Character of St. Paul.

67.  The character of St. Paul, and his miraculous conversion, demand your particular attention:  most of the Apostles were men of low birth and education; but St. Paul was a Roman citizen; that is, he possessed the privileges annexed to the freedom of the city of Rome, which was considered as a high distinction in those countries that had been conquered by the Romans.  He was educated amongst the most learned sect of the Jews, and by one of their principal doctors.  He was a man of extraordinary eloquence, as appears not only in his writings, but in several speeches in his own defence, pronounced before governors and courts of justice, when he was called to account for the doctrines he taught.

68.  He seems to have been of an uncommonly warm temper, and zealous in whatever religion he professed:  his zeal, before his conversion, shewed itself in the most unjustifiable actions, by furiously persecuting the innocent Christians:  but, though his actions were bad, we may be sure his intentions were good; otherwise we should not have seen a miracle employed to convince him of his mistake, and to bring him into the right way.

69.  This example may assure us of the mercy of God towards mistaken consciences, and ought to inspire us with the most enlarged charity and good will towards those whose erroneous principles mislead their conduct:  instead of resentment and hatred against their persons, we ought only to feel an active wish of assisting them to find the truth, since we know not whether, if convinced, they might not prove, like St. Paul, chosen vessels to promote the honour of God, and of true religion.

70.  It is not now my intention to enter with you into any of the arguments for the truth of Christianity, otherwise it would be impossible wholly to pass over that which arises from this remarkable conversion, and which has been so admirably illustrated by a nobler writer, whose tract on this subject is in everybody’s hands.

Of the Epistles.

71.  Next follow the Epistles, which make a very important part of the New Testament; and you cannot be too much employed in reading them.  They contain the most excellent precepts and admonitions; and are of particular use in explaining more at large several doctrines of Christianity, which we could not so fully comprehend without them.

72.  There are indeed, in the Epistles of St. Paul, many passages hard to be understood:  such in particular are the first eleven chapters to the Romans; the greater part of his Epistles to the Corinthians and Galatians; and several chapters of that to the Hebrews.  Instead of perplexing yourself with these more obscure passages of scripture, I would wish you to employ your attention chiefly on those that are plain; and to judge of the doctrines taught in the other parts, by comparing them with what you find in these.  It is through the neglect of this rule, that many have been led to draw the most absurd doctrines from the Holy Scriptures.