nists, and, upon this issue, espoused his letter from Lysias, importing his care to pre- stroy. The next night he received full amends for all he had suffered, and was confirmed against the utmost efforts of his enemies' malice; for the Lord Jesus, whom he served, vouchsafed to appear to him in a vision, commanded him to be of good cheer, owned his gracious acceptance of his late testimony in Jerusalem, and promised that none should hinder him the honour of bearing witness to his truth at Rome likewise. The world has been sometimes surprised at the confidence which the faithful servants of Christ have shown in the midst of dangers, and in the face of death; but if their supports were known, the wonder would cease. If the Lord speaks, his word is effectual; and when he says, Be of good courage, and fear not! his people, out of weakness, are made strong. Little were the incredulous Jews aware of what a power and vigilance were engaged in his preservation; and, therefore, impatient of delays, they resolved to destroy him immediately. To manifest their resolution, and to quicken their diligence, more than forty of them bound themselves, under the penalty of the great curse, or anathema, not to eat or drink till they had killed him. They acquainted the priests and rulers with their engagement, and proposed that they should request Lysias to order him once more to appear before them in the council, and that then those who had combined in this oath would be ready to assassinate him. But no counsel or device can stand against the Lord! This black design was, by some means, providentially made known to a young man, who was Paul's sister's son, who gave notice of it first to him, and then, by his desire, to Lysias, who, finding the Jews implacably bent against Paul's life, determined to place him farther out of their reach, and accordingly sent him away, that same night, under a strong guard, who conducted him to Cæsarea, and delivered him to Felix the Roman governor, together with a In about five days afterwards, Ananias the high-priest, with the elders of the council, appeared before Felix against Paul, Acts xxiv. The charge was opened by Tertullus, a venal orator, or advocate, whom they had retained for this purpose: who began with a commendation of the governor, in terms which might have suited the illustrious actions and wise measures of princes studious of the public good, but were ill applied to Felix (who was infamous for his cruelty and oppression,) and in the name of the Jews who hated him. But enmity to the gospel will make men stoop to the meanest flattery and servility, if by that means they have hope of gaining their point! The sum of the accusation was, that Paul was an enemy to church and state, a disturber of the established religion, and a mover of sedition against the government; to which was added, as a popular proof of the charge, that he was a ringleader of the sect or heresy of the Nazarenes, so called from Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified by a former governor for asserting himself to be a king. Thus much seems implied in the term Nazarene, as the Jews used it. The apostle began his defence with a protestation of his innocence, as to any design of moving sedition or tumult, which he said his enemies were unable to prove by a single fact: he proceeded to inform the governor of the true motives of their enmity against him, and acknowledged that he worshipped God in a way which they stigmatized with the name of heresy or division; for the proper meaning of heresy is no more than sect or party. By farther declaring, that he worshipped the God of his fathers, and believed all things written in the law and the prophets, he proved, from the ob ject and the manner of his worship, that he was not guilty of any blameable innovations; he professed the hope of a resurrection, which his enemies could not but allow, and that it was his constant study† (Acts xxiv. As the apostle only cautions Titus to reject or avoid a heretic. Tit iii. 10, but has not defined him expressly, miany writers and teachers have had a fair fald to exercise their skill or their passions upon the subject; yet the question is far from determined to this day. Some would treat all those as heretics, y ho differ from them either in judgment or practice; others explain the word quite away, as though the admonition to avoid a here. tic, was wholly unnecessary. Perhaps the advice to Titus, is nearly, if not exactly, equivalent to Rom. xvi. 17. The spirit of truth produces unity: the spirit of for opinions of his own, who acts contrary to the peace division is heresy. And the man who fiercely stickles able, forbearing, humble spirit of the gospel, who affects to form a party, and to be thought considerable in it, is so far a heretic. The Greek word (1×) here used, denotes the 16,) and endeavour to maintain a conscience void of offence; and, added, that it was not he, but the Jews themselves, who had raised the tumult, by assaulting him, when he was peaceably attending in the temple, according to the prescribed rules. He observed, that his first accusers were not present, as they ought to have been; and challenged any who were within hearing to prove their allegations in any one instance. Felix, having perhaps a favourable opinion of the christian profession, which had been settled some time at Cæsarea, and being likewise desirous of further information, deferred the full discussion of the affair till