gospel and the grace of God? To you, as well as unto the Ethiopian eunuch, the gospel has been preached, though with feebler powers, and more faltering speech. To you, as well as unto him, has been proclaimed a Saviour, Christ the Lord.' How then have you received those tidings? Have they led you to the exercise of penitence and faith? Have they filled you with a desire to partake of every ordinance appointed by the Lord? Have they inspired you with gratitude, thankfulness, and joy? Oh that every one of you so believed the sure word of our testimony as to find it "the power of God unto salvation." Then would you experience joy and peace in believing. Then, though deprived, like the eunuch, of your sweetest earthly solace, your most beloved companion and friend, you would have wherewith to comfort you, and in spite of every personal or domestic trial, "go on your way rejoicing."

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LECTURE II.

ACTS ix. 1-9.

And Saul yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,

And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto 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 unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou 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 unto him,

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.

And Saul arose from the earth, and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus.

And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink.

THE narrative of the conversion of St. Paul, as briefly given to us by St. Luke in the words of the text, and more largely detailed by St. Paul himself in his speeches at Jerusalem and Cæsarea, is indeed most extraordinary, and well calculated to fix the attention, and stimulate the inquiries of every reflecting mind. Before, however, we examine the several particulars of the story, it may be well to be reminded of all that may be gathered from scripture, respecting his previous history, and state of mind.

Of his birth we are briefly informed, that it took place at Tarsus, a city of Cilicia-a "no mean city," (to use his own

expression,) distinguished by the privileges conferred upon it by the Roman Emperors. In this city he was free-born, that is, of parents who possessed the rights of citizenship.

At the same time he was a lineal descendant of the patriarch Abraham—a Hebrew of the Hebrews. And not only was he of the pure stock of Israel uncontaminated by any mixture of Gentile blood, he was also of a distinguished tribe -the loyal tribe of Benjamin, which united with Judah in adhering faithfully to the family of David, when the ten tribes revolted under Jeroboam.

The names of his parents are not given; but that they were careful to bring up their son in a manner befitting his birth, and to impregnate his mind with the strictest principles of morality, is abundantly evident. After receiving a good classical education at Tarsus, where he seems to have studied with considerable care the philosophy and poetry of the

Greeks, he had the distinguished privilege to become a pupil of the celebrated Gamaliel, who presided over a theological school at Jerusalem. In addition however to the advantages of education, his parents added an acquaintance with a mechanical trade, that of "tent-making"-whether with a view to pursue it as a livelihood, or only in conformity with the national custom to teach every child a trade, we are not informed. His tutor, Gamaliel, was a professed supporter of the Pharisees; nor was the pupil slow to imbibe the principles, the prejudices, and the bigotry of that ostentatious and intolerant sect. That Saul was at this time a conscientious character, in the ordinary sense of the term, cannot be doubted. He was thoroughly persuaded not only that the doctrines which he maintained, but that the measures which he took to uphold and propagate them, were correct. Nay, he thought that they were meritorious, and that thereby he did God service.