maliel," yet he was, similar to the mass of his nation, a most bigotted adherent to the religion of his fathers. We learn, in the 7th and 8th chapters of the Acts of the Apostles, that Saul was present at the death of the first martyr, Stephen, and kept the raiment of them that slew him; that after this he was a fierce persecutor of the Christians, and "made havock of the Church, entering into every house, and haling men and women, committed them to prison.'

On the death of Stephen, this extraordinary person, who was destined, in the councils of God, to become a most zealous and effective Apostle in the kingdom of Christ, "went unto the high priest, and desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way,"-disciples of Christ-" whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus, and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven; and he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying to him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou

Acts viii. 3.

me? And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest; it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. And he, trembling and astonished, said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do. And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man.”*

In this miracle, as well as in that wrought for the conviction of St. Peter, which I shall consider afterwards, there was a provision made for carrying the miracle into effect. In the present case there was a disciple at Damascus, named Ananias, who was commanded in a vision to go into the street called Straight, and enquire at the house of Judas for one Saul of Tarsus, and he is, at the same time, informed that Saul had seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in and putting his hand upon him that he might receive his sight, for Saul, when he arose from the earth, though his eyes were opened, saw no man, but was led by the hand to Damascus.

Acts ix. 1—7.

I would wish it to be particularly observed, by how many probable and striking circumstances both this miracle, and that which relates to St. Peter, are supported and confirmed. The first circumstance to be noticed, is in Ananias's answer; whence it appears, and of which there could have been no doubt, that Saul was well known, so far as reputation went, by the Christians, as their relentless persecutor. Accordingly, Ananias, in answer to the command of the Lord, in a vision, to seek out Saul, "answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he has done to thy saints at Jerusalem; and here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call upon thy name. But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way, for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles and kings, and the people of Israel; For I will show him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake."* The result was, that Ananias found Saul, and laid his hands upon him, and he forthwith received his sight. And Saul stayed certain days at Damascus, "And straightway he

* Acts ix. 13–16.

preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God. But all that heard him were amazed, and said, Is not this he that destroyed them which called on this name at Jerusalem, and came hither for that intent, that he might bring them bound unto the high priests.”*

How natural is this, that all who knew of his former persecutions, and his sudden conversion, and heard him preach Christ in the synagogues, were amazed, and dwelt upon the history of his former life. It is not less natural that his brethren, the Jews, whom it is said he confounded at Damascus, should have taken counsel, and lain in wait to kill him. Nor is it improbable that their watchfulness was so strict, that it was necessary for the disciples to take him by night, and let him down by the wall in a basket, that he might escape from their hands. Thus was Saul able to return to Jerusalem, "and assayed to join himself to the disciples; but they were afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple, until Barnabas took him, and brought him to the Apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the

*Acts ix. 20, 21.

way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus. And he was with them (the Apostles) coming in and going out at Jerusalem."* Saul, however, could not remain at Jerusalem, for he spake boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus, and disputed against the Grecians; but they went about to slay him, which, when the brethren knew, they brought him down to Cesarea, and sent him forth to Tarsus."+

When Saul, who was afterwards called Paul, himself related his conversion before the tumultuous multitude at Jerusalem, and spake of his former return to Jerusalem from Damascus, he says, "when I was come again to Jerusalem, even while I prayed in the temple, I was in a trance; and saw Him (Jesus) saying unto me, make haste, and get thee quickly out of Jerusalem, for they will not receive thy testimony concerning me. And I said, Lord, they know that I imprisoned and beat in every synagogue And when the

them that believed on thee.

blood of thy martyr, Stephen, was shed, I also was standing by and consenting unto his death,