the arrival of Lysias, and committed Paul, in the mean time, to the care of a centurion, as a prisoner at large, allowing him to go abroad in the city, and giving his friends liberty to visit him at home. And thus he was providentially delivered from the blood-thirsty Jews, and found an asylum in the Roman power, which they had endeavoured to engage for his destruction. Great likewise is the power of sin! Felix trembled at the review of the past, and the prospect of the future; but he could not stop; he found some avocation for his present relief, and put off his most important concerns to a future opportunity, which it is probable never came. He saw and heard Paul afterwards; but the same man had no more the same influence; the accompanying force of the Spirit was withheld; and then he had no farther view in conversing with him, but the hope of receiving money for his enlargement. When the apostle had continued in this situation about two years, Felix was recalled from his government. He had governed the Jews with severity and injustice, and had reason to fear they would accuse him to the emperor: therefore, to ingratiate himself with them, he left Paul in his confinement, thinking that the detention of the person they hated might make them more readily excuse what was past; or at least, he durst not provoke them farther by releasing him. A. D. 59.] He was sent for not long after, A. D. 60.] When Festus, who succeeded by Felix, and discoursed before him and his Felix in the government, went up to Jeruwife Drusilla concerning the faith of Christ. salem (Acts xxv,) the high-priest and elders Curiosity was the governor's motive; but the applied to him, and requested that Paul might apostle, who knew his character, was faithful be sent thither to be tried before the council; to him, and would not speak of the faith of and they appointed proper instruments to Christ only, to one who could not understand assault and murder him in the journey. It it, but made a home application by enlarging seems they expected this favour would be on righteousness, temperance, and the im- easily granted, as it is usual for governors, at portant consequences of a future judgment. their first coming among a people, to do some These were fit topics to press upon an unjust popular act; but Festus refused, and comand rapacious governor, who lived in adul-manded them to follow him to Cæsarea, where tery, Drusilla (his reputed wife,) having forsaken a lawful husband to live with him. She was by birth a Jewess, daughter of the Herod whose death we have already mentioned; and having renounced her religion and her husband, for Felix, was, by the judgment of God, given up to hardness of heart; so that it does not appear that the apostle's discourse made any impression upon her. It was otherwise with Felix, who, though a wicked man, had sinned against less light: he trembled at what he heard, and not able to conceal his concern, he cut short the interview, with a promise to send for him again, at a convenient season. So great sometimes is the power of truth, when faithfilly enforced! With this only advantage on his side, Paul the prisoner triumphs over a naughty governor, and makes him tremble. ters and the best pieces, he studies and copies the beau he himself would judge in the cause. The Jews accordingly exerted themselves in one more effort, and when Festus was returned to Cæsarea, presented themselves before him on an appointed day; and Paul being brought into the court, they accused him heavily, as they had done before, and to as little effect, not being able to prove any thing against him, or to invalidate his protestation that he had committed no offence, either against the law, or the temple, or the Roman government. Festus, who had refused to send him to Jerusalem before, was now willing to oblige them, perceiving the controversy was of a religious kind, and what he had little knowledge of; he therefore asked Paul if he was willing to be tried, in his presence, before the council at Jerusalem. The apostle, who knew what treatment he might expect from the Jews, answered, That he was then at Cæsar's judg study diligence, and proficiency of a person who is de.ment-seat, where he ought to be tried, and sirous to excel and be eminent in any particular art; as a painter, for instance, he searches out the best mas ties of others' works, and is continually retouching and improving upon his own: his acquaintance, reflections. pose; and though his pencil is sometimes at rest, his imagination is seldom idle. Similar to this is the exercise of a good conscience formed upon the model of the scriptures, and improved by diligence, meditation, examination, and experience. and recreations, are all accommodated to his main pur. that, if found guilty, he was not unwilling to suffer; but that, against the proposal of being delivered up to those who thirsted for his blood, he appealed to Cæsar. This was one privilege of a Roman citizen, that, when he thought himself aggrieved in an inferior court, he might, by entering such an appeal, put a stop to proceedings, and refer the cause to the immediate determination of the em- | cutor to a follower of Jesus, in his journey to peror. From the example of St. Paul, who Damascus. His defence, therefore (as has counted not his life dear, but was willing, not been formerly observed,) was rather experionly to be bound, but to die for the Lord mental than argumentative, and made very Jesus, we learn that it is very allowable for a different impressions upon his hearers. Feschristian to avail himself of the laws and pri- tus, who seems to have had a good opinion vileges of his country, when unjustly perse- of his sincerity and intention, yet, supposing cuted for righteousness sake; and perhaps, no man in his sober senses could believe such in some cases, it would be blameable to omit a strange story, interrupted him in his narit. Civil liberty is a depositum with which ration, and, with an air rather of pity than we are entrusted for posterity, and, by all indignation, said, "Paul, thou art beside thylawful means, should be carefully preserved. self; much learning hath made thee mad."