credit, both Heathen and Jewish, inform us. Tacitus fays of him that, Judæa impofitus, & cuncta malefacta fibi impune [ceffura] ratus, tantá potentiâ fubnixo — per omnem fævitiam aë libidinem jus regium fervili ingenio exercuit, ie. The Impunity which he promised himself from his high Station and Power, tempted him to commit all Manner of Luft and Violence. And Jofe phus adds, that Drufilla her felf, who now fat with him on the Judgment Seat, was really the Wife of a certain King of the Emefenes, but had been enticed from his Bed by Felix, with whom she now publickly lived and converfed. Nothing therefore could be more more appofite, than a Difcourfe concern-SER M. ing Righteousness and Temperance, before V. fuch a cruel and voluptuous Person; nothing more proper, than to put this unjuft Judge in Mind of another, a more impartial and dreadful Tribunal, before which he himself should one Day stand, and be judged. Thus did St. Paul adapt and proportion what he spake to the peculiar Wants and Exigences of the Hearer; and in fo doing, left us a Pattern worthy of Imitation; fuch as, when attentively confidered, will give us great Occafion to admire the Dexterity and Address, the fincere and difinterefted Conduct, the mighty Courage and Zeal of this eminent Apostle. What could have more of holy Art and Wisdom in it, than St. Paul's anfwering the Inquiries of Felix in fuch a Manner, as was most likely to bene fit the Inquirer? The Roman Governor, led by no other Principle than Curiofity, defires from St. Paul an Account of his Faith. St. Paul readily complies, and fo orders that Account, as to fet SERM. thofe Parts of Christianity in the clearV. eft Light before Felix, which he want ed moft to fee and confider; so as to turn off his general Apology for the Gospel into an immediate and close Application of fome of its chief DoArines to the particular Case of Felix ; and to fhew him, e're he is aware, that the Laws both of Christianity and Nature agree, in condemning his Violences and Impurities. What a fincere and difinterefted Spirit does there appear in St. Paul on this Occafion! He ftood there accused of heinous Crimes, and was ready to fink under the Malice and mighty Power of his Accusers, the High-Prieft, and chief Men of the Jewish Sanhedrim then present, and foliciting a fevere Sentence against him. And yet he seems regardless of the imminent Peril he was in; and, forgetting his own private Intereft, any Degree of Concern for himself, turns all his Thoughts, and bends his whole Force towards promoting the general Interefts of the Gospel V. Gospel, and the Salvation of Souls. SER M. He contrives not how he may gain the Affections of his Judge, and make him favourable to his Caufe; but how only he may induce him to be kind to himself and a good Chriftian; how he may render him fit to receive Mercy and Favour from the fupreme Judge of Heaven and Earth. What is, if this be not, to preach the Gospel of Chrift in Simplicity and godly Sincerity? Laftly, we may observe also, in the Behaviour of St. Paul, the Marks of an undaunted and exemplary Courage. He fears not, we fee, to utter necessary, though harsh and ungrateful Truths in the Ears of one, who had the Power of Life and Death over him. He knew, with what Dangers the faithful Discharge of his Duty would, in this Cafe, be attended; how impatient the Great are, under Reproof, though couched in the most gentle and leaft offenfive Language; what abfolute Empire Drufilla had gained over the Heart of Felix, and with what Revenge |