But Saul increafed the more in ftrength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damafcus, proving that this is very CHRIST.

T is an undoubted truth, however paradoxical it may seem

to natural men, that "whofoever will live godly in CHRIST JESUS, fhall fuffer perfecution." And therefore it is very remarkable, that our bleffed LORD, in his glorious fermon on the mount, after he had been pronouncing those blessed, who were poor in fpirit, meek, pure in heart, and fuch like, immediately adds (and fpends nó lefs than three verfes in this beatitude" Bleffed are they who are perfecuted for righteousness fake." No one ever was, or ever will be endowed with the forementioned graces in any degree, but he will be perfecuted for it in a measure. There is an irreconcileable enmity between the feed of the woman, and the feed of the ferpent. And if we are not of the world, but shew by our fruits that we are of the number of those whom JESUS CHRIST has chofen out of the world, for that very reason the world will hate us. As this is true of every particular chriftian, fo it is true of every chriftian church in general. For fome years paft we have heard but little of a public perfecution: Why? Becaufe but little of the power of godlinefs has prevailed amongst all denominations. The ftrong man armed has had full poffeffion of meft profeffors hearts, and therefore he has let them reft in a falfe peace. But we may affure ourselves, when JESUS CHRIST begins to gather

in his elect in any remarkable manner, and opens an effectual door for preaching the everlafting gofpel, perfecution will flame out, and Satan and his emiffaries will do their utmost (though all in vain) to ftop the work of GOD. Thus it was in the first ages, thus it is in our days, and thus it will be, till time shall be no more.

Chriftians and chriftian churches must then expect enemies. Our chief concern fhould be, to learn how to behave towards them in a chriftian manner: For, unless we take good heed to ourselves, we shall imbitter our spirits, and act unbecoming the followers of that LORD," who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he fuffered, threatned not; and, as a lamb before his fhearers is dumb, fo opened he not his mouth." But what motive shall we make use of to bring ourfelves to this bleffed lamb-like temper? Next to the immes diate operation of the Holy Spirit upon our hearts, I know of no confideration more conducive to teach us long-fuffering towards our moft bitter perfecutors, than this, "That, for all we know to the contrary, fome of those very perfons, who are now perfecuting, may be chofen from all eternity by God, and hereafter called in time, to edify and build up the church of CHRIST."

The perfecutor Saul, mentioned in the words of the text, (and whofe converfron, GoD willing, I propofe to treat on in the following difcourfe) is a noble instance of this kind.

I fay, a perfecutor, and that a bloody one: For fee how he is introduced in the beginning of this chapter; "And Saul yet breathing out threatnings and slaughter against the difciples of our LORD, went unto the high pricft, and defired of him letters to Damafcus to the fynagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerufalem."

"And Saul yet breathing out." This implies that he had been a perfecutor before. To prove which, we need only look back to the 4th chapter, where we fhall find him so very remarkably active at Stephen's death, that the witreffes laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul." He feems, though young, to be in fome authority. Perhaps, for his zeal against the chriftians, he was preferred in the church, and was allowed to fit in the great council or

Sanhedrim.

Sanhedrim: For we are told, chap. viii. ver. 1. "That Saul was confenting unto his death; and again, at ver. 3. he is brought in as exceeding all in his oppofition; for thus fpeaks the evangelift, "As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entring into every houfe, and haling men and women, committed them to prifon." One would have imagined, that this fhould have fatisfied, at leaft abated the fury of this young zealot. No being exceedingly mad against them, as he himfelf informs Agrippa, and having made havock of all in Ferufalem, he now is refolved to perfecute the difciples of the LORD, even to strange cities; and therefore yet breathing out -threatnings. Breathing out." The words are very emphatical, and expreffive of his bitter enmity. It was as natural to him now to threaten the chriftians, as it was for him to breathe he could fcarce fpeak, but it was fome threatnings against them. Nay, he not only breathed out threatnings, but flaughters alfo (and those who threaten, would alfo flaughter, if it were in their power) against the difciples of the LORD. Infatiable therefore as hell, finding he could not confuté or stop the chriftians by force of argument, he is refolved to do it by force of arms; and therefore went to the high priest (for there never was a perfecution yet without a high priest at the head of it) and defired of him letters, iffucd out of his fpiritual court, to the fynagogues or ecclefiaftical courts at Damafcus, giving him authority," that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerufalem,". I fuppofe, there to be arraigned and condemned in the high priest's court. Obferve how he fpeaks of the chriftians. Luke, who wrote the Acts, calls them "difciples of the LORD," and Saul files them "Men and women of this way." I doubt not but he reprefented them as a company of upstart enthusiasts, that had lately gotten into a new method or way of living; that would not be content with the temple-service, but they must be righteous over-much, and have their private meetings or conventicles, and break bread, as they called it, from house to houfe, to the great difturbance of the established clergy, and to the utter fubverfion of all order and decency. I do not hear that the high prieft makes any objection: no, he was as willing to grant letters, as Saul was to afk them; and wonVOL. VI. derfully

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derfully pleased within himself, to find he had fuch an active zealot to employ against the chriftians.

