heavens fhall laugh; the Lord fhall have them in derifion *." Paul was refcued from his furious adverfaries at Jerufalem, by the very confpiracy for his deftruction. "They thruft fore at him, that he might fall; but the Lord helped him t." Let others be encouraged from his cafe. "Cry out and fhout, thou inhabitant of Zion; for great is the Holy One of Ifrael in the midft of thee ."

St. Paul was fecured in Herod's palace at Cefarea, till his accufers came. After a few days, the high priest and other members of the Sanhedrim, with Tertullus, an infidious counsellor, at their head, appeared against him, and produced their charge before Felix §. The orator addreffed the Roman governor in terms of the baleft flattery, complimenting him upon the wisdom and excellency of his administration, though he was notoriously infamous for his oppreffion. He then inveighed against the prifoner, as having excited a feditious fpirit through the whole body of the Jews, polluted their temple, and taken the most active part in fpreading the principles of the Nazarenes, who were univerfally detefted.

The Apostle, being permitted to answer in his own defence, protested his innocence, and challenged them to prove their allegations. He acknowledged, indeed, that his religious conduct was what they deemed heretical, but maintained that it was conformable to the ancient fcriptures, in which he had been educated, and that his hope of a general refurrection was no other, than what they themselves allowed. He declared, that be uniformly endeavoured to discharge his duty both to God and men, that his journey to Jerufalem had been undertaken for the purposes of charity and devotion, and that his appearance in the temple had not been attended with any irregular or tumultuous pro

* Pfal. ii. 7, 4. † cxviii. 13. ‡ Isa, xii. 6. § Acts xxiv. 1, &c. R 2

ceedings.

ceedings. He, therefore, called upon his profecutors to produce their evidence.

It is not probable, that you, who ferve the Lord Chrift, will efcape unjuft and malicious cenfures, whatever prudence or benevolence you may poffefs. Perhaps, the way, in which you worship God, may be reproached as herefy: but be not deterred by an ignominious name. It may be expedient, on certain occafions, to vindicate your principles and conduct: you fhould be furnifhed with arguments for that end; and, if you are truly upright with God, you alfo, like the Apostle, may be "bold as a lion" in the prefence of your accufers. Only be you folicitous "to have always a confcience void of offence," that you may not provide them with objections, or give them any real advantage against you. But, if your own hearts condemn you, and the charges of your enemies be well founded, what shall we fay? Though others attempt to justify and protect you, you will be a terror to yourselves, ready to flee, "when no man pursueth*.”

What, then, was the iffue of the trial? Felix deferred the cause to another hearing, that he might obtain clearer information. However, he fo far favoured the prifoner, as to allow him fome degree of liberty, and permit him to receive the communications and vifits of his friends. In that fituation Paul was even called on to declare and maintain the Chriftain faith before this wicked governor and his adulterous wife Drufilla, who exprefled a defire to be acquainted with the doctrine. Their motive, probably, was mere curiofity, and this the Apostle did not endeavour to gratify. He aimed not to amufe them, but to fix an arrow of conviction in their confciences. Regardless of the event, as to himself, he addreffed them with peculiar folemnity on fubjects, which feemed calculated to awaken in them a fenfe of guilt, and to alarm

*Prov. xxviii. 1.

their fears. "He reasoned of righteoufnefs" before the man, who had practifed extreme injuftice and oppreffion; "of temperance" or chastity before those, who were then living in a ftate of incontinency,

and of judgment to come," that they might be excited to prepare for that awful account, which must be rendered at the tribunal of heaven.

Are we not aftonished at the boldness of the Apostle, who endeavoured to bring his dignified hearers to repentance, rather than conciliate their favour and exculpate himself? But is not this the fpirit, which all the minifters of the Gofpel fhould poffefs? Without any dread of confequences, they fhould declare to the moft exalted perfonages their guilt and danger, and, instead of ufing flattering fpeeches, "warn them to flee from the wrath to come." Who will not acknowledge the propriety of fuch an addrefs? The carelefs and abandoned are often conftrained to feel the force of divine truth. The haughty judge trembled under the words of the prifoner, and therefore haftened to close the interview. His heart was wounded within him, and he could not conceal its horrors. But ah! unhappy man! he wifhed not to pursue the confideration of the painful fubject; and yet he was not fo obdurate, as to determine never more to think upon religion. He endeavoured, therefore, to pacify his confcience, by pleading his numerous engagements at that time, and promifing a ferious attention to the preacher at a convenient seafon."

