Religion bears our spirits up,

While we expect that blessed hope,
The bright appearance of the Lord,
And Faith stands leaning on his word."

DISCOURSE IX.

CONVERSION OF PAUL.

PAUL was a very extraordinary character. Before his conversion he was remarkable for his zeal in the cause of hell; he was "a blasphemer, a persecutor, and injurious." After his conversion he became as remarkable for his zeal in the cause of heaven in that cause he braved persecution, afflictions, and death, and said, "None of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the Gospel of the grace of God."

But who and what was Paul? We learn from his history that he was originally known by the name of Saul. He was born at Tarsus, a city of Cilicia; hence he is called "Saul of Tarsus." He was born of Jewish parents, whose ancestors

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were of Jewish descent: hence he is called an Hebrew of Hebrews." Having received a liberal education, he entered on the study of the law, under the famous Gamaliel : hence he is said to have been "brought up at the feet of Gamaliel." As it was usual with the Jews, however rich, to bring up their children in some trade, so we are told that the occupation of Paul was that of a tent-maker. Being of a religious temperament, he very soon attached himself to the sect of the Pharisees, and imbibed all their notions of selfimportance. Hence he himself says, "After the straitest sect of our religion, I lived a pharisee." In his attention to religious duties he outstripped all others; he himself tells us that, "As touching the righteousness which is in the law, he was blameless." No wonder, therefore, if he, above all others, trusted in himself that he was righteous, and despised others.

It is not an improbable supposition that he had seen our Lord; had, perhaps, listened to some of the "gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth;" nay, perhaps, had witnessed some of the wonderful works which he performed. But, as it was with many of the Jews, and especially with the Pharisees, "the veil was upon his heart." The mean appearance of Jesus proved to him a "stone of stumbling and rock of offence." What

he, therefore, heard and saw, only served to wound his pharisaic pride, to excite the bitter enmity of his mind, and to influence him to a course of determined hostility against Jesus. The feeling of Paul was similar to that of the Parisian infidel, who, speaking of Jesus, was wont to say, "Crush the wretch."

The first notice we have of Paul in Scripture is in connection with the martyrdom of Stephen. He consented to the death of that holy man, and held the clothes of them that stoned him. When he is next presented to our notice, it is in the character of a confirmed and violent persecutor of the church: "As for Saul he made havoc of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women and children, committed them to prison." Nor could he be content to confine his rage within the narrow limits of Jerusalem and Judea, but" breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, he went unto the high-priest, and desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem."

Suppose we had seen this man in his mad career, had seen him issue from Jerusalem with his heart full of enmity against the Saviour, had

seen him pursuing his journey resolutely bent to destroy; had seen him about to enter Damascus prepared as a lion to tear the prey; should we not have expected that some bolt from the stores above would arrest his course, and render him a gloomy monument of the wrath of heaven? But the thoughts and ways of God are very different from those of men. Paul was a chosen vessel unto God. The time for his conversion was now come. Mercy, therefore, not justice, arrested his course. A beam from the Father of lights shone on his dark mind. Jesus, in an audible voice from heaven, addressed him, "Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?" Paul felt the effect of this heavenly vision-felt the force of this divine appeal; and now mark the change! He once blasphemed, now he prays; he once despised Jesus, now he acknowledges his grace and power. "And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus."

The change in the mind of Paul soon became apparent. He at once ranked himself among the followers of the despised Nazarene. He immediately began to "preach the faith which he once destroyed." "He straightway preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God." To exalt the grace of heaven, he testifies to Jews