‡ Festus, after having consulted with his coun- A similar judgment is passed by too many cil and lawyers upon this unexpected turn, upon all who profess an acquaintance with admitted the appeal, and determined he should the life of faith in an unseen Jesus; but orbe sent to Rome. Paul had long had a desire dinarily, now, the effect is not ascribed to to visit the believers in that city, and had the excess of learning, but to the want of it, formed some plans concerning it. But it is as, on the other hand, a man who maintains not in man that walketh to direct his steps. the wildest absurdities, puts his judgment His way was now opened in a manner he and understanding to little hazard in the had not thought of, but in such a manner as world's esteem, if his chimeras are set off made it more evident that his bonds proved with a competent apparatus of literature. to the furtherance of the gospel. Agrippa, however, was differently affected, especially when Paul made a bold appeal to himself, concerning the notoriety of the facts which had lately happened, and the truth of the prophecies with which they were connected. Here the power of truth triumphed again, and Agrippa was so struck, that, without regarding the numerous assembly, or the displeasure such a declaration might give both to the Jews and Romans, particularly to Festus, who had expressed his sentiment just before, he gave way to the emotions of his mind, and said aloud, "Almost thou persuadest me to be a christian." Yet this was but an involuntary conviction; it did honour to the apostle, but was of no benefit to himself. And the concession, which, at first view, seems to proceed from an ingenuous spirit, when closely examined, amounts but to this, that though Agrippa was indeed convinced of the truth, his heart was so attached to the present evil world, that he had neither courage nor will to follow it; as when we say of a picture, It looks almost alive, we do not mean strictly that there is any more life in the painting than in the canvass on which it is drawn, but only that the resemblance is strong: so the almost christian, however specious in his professions, is still destitute of that living principle which alone can enable him to make them good, and is, in reality, an utter stranger to true christianity. In the Soon after this, Agrippa, son of the late Herod, who had large territories, and the title of king, under the Romans, came with his sister Bernice, to congratulate Festus upon his accession to his government: he was a man of a fair character, a professed Jew, but possessed of moderation and prudence. During their stay, Festus informed them of what had lately happened concerning Paul. The whole that he understood of the affair was, that he had not been guilty of any crime, but that his accusers had certain questions against him, of their own superstitions, and concerning one Jesus, who was dead, and whom Paul affirmed to be alive. To him the life and the death of Jesus were points of equal indifference; not so to those who believe he died for them, and who expect that, because he lives, they shall live also. This imperfect account made Agrippa desirous to hear Paul himself; and accordingly, the next day, Agrippa, Bernice, and Festus, being seated in court,* attended by their officers and train, and a number of the principal people, Paul was once more brought forth to speak in public for himself, Acts xxvi. On this occasion he addressed himself particularly to Agrippa; and, having expressed his satisfaction that he was permitted to speak before one who was so well acquainted with the laws and customs of the Jews, he related the cause of his present confinement: he professed his faith and hope in the scriptures; and then, as he had done before, he gave him an account of the extraordinary means by which he had been changedt from a perse * The apology St Paul made for himself was not his trial. He had already stopped all proceedings at law by his appeal to Cæsar; nor was Festus then as a judge upon his tribunal. † Speaking of his past conduct towards the disciples, he calls it madness,-being exceedingly, or (as we express it,) raging mad against them. A man in this state will attack any person he meets; he waits for no provo Thus the apostle judged of himself when a persecutor cation, listens to no entreaty, regards no consequences. of the church; and the spirit of persecution in every age has been the same. May God restore those to their right minds who are governed by it! His answer to Festus is expressed with much accuracy and precision. "I am not mad, most noble Festus; but speak forth (you) the words of truth and soberness." Madness discovers itself either in the apprehension of a false object, or in the false apprehen sion of a