Emperor, another opportunity was given him for declaring the truths of the Gofpel to certain perfonages of exalted rank; and on that occafion he bore an honourable teftimony.

King Agrippa, who poffeffed a large extent of dominion under the Romans, and his fifter Bernice, with whom it is fuppofed that he lived in a ftate of incestuous commerce, came together to pay their refpects to the new governor Feftus. During their continuance at Cefarea, they were made acquainted with the caufe of the Apoftle. Feftus informed them, on what grounds he had detained this remarkable prifoner in bonds; but, in his relation, he evidently treated with contempt the Gofpel, which Paulpreached, as confifting of unmeaning and fuperftitious queftions concerning one Jefus, who was dead and yet affirmed to be alive. Alas! it is obvious, from their confufed accounts, that men do not feriously attend to the doctrines of Chriftianity. They, who feel not the importance of eternal things, trifle with the most folemn declarations of God's word: poffibly, they may confider even the death and refurrection of Chrift as an uninterefting ftory, and of dubious authority. How different are the fentiments of the real believer! With what fixed regard and lively joy does he liften to thofe, who teftify of the crucified and rifen Saviour! This is the fubject, with which, above all others, he wifhe to be acquainted.

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Agrippa defired to hear the fingular preacher, of whom Feftus fpoke; and the next day was appointed for that purpose. The court was fummoned; illuftrious perfonages, together with the principal officers of the army and inhabitants of the city, attended: and Paul was brought forth to make his defence. When the cause had been opened by Feftus, Agrippa intimated to the prifoner, that he would be allowed the full liberty of pleading for himfelf *. And

* Acts xxvi. 1, &c.

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now our eyes are turned to the Apostle, and we are folicitous to obferve, how he acquits himself in fuch an affembly. In this difficult fituation he fhines with peculiar luftre, and exhibits the moft ftriking proofs of wisdom, courage, faithfulness, and zeal. Here we contemplate the Chriftian orator, addreffing his noble auditors with graceful eloquence, with evident marks of politeness and learning, yet with an artless fimplicity, with a tender and affectionate concern for their everlasting falvation. He aimed to recommend the Gospel, rather than himself, to their favourable regard. Agrippa being his principal hearer, to him chiefly was this admirable speech directed.

The Apoftle, ftretching forth his hand, that he might engage attention by his refpectful and earnest manner, declared that he rejoiced in the opportunity of entering on his own vindication before fo competent a judge, who was acquainted with the fcriptures and customs of the Jews. Having requefted a patient audience, he proceeded to ftate what he had once been as a Pharifee, and what hope he then poffefled as a Chriftian. He alleged, that this hope towards God through the Saviour, which was the subject of promife to the ancient fathers, and the profeffed expectation and defire of all the Jewish tribes, had been the fole ground of his profecution. He adverted to the doctrine of a refurrection, and the abfurdity of rejecting it as incredible, and yet intimated that nonë could be more prejudiced against that or any other truth than he had formerly been againft the whole fyftem of the Gofpel. He enlarged upon his enmity and bitter oppofition to the Chriftian name, and gave a particular relation of that miraculous vifion, in which Jefus had appeared from heaven, fubdued his rebellious fpirit, and commiffioned him to go forth among the Gentiles, as a preacher of the grand myfte ries of redemption. He affirmed, that, for his obedience to that mandate, his countrymen were vios

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lently incenfed, and attempted his life. He devoutly afcribed to God his continued fupport in the dif charge of his facred function to that day; and maintained that the prophets and Mofes predicted the death and refurrection of the Saviour, by infifting upon which he had incurred fo malicious a profecution.

St. Paul evidently confidered his own converfion, not only as a fingular difplay of divine mercy, but as an inconteftable proof of the truth of Chriftianity; and therefore he was ready upon every occafion to propofe it to the notice of others, for the honour of his God and Saviour. And furely the account fufficiently juftifies his own conduct. Do we not allow, that he acted a reasonable and wife part, in renouncing his former errors and becoming a ftrenuous advocate for Chrift? But are we willing to follow his example, as far as the difference of our circumftances will permit? What means our commendation of this illuftrious character, if we diflike thofe fentiments, tempers, and practices, which conftituted its chief excellence ?