Did that seafon ever come? Alas! no: He refifted his convictions; and, probably, they produced no good effect. Afterwards, indeed, he frequently heard the Apostle, and entered into conversation with him; but we do not read, that he trembled any more. He was actuated by covetousness, and, instead of enquiring for falvation, fought to obtain a bribe, for which he would have releafed the prifoner. But, as

he failed in that attempt, he retained him in cuftody, though no crime had been proved against him; and even after two years, when he was recalled from his government, he ftill left him in bonds, merely that he might recommend himfelf to the Jews. What complicated iniquity was this! How lamentable, that the deep impreffions, made upon his heart, fhould ferve only to aggravate his guilt!

O finners, beware, how you trifle with your convictions, when you are awakened to any fenfe of your mifery by the faithful declarations of God's word! Like Felix, perhaps, you may be inclined to difmifs the preacher, and turn away from those offensive subjects, by which he pains your feelings. Are you refolved, then, to caft oft all thoughts of God and eternal things? No: you hope that at fome future opportunity you fhall be more at liberty to attend to your fpiritual concerns. Ah! Sirs, what means this procraftination? Is not your fhort life haftening to a clofe? Is not judgment approaching? May you not be fuddenly called to the tribunal of heaven? Or, may you not, by your unwillingness to fubmit, provoke God to leave you to your own devices, and to fay in righteous indignation, "Let them alone ?" To what other feafon are you looking forwards? Or what can be fo convenient as the prefent? Do not, therefore, delay the important bufinefs. Yield to your convictions: ftop not your ears against the truth, but defire to feel its full influence; and foon will your horrors and diftreffing apprehenfions give place to the livelieft emotions of hope and joy.

A. D. 62.

St. Paul was left at Cefarea, and the rage of his enemies had not yet fubfided. Feftus fuc. ceeded to the government of Judea, and, upon his going to Jerufalem, received a powerful application against the prifoner from the members of the Sanhedrim *. They petitioned, that he might be sent

• Acts xxy, I, &c.

for

way.

for to Jerufalem, and intended to murder him by the But the fcheme was defeated. Through the fecret influence of God upon his mind, Feftus would not comply with the requeft. He commanded the accufers to attend him to Cefarea, where he himself proposed to hear and decide the caufe. There the trial was inftituted, and Paul once more put upon his defence. The fame groundlefs and malicious charges were brought against him, as before; and he, with his ufual intrepidity, perfifted in afferting his innocence. Still juftice was denied him. The governor was dif posed to trifle, or rather to give him up to his enemies; for he propofed, that, according to their requeft, the matter should be referred to the council at Jerufalem.

What, then, could the Apoftle expect from fuch arbiters? He faw through the defign, and refused to fubmit. He declared his readiness to suffer extreme punishment, if he had deferved it, but maintained that he had done no wrong. As a Roman citizen, therefore, he claimed the privilege of being tried before the Emperor, and boldly appealed unto Cefar; which ftopped all further proceedings in the lower courts. This appeal was not the effect of cowardice: he did not fhrink from bonds or death itself. But he has taught us, that it may be expedient for a Christian to affert his civil rights, and demand the protection and immunities, which the laws of his country allow him. We fhould, however, beware of a petulant and litigious fpirit: the example before us will not juftify a wanton oppofition to government, or a propensity to contend for every little grievance.

It was determined, then, that the caufe fhould be fubmitted to Cefar's decifion, and Paul fent as a prifoner to Rome. Thus his defire of vifiting that city was granted, and the divine promife fulfilled, though, probably, in a very different way from what he had expected. But, before he ftood in the presence of the Emperor,

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