true one. The things he spoke of were true in themselves, and his ideas of them just and propor tionate. graceful return the apostle made to the king's acknowledgment he hinted at this defect, wishing that both Agrippa, and all who heard him, were not only almost, but altogether, as he was himself, with an exception to the chains he wore for the cause of the gospel. This answer discovers, in one view, the confidence he had in his cause, the happy frame of his mind, the engaging turn of his address, and his unbounded benevolence: he could wish nothing better than what he himself felt, to his dearest friends, and he wished nothing worse to his greatest enemies; nay, he wished that his enemies might, if possible, experience all his comforts, without any of his trials. When Festus and Agrippa were withdrawn, they agreed, in their opinion, that he had done nothing deserving of death, or even of imprisonment, and that he might have been released, if he had not himself prevented it by appealing to Cæsar. with a good confidence of soon reaching their desired port. There is little doubt but Paul's case and character had by this time engaged the notice of many of his fellow-passengers in the ship. Upon a superficial inquiry, they would learn, that he was the follower of one Jesus, who had been crucified; that he was esteemed a setter-forth of strange gods, and charged with having disturbed the public peace wherever he came. He probably took frequent occa sions to speak of his Lord and Master to those about him; and as he had several companions, the manner of their social worship could hardly pass unobserved; but no emergency had as yet occurred to manifest the solidity and force of his principles to full advantage, and to make it evident to all with whom he sailed, that his God was far unlike the idols of the Heathens; and that the religion which prompted him to do and suffer so much for In consequence of the determination to the sake of Jesus, was founded, not in the send him to Rome (Acts xxvii,) he was com- imaginations and inventions of men, but in mitted to the custody of a centurion named reality and truth. In prosperous circumJulius, with whom he embarked in a vessel stances, most people are easily satisfied with that was on a trading voyage to several parts their own principles, and are ready to take of the Lesser Asia. Aristarchus, and some it for granted, that even the notions received other of his friends, went with him, and par- from no better source than tradition or custicularly the evangelist Luke, who seems to tom, cannot be wrong, or at least will not be have been the inseparable companion of his dangerous: but it is in a season of common travels from the first time he was at Troas. distress that the truth and efficacy of vital They touched the following day at Sidon, religion appear with the most incontestible where the centurion gave him liberty to re- authority. The God who alone can deliver fresh himself and visit his friends. At their when all hope of safety is taken away, and next port, Myria in Lycia, a vessel offering the religion which can inspire a man with which was bound directly for Italy, they confidence and peace, when there is nothing went on board her. In the beginning of this but dismay and confusion around him, will passage they were retarded by contrary then extort some acknowledgment, even from winds. At length they reached the island of those who had before thought of them with Crete (now called Candia;) and having put indifference. From these considerations, we into a port, called the Fair-havens, Paul may collect one general reason why the Lord, would have persuaded them to have staid who, by his divine providence, adjusts the there, intimating that, as the winter was now time and circumstances of every event, and advancing, they would meet with many in- without whose permission not a sparrow can conveniences and dangers if they ventured fall to the ground, permits his faithful people to proceed any further. Long voyages were to be so often exercised with severe trials: seldom attempted during the winter in those it is, to manifest that their hopes are welldays, or, for many ages after, till the know-grounded; that they have not taken up with ledge of the compass made way for those great improvements in navigation which now embolden the mariner to sail indifferently at any season of the year. But it is probable the apostle's precaution was not merely founded upon the obvious disadvantages of the season, but rather upon an extraordinary pre-intimation of what was soon to happen. But his remonstrance was over-ruled, the centurion preferring the judgment of the master of the ship, who thought it best, if possible, to reach another haven at the west end of the island, which was thought to be more commodious and safe than the place Paul proposed. A favourable wind springing from the south, determined their resolve, and they set sail VOL. II. K words and notions, but have a real and sure support, and can hope and rejoice in God under those pressures which deprive others of all their patience, and all their courage; and, on the other hand, to evince that his power and faithfulness are surely engaged on their behalf; that he puts an honour upon their prayers, is near to help them in the time of trouble, and can deliver them out of their greatest extremities. We are not, then, to wonder that this favoured servant of the Lord, after having endured so many suffer ings and