The effect of the Apostle's addrefs upon two of his principal hearers deferves our regard. Feftus, confidering the doctrines afferted as abstruse and ridi. culous, or enthufiaftic jargon, concluded that the preacher, if an honeft man, muft certainly be deranged in his fenfes, though he allowed him the credit of being a scholar. He therefore interrupted the difcourfe, and cried aloud, "Paul, thou art befide thyfelf; much learning doth make thee mad." The fame objection has been often urged against all thofe, who zealously contend for the grand peculiarities of the Chriftian fyftem. Carelefs, inattentive perfons, who take no pains to examine the fubject, treat thefe fublime and heavenly truths as perfectly unintelligible, and the fiction of a difordered imagination. In vindication of themselves for rejecting

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the Gospel, they endeavour to caft an odium upon its advocates, and represent them, however they may mean well, as weak or infane, whofe faculties have been injured by deep thinking on certain intricate points. But is the decifion of fuch judges to be received? Or fhall we be staggered by their infinuations? Then we must turn away with difguft from all, who are of Paul's complexion, and conclude, that, when men come to their right minds by fubmitting to the Saviour, and ftrenuously maintaining his caufe, they justly forfeit their reputation for understanding, and are no longer to be liftened to. What a wretched infatuation is this! Let us not be deterred by fuch invidious cenfures, but be willing to be "fools for Chrift's fake *," and welcome the reproach.

The Apostle replied to the charge with great energy, and yet with all proper deference: "I am not mad, moft noble Feftus, but fpeak forth the words of truth and fobernefs." He then turned to Agrippa, and, by a masterly and spirited addrefs, appealed to him, as being convinced of the facts, which he had afferted, and their exact correfpondence with the ancient predictions. As if he perceived the inward feelings of his royal auditor, and would extort a confeffion, he faid, " King Agrippa, believeft thou the prophets? I know that thou believeft." Indeed, Agrippa's mind appeared to be deeply impreffed. He could not, like Feftus, deride or condemn the preacher, but, rather, was difpofed to become his convert. He doubted not of his integrity, affented to the doc. trines delivered, and feemed on the point of yielding an entire compliance with the Gospel. He replied, "Almoft thou perfuadeft me to be a Chriftian." Probably, he refifted the force of truth, through the fear of temporal inconveniences.

This acknowledgment, though favourable, did not fatisfy St. Paul. He was affured, that fuch partial convictions, if oppofed, could never fecure the falvation of the foul; and therefore he prayed, that neither the king nor any of the affembly might rest in them. With tendereft affection for all before him, he expreffed his earneft defire, that they might thoroughly enter into his views, and refemble him, only not in the chains, which he then wore: he wished them all the happiness, but none of the painful trials, which he felt. He exclaimed, "I would to God, that not only thou, but also all that hear me this day, were both almoft and altogether fuch as I am, except thefe bonds." This devout aspiration clearly manifefted his unbounded benevolence, his full confidence of the goodness of his cause, and the blessednefs which he experienced in the midft of fufferings. He was not ashamed of being "the prifoner of the Lord," he envied not the king and governor their pomp or power; he could not declare his best wishes for them in ftronger terms, than by praying, that they might be brought to the fame ftate of mind with himfelf.

The Apoftle was difmiffed: probably, his noble auditors could bear no more. It was agreed, however, among them, that he had not deferved any punishment, and might have been releafed, but that, in confequence of his own appeal, the cause muft be referred to the decifion of Cefar.

And now, upon a serious review of this history, we would enquire of our readers, not what is your opinion of St. Paul, (refpecting which he himself would not have been folicitous) but what think you of your own character? What of the Saviour whom he preached? Have you ferioufly attended to the doctrines which he maintained? And what impreffion have they produced upon your minds? Perhaps, upon the first hearing, you have been difpofed, like Feftus, to treat