together he continued to expound and prove the doctrines of the Gofpel from their own fcriptures, and earneftly perfuaded them to accept the Saviour. The effect was different upon different perfons; fome of them embracing the faith, but others rejecting it with contempt. While they contended among themselves, the Apoftle difinified them with that prophetic admonition, which was once delivered to their fathers, denouncing a judicial blindness and obduracy of heart, as a punishment for flighted mercy". He then declared, that, having propofed to them the offer of falvation, he fhould turn to the Gentiles, and doubted not of a favourable reception.

In this state of confinement St. Paul remained two years; his cause being neglected or deferred by the Emperor. But, even there, he obtained peculiar indulgence, and was eminently honoured as an inkrument of extenfive good. Though a prifoner, he met with no interruption: his labours were more private and contracted than before, but they were unceafing. All, who chofe, had free access to him for inftruction; and he continued, without fear or reftraint, to exhibit the glorious character of the Redeemer, and inculcate a cordial fubmiffion to the government of his grace. Yet wife and earnest as his exhortations were, we wonder not that they were defpifed by many, on account of the ignominious fituation of the preacher. Whilft he appeared as a criminal, chained by the hand to a common foldier, there must have been a ftrong prejudice against him, and a confiderable difficulty in believing, that he was fo distinguished a meflenger of Heaven, appointed to declare the way of falvation. But fome were dif pofed by a divine influence to look beyond the meannefs of his external circumstances, and to receive his word with reverence and obedience, as the word of

:

* Ifa. vi. 9, 10.

the

the living God. O how great is the mercy, to be delivered from all thofe carnal regards and common objections, which unfit the mind for a fair examination of the truth!

We learn from feveral of St. Paul's Epiftles, that his labours at Rome were attended with great fuccefs. There had been indeed, for fome years, a fociety of Chriftians in that place, whofe "faith was fpoken of throughout the whole world *." But then they became more confirmed in their principles, and faw their numbers increase. The Lord God can make his cause and his people to profper under the heaviest preffures, and notwithstanding the most violent oppofition. We might have thought, while the Apoftle was a prifoner for the Gofpel's fake, that men would have been afraid or afhamed to profefs any attachment to him or his doctrines. But the contrary effect appeared; and it has wonderfully difplayed the hand of God. "Many of the brethren, waxing confident by his bonds, were much more bold to speak the word without fear +." Fresh converts were added to the church. Onefimus, who, it should seem, had been a difhoneft fervant of Philemon, heard the preacher in his confinement, and thence became "a faithful and beloved brother ." Then, alfo, the Gofpel found admiffion, where we fhould have imagined it impoffible to fucceed, even in the court of Nero. That profane prince hated and perfecuted this new religion: but fome of his attendants or domestics were led to examine and embrace it, in confequence of the imprisonment of its moft ftrenuous advocate, and proved an honour to their profeffion ||•

How myfterious are the ways of God! He accomplishes his purposes by fuch means, as we fhould never have devised. What fituation could be more

Rom. i. 8. † Phil. i. 14.

Phil. i. 13. iv, 22.

Philem. 10. Col. iv. 9.

unfavourable

unfavourable to Chriftianity, than the palace of the Emperor? But Jehovah "will work; and who fhall let it?" An Apoftle is fent to Rome under criminal accufations, and pleads his caufe before Cefar, in order that fome of the houfhold may hear and be converted. The dark difpenfation was big with mercy. The events, which we fhould have lamented, as most deplorable, were defigned to confirm and propagate the Gospel. Let us cheerfully leave the care of the Church in the Lord's hands. He reigneth and He best knows what is most expedient for his own glory.

The various focieties of Chriftians in different parts, and even to this very day, have reaped great advantage from the bonds of St. Paul. Had he not been a prisoner, he might not have written fo large a portion of the facred volume. Some of the rich fruits of his confinement, we perceive in thofe excellent Epiftles which are addrefled to the Ephefians, Philippians, Coloffians, and Hebrews: and we praise God, that the leifure, afforded him at Rome, was employed for our profit. It appears from thofe animated and infpired compofitions, that he rejoiced in his fufferings, and was fo far carried above the fear of death, as to exult in the profpect +. It has been thought, that he then felt, more than ever, the bleffedness of his own principles, and enjoyed a peculiar elevation of foul. O let us not fhrink from afflictions! They may be defigned to confirm and increase our experience of the power and comforts of true religion.