hardships upon the land, was ex posed, in the course of this voyage, to equa dangers and difficulties upon the sea; for they had not long quitted their last port, be go. In the morning they saw an island; but knew it not. The mariners, regarding their own safety only, were about to make their escape in the boat; but Paul, informing the soldiers that they could not be saved unless the seamen remained in the ship, they paid so much regard to his judgment as immedi ately to cut the ropes by which the boat was fastened, and give her up to the sea. fore their hopes of gaining a better were blasted: they were overtaken by a sudden and violent storm. The name given it by the historian, Euroclydon, expresses its direction to have been from the eastern quarter, and its energy upon the waves. The tempest irresistibly overpowered the mariners, and rendered their art impracticable and vain: they were compelled to abandon the ship to the direction of the wind, and were hurried Their only remaining resource was, to away, they knew not where. Mention is force the ship upon the shore, in a place where made of the difficulty they had to secure the landing would be most practicable; and of ship's boat, as the only probable means of this the mariners were the most proper judges. escaping, if they should be wrecked, which If this island,as is generally supposed, was that yet, in the event, was wholly useless to them; which we now call Malta, we know that it is likewise of their endeavours to strengthen almost environed with rocks. They having the ship by girding her with ropes, and of therefore discovered an open bay, with a their throwing a considerable part of the beach of sand or pebbles,* endeavoured to run lading and tackling into the sea. In this dis- the ship there; but had the management of tressed situation, expecting every hour to be this business been left to the soldiers and paseither swallowed up by the waves, or dashed sengers, who were unexperienced in seato pieces against unknown rocks or shores, affairs, they might probably have let her drive they continued fourteen days.-When they at random against the rocks where an escape were almost worn out with hardship and would, humanly speaking, have been imposanxiety, and there was no human probability sible. In this view, we may observe, that the of deliverance, the Lord manifested the care apostle's firm confidence in the promise he he had of his servants. The seamen had not had received was connected with prudent seen sun or stars for many days; but his eye attention to the means in their power, from had been upon Paul and his companions every which the promise received was so far from moment. No one on board could even con- dispensing them, that it was their chief enjecture into what part of the sea the ship couragement to be diligent in employing them. was driven; but the Lord knew, and his an- This incident may be applied to points of gels knew: and now one was commanded to more general importance: and, if carefully appear, to comfort the apostle, and to give attended to, might have determined or prehim a word of comfort for all on board. Upon vented many unnecessary and perplexing this he addressed the people in the ship, ex- disputes concerning the divine decrees, and horting them to take some food, and to be of their influence on the contingencies of hugood courage; for that the God to whom he man life. What God has appointed shall belonged, and whom he served, had given surely come to pass: but in such a manner, him assurance, by an angel, not only of his that all the means and secondary causes, by own safety, but that the lives of all on board which he has determined to fulfil his deshould be preserved for his sake; that the signs, shall have their proper place and subship would be cast upon a certain island; but serviency. Accordingly they made the best he fully relied on the promise, that not one of their way to the shore: but before they of them should be lost. He had been told, quite reached it, the ship was stopped by a that he must stand before Cæsar, which was point or bank, where her fore-part stuck a sufficient earnest of his preservation; for fast, and remained immoveable; but her stern who, or what, can disappoint the purpose of or hinder part, was presently broken by the God! Amidst all these threatening appear-violence of the surges. In the general conances, Paul was, in reality, as safe in the storm as Cæsar could be thought upon the throne. And thus all his servants are inviolably preserved by his watchful providence; so that neither elements nor enemies can hurt them, till the work he has appointed them is accomplished. At length the seamen perceived indications that they were drawing near to land: and when they were driven into a convenient depth of water, they cast anchor, and waited for the approach of day. In this interval the people were encouraged by Paul's advice and example, to eat a hearty meal, by which their strength and spirits were recruited to sustain the fatigue they were yet to under fusion, the soldiers, unmindful how much they were indebted to Paul, proposed that all the prisoners should be killed without distinction, lest they should be accountable if any of them escaped; but the centurion, who interested "They discovered a certain creek with a shore." does not express the sea-coast in general, or a rocky But there was a shore all round the island. A Matth. xiii 2. 48; John xxi. 4. A mariner who under |