Well then, a judicial procefs is immediately iffued out, with the high prieft's feal affixed to it. And now methinks I fee the young perfecutor finely equipped, and pleasing himfelf with thoughts, how triumphantly he should ride back with the "men and women of this way," dragging them after him to Jerufalem.

What a condition may we imagine the poor difciples at Damafeus were in at this time! No doubt they had heard of Saul's imprisoning and making havock of the faints at Jerufalem, and we may well fuppofe they were apprifed of his defign against them. I am perfuaded this was a growing, becaufe a trying time with thefe dear people. O how did they wrestle with GoD in prayer, befeeching him either to deliver them from, or give them grace fufficient to enable them to bear up under, the fury of their perfecutors? The high priest doubtless with the reft of his reverend brethren, flattered themfelves, that they should now put an effectual stop to this growing herefy, and waited with impatience for Saul's re

turn.

But He that fitteth in heaven laughs them to fcorn, the LORD ha them in derifion." And therefore, ver. 3. "As Saul journeyed, and came even near unto Damafcus," perhaps to the very gates, (our LORD permitting this, to try the faith of his difciples, and more confpicuoufly to baffle the defigns of his enemies fuddenly (at mid-day, as he acquaints Agrippa) there thined round about him a light from heaven," a light brighter than the fun; and he fell to the earth (why not into hell?) and heard a voice faying unto him, Saul, Saul, why perfecutest thou me?" The word is doubled, "Saul, Saul?" Like that of our LORD to Martha ; “ Martha, Martha ;"or the prophet, earth, earth, earth!" Perhaps thefe words came like thunder to his foul. That they were spoken audibly, we are affured from verfe 7. "His companions heard the voice." Our LORD now arrefts the perfecuting zealot, calling him by name; for the word never does us good, till we find it fpoken to us in particular. "Saul, Saul, Why perfecuteft thou Me?" Put the emphafis upon the word why, what evil have I done? Put it upon the word per

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fecuteft,

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fecuteft, why perfecuteft? I fuppofe Saul thought he was not perfecuting; no, he was only putting the laws of the ecclefiaftical court into execution; but JESUS, whose eyes are as a flame of fire, faw through the hypocrify of his heart, that, notwithstanding his fpecious pretences, all this proceeded from a perfecuting spirit, and fecret enmity of heart against GOD; and therefore fays, "Why perfecuteft thou me?" Put the emphafis upon the word me, why perfecuteft thou me? alas! Saul was not perfecuting CHRIST, was he? he was only taking care to prevent innovations in the church, and bringing a company of enthufiafts to juftice, who otherwife would overturn the established conftitution. But JESUS fays, "Why perfecuteft thou me?" For what is done to CHRIST's difciples, he takes as done to himself, whether it be good, or whether it be evil. He that touches CHRIST's difciples, touches the apple of his eye; and they who perfecute the followers of our LORD would perfecute our LORD himself, was he again to come and tabernacle amongst us to flor och dw alduol I do not find that Saul gives any reafon why he did perfe cute; no, he was ftruck dumb; as every perfecutor will be, when JESUS CHRIST puts this fame queftion to them at the terrible day of judgment. But being pricked, at the heart, no doubt with a fenfe not only of this, but of all his other offences against the great GOD, he faid, ver. 5. Who art thou, LORD? See how foon GoD can change the heart and voice of his most bitter enemies. Not many days ago, Saul was not only blafpheming CHRIST himself, but, as much as in him lay, compelling others to blafpheme alfo but now, be, who before was an impoftor, is called Lord; "Who art thous Who art thou, LORD This admirably points out, the way in, which Gop's Spirit works upon the heart; it first powerfully convinces of fin, and of our damnable state; and then puts us upon enquiring after, JESUS CHRIST. Saul being ftruck to the ground, or pricked to the heart, cries out after JESUS, "Who art thou, LORD!" As many of you that were never fo far made fenfible of your damnable fate, as to be made feelingly to feek after JESUS CHRIST, were never yet truly convicted by, much lefs converted to, GOD. May the LORD, who ftruck Saul, effectually now ftrike all my chriftless hearers, and fet them upon enquiring after JEsus, as their all in all! Saul faid, "Who art thou,

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LORD?