The diftreffes of the Apoftle gave occafion for fome kind and liberal exertions among his friends. He received seasonable fupplies for his fupport from the Chriftians at Philippi, by that honoured meffenger Epaphroditus, "who ministered to his wants ‡.' Onefiphorus, alfo, is commended, for having "often

Ifa. xliii. 13. † Col. i. 24. Phil. i. 20-24. Phil, ii. 25. iv. 18. VOL. IV. refreshed

S

refreshed him, and not being afhamed of his chain*." But he met with trials more painful than the fury of his avowed enemies, from the perfidy of falfe profeffors, and the unfteadiness of certain fincere believers. "All they," fays he, "which are in Asia, are turned away from me +." Many of his former friends were fo influenced by selfish regards or misconceptions of his conduct, as to fhew a ftrange difaffection. Nay, he declares, that, when he was brought before Nero, "at his firft answer, no man flood with him; but all men forfook him ‡." Such a general defertion was beyond measure afflictive. We are ready to afk, Where were the Chriftians, whom he celebrated in his Epiftle? Where the brethren, who travelled fifty miles to meet him? Or why this change of difpofition? How forcibly does this teach us, that "it is better to truft in the Lord, than to put confidence in man!" Yet let us beware of drawing rafh conclufions, or condemning all thofe as hypocrites, who may betray an occafional weaknefs and timidity: for fo did our great reformer Archbishop Cranmer; fo did the Apoftle Peter. Perhaps the very perfons, who behaved in this difgraceful manner at Rome, were afterwards recovered, and enabled to give decifive proofs of integrity, fortitude, and zeal.

At the end of two years, St. Paul, being A. D. arraigned before the Emperor, was honourably 65. acquitted, and restored to his liberty. That cruel and haughty tyrant feemed unlikely to favour the prifoner: but Nero's fury was restrained, becaufe it was defigned, that the life of this faithful ambaffador for Chrift fhould be fpared a little longer for the benefit of the Church. Hear his own account: "The Lord ftood with me, and ftrengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, iv. 16. || Pfal. cxviii. 8. and

*2 Tim. i. 16, + 15.

and I was delivered O be encouraged

O be

and that all the Gentiles might hear: out of the mouth of the lion *." to perfevere with a holy fervour and intrepidity, if you ferve the Lord Chrift! Your divine Mafter will furely protect you against all the machinations of your opponents, and fupport you in your place, till the work affigned you be completed.

After his release, the Apoftle travelled as before, and continued with his ufual affiduity to propagate the Gospel two or three years. During that time he made a journey to Spain, fome have thought to France alfo, and, poffibly, to this Ifland +. Perhaps, he took another circuit among the Afiatic churches, establifhed fome Chriftian focieties in Crete, which he committed to the care of Titus, and again vifited. the Philippians, as he had intimated, " for their furtherance and joy of faith ‡." This, at leaft, is evident, that he was not afhamed or weary of the fervice, in which he had embarked, and that he ceafed not from his labours of love, till he put off his earthly tabernacle. He returned to Rome, with the view, probably, of confirming his former teftimony in that city, and, on fome pretence or other, was once more caft into prifon. St. Chryfoftom relates, that, a concubine of Nero being converted by means of the Apostle, the tyrant was exasperated, commanded him to be taken into cuftody, and foon afterwards put him to death.

In that laft confinement he wrote his fecond Epif tle to Timothy, under the expectation of fuffering; and therefore it contains his most deliberate fentiments and folemn views of eternity. It appears, that he did not repent of his exertions in the fervice of his Lord, Auctuate in his opinions, or ftagger in his hopes. It should feem, from his own folemn de

‡ Phil. i. 25. ii. 24.