Aunt. Notwithstanding this, he saw it his indispensible duty to use proper means for the security of that life which God had promised to preserve. And he called one of the centurions, desiring him to take that young man to Lysias, for he had something to communicate to him. When Lysias had heard the account, he charged the young man not to tell any one that he had shewn these things to him. The captain immediately ordered two hundred soldiers, seventy horsemen, and two hundred spearmen, to be ready at the third hour of the night, and to provide a horse for Paul, that they might convey him safely to Felix the governor; to whom he wrote a letter, giving him a true state of the case. And the soldiers brought him by night to Antipatris, where they left him with the horsemen, and returned · to the castle. And when they came to Cæsarea, they delivered their prisoner and the letter to the governor, which when he had read, he inquired of what province he was. Being informed that he was of Cilicia, he promised Paul a hearing when his accusers cane; and, in the mean time, he commanded him to be kept in Herod's judgment-hall. Maria. How long was it before his accusers came down?

Aunt. It was only five days before Ananias the high priest and the elders came, and brought with them a famous orator, named Tertullus. Paul being set before them, Tertullus stood up to accuse him; and, in a flattering speech, first celebrated the worthy actions of Felix, and then proceeded to his accusation of Paul, to which the Jews also assented, saying, that these things were so.

Paul, having leave from Felix to make his defence, began with declaring himself satisfied that he was to plead before one who, for several years, had been governor of that nation: he then calmly and distinctly answered to the several parts of the charge. Maria. Did Felix decide against Paul?

Aunt. No: he refused determining on the matter, till Lysias should come down. He committed Paul to the custody of a centurion, but ordered that none of his friends should be hindered from visiting him. Some time after, Felix, and his wife Drusilla, sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith of Christ. Paul enlarged on those virtues, in which the governor was extremely defective, particularly justice and temperance: adding some discourse concerning the judgment to coms; which made Felix tremble. And he said to Paul, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will send for thee.

Lucy. Did he send for him afterwards?

Aunt. We do not find that he ever conversed with him again on that subject. After two years, Porcius Festus came in Felix's room: and Felix, willing to gratify the Jews, left Paul bound.

Festus, three days after his arrival, went to Jerusalem; when the Sanhedrim brought fresh accusations against Paul, begging he might be brought to Jerusalem to be tried, intending to kill him by the Festus told them that he was going to Cæsarea; and, if they had any thing against the prisoner, they might go down with him, and accuse him. Festus, being returned, entered on the trial of Paul. The Jews renewed their charges with the

way.

utmost violence; but Paul defended himself so well, by manifesting that he had neither offended against the Jewish laws, nor against the temple, nor against the emperor, that their charges failed for want of sufficient proof.

George. Then of course he was acquitted.

Aunt. He ought to have been: but Festus, willing to please the Jews, said unto Paul, Wilt thou go unto Jerusalem, and there be judged of these things before me? Paul answered, I stand at Cæsar's judgment-seat, where I ought to be judged to the Jews have I done no wrong, as thou well knowest; and no man can deliver me unto them. I appeal unto Cæsar.

Festus consulted with the council what was to be done: the result was, that as he had appealed to Cæsar, to Cæsar he must go. He was now kept till a convenient opportunity offered to send him to Rome. In the mean time, king Agrippa, with Bernice his sister, came to pay their compliments to the new governor. Festus gave the king some account of his prisoner Paul: for he appears to have been quite perplexed to know what to write to the emperor; therefore he did all in his power to excite the curiosity of the king to see Paul: having obtained his end, he promised, on the morrow the king should examine him, that he might have somewhat to write about, for it appeared unreasonable to send a prisoner, and not to signify the crimes laid to his charge.

The next day, the king and his sister, accompanied by Festus, and other persons of quality, with a large retinue, went into the court of justice,

where Paul was brought before them. Festus gave an account of the accusations of the Jews against him, and his appeal to the emperor. Agrippa then told Paul that he had liberty to make his own defence, which he did, in a speech that may be considered as a model of eloquence.

He began by expressing his satisfaction, that he was called to speak before one, who was so well acquainted with the laws and customs of the Jews. He then gave a brief account of his former profession and manner of life; of his miraculous conversion to christianity, and of his call to preach the gospel to the Gentiles, with his subsequent conduct and behaviour. He was proceeding to prove, from the scriptures of the Old Testament, that Jesus was the Messiah promised to the fathers, when he was suddenly interrupted by Festus, who said, with a loud voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad To which Paul calmly replied, I am not mad, most noble Festus, but speak forth the words of truth and soberness. He then appealed to Agrippa, who could not forbear owning the force of what he said, by acknowledging before the whole company to Paul, that he had almost persuaded him to be a christian. Paul answered with a devout wish, that not only Agrippa, but that all who heard him that day, were both almost and altogether such as he was, excepting the circumstance of his imprisonment. And when he had thus spoken, the king and his company departed. Maria. But, from what had been said, what had Festus to write about?

Aunt. Festus could not gain any thing from this examination: for the king gave it as his opinion, that Paul had done nothing worthy of death or of bonds; and that, if he had not appealed to Cæsar, he might have been set at liberty.

DIALOGUE XXIII.

Aunt. WE are now entering on Paul's voyage to Rome. He was delivered, with some other prisoners, to Julius, a centurion of Augustus' band; and, entering a ship, sailed by the coasts of Asia. Having proceeded about twenty-five leagues northward, they cast anchor at Sidon.

Maria. Did they stay long there?

Aunt. No; but Julius favoured Paul, so far as to give him liberty to go on shore to visit his friends, and refresh himself. Thence they sailed under Cyprus, because the winds were contrary. At length they came to Myra, a city of Lycia, where the centurion found a ship bound for Italy, in which they sailed slowly for many days, the winds still continuing contrary. And when they were come to a place, called the Fair Haven, nigh unto the city Lasea, sailing being now dangerous, Paul advised them not to proceed on their voyage; for, if. they did, it would be to the damage and hurt, not only of the ship and lading, but also of their lives: but the master of the ship paid no regard to this admonition, and the haven, notwithstanding its fine name, not being commodious to winter in, they all con