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them with contempt, as a vifionary fyftem, involving only doubtful and fuperftitious questions. But, if you examine more n minutely, and with more fixed regard, you will discover, at least, that Chriftianity is capable of being defended by folid and unanfwerable arguments, and that folly is juftly chargeable upon those, who affect to fneer at what they cannot confute.

If you allow the truth and excellency of the Gofpel, we afk again, Have you unfeignedly complied with its demands? Ah! how many refemble Agrippa, and are inclined to refift or trife with their convictions! You grant, that to be a Christian indeed, is a high and honourable diftinction, which you profess a defire of attaining. But you are obftructed by fuch difficulties, and affaulted by fuch temptations, that you have not courage, for the prefent at least, to attempt the arduous work, as thinking it impoffible to fucceed. Or perhaps, you may be willing to yield only a partial fubmiffion, as far as may fuit your convenience; and thus, with apparently good impreffions and refolutions, you may remain deftitute of the power of religion. You are You are almoft perfuaded;" and here you reft. Will this fatisfy your confciences? Or can you feriously expect, in such a state, to inherit the promifes of God? O why will you not confent to advance a little farther, and be "altogether," what you know you ought to be? There are thofe, of a found understanding, and folid judgment, who can tell you of the bleffedness, which they have found in the fervice of Chrift. They argue rightly, that it is not a vain illufion of the fancy, but a delightful reality, by which they are fupported and comforted in fevereft dangers and diftreffes. With tender compaffion and affectionate importunity, they prefs you to make the trial, that you may partake of their happiness. O credit their teftimony, and reject not your own mercies! May He, who alone can fubdue the

human

human heart to himself, render the exhortation effectual, and perfuade you to embrace the Gospel without referve! May the mighty influence of his grace enable you to break through all your difficulties, and make you not only almost, but altogether Chriftians! Amen.

1

SAINT PAUL:

SECT. 6.

Paul, fent as a prisoner to Rome-experienced great difficulties in his voyage-fhipwrecked on the island of Melita-wrought miracles there, and received kindness-proceeded to Rome-dwelt and preached in his own boufe under cuftody-released-travelled and laboured as before-again imprisoned, and beheaded.

ac

THE promifes of God in due feafon will be fulfilled, however the events, to which they refer, may feem to us improbable. What we call difficulties, cannot poffibly defeat or obftruct the divine counsel. A firm perfuafion and practical application of this knowledged truth will produce in our minds fubmiffion, compofure, confidence, and joy, throughout our various changes and calamities. If, in dependence on the gracious declarations of God, we believe that we" fhall not perish, but have eternal life;" we fhall cheerfully expect the final confummation of our blifs, whatever enemies may affault us, or dangers beset our path. We fhall fay, like the great Apoftle, whom we are now contemplating,

The Lord fhall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me to his heavenly kingdom*.* The hiftory will fhew, that this ftrong affurance of the divine faithfulness was not difappointed. Let us, then, take hold of the Covenant, which God hath established in Jefus Chrift; fo fhall" all things work together for good," and with lively hope we may

a Tim. iv. 18.

"caft

"caft all our care upon Him, for he careth for us *."

St. Paul had appealed to Cefar against the malicious accufations of the Jews. As a Roman citizen, he claimed the privilege of bringing his caufe before the Emperor; for it feemed, that juftice was denied him at the inferior tribunals. The preceding circumstances, which led to this demand, were fo ordered, through the controlling influence of God, as to be the means of fulfilling the declaration, that the Apostle muft bear witness to the Gofpel at Rome. He was accordingly fent thither as a prifoner, together with fome others in fimilar circumftances, under the care of Julius a Centurion †. They went by fea, and the voyage proved extremely diftreffing and dangerous. Paul was accompanied by two Chriftian friends, Luke the beloved phyfician, and Ariftarchus a Macedonian, who' cheerfully partook of his fufferings, and, as his faithful affociates, afforded him peculiar confolation. He was, alfo, treated with much kindnefs by the Roman officer; and therefore at Sidon, where they called, he was permitted to vifit his pious acquaintance, and procure refreshment. From this place they proceeded to Myra, and, having there changed their fhip, they were afterwards fo retarded by contrary winds, that with great difficulty they reached the Fair Havens, a port in the inland of Crete.

As the feafon was far advanced, the Apostle adyifed the managers of the vellel not to profecute the voyagé before winter, and folemnly warned them of the extreme danger attending it, which had, probably, been infimated to him by revelation. But, his precaution not being regarded, they again fet fail, and foon perceived their folly. They were overtaken by a violent storm, and driven to the utmost

Rom. viii. 28. Pet. v. 7.* + Acts xxvii. I, &c.

Col. iv. 10, 11. Philem. 24.

distress,

diftrefs, even fo as to be in conftant expectation of perishing. For feveral days they faw neither fun nor ftars to guide them, and, of neceffity, abandoned the fhip to the winds and waves. They caft overboard the articles of merchandise, with which they were laden, and, what feemed far more valuable in their circumftances, their very tackling: they apprehended that they themselves, alfo, fhould be overwhelmed in the deep.

How, then, did it appear, that Paul was under the immediate care and protection of Heaven? Unbelief might have fuggefted, that the promife failed, and that God had forgotten to be gracious. But that feafon of extremity rendered the divine interpofition, in favour of the Apoftle, the more confpicuous, and fhewed to all the company the peculiar excellence and worth of this prisoner. He stood forth before them, and, while he blamed their contempt of his former advice, exhorted them to dif mifs their fears, on the ground of the Lord's exprefs declaration to him in the preceding night. With firmness and courage, he avowed, in the prefence of idolaters, his relation and devotedness to the true God, affirming, "His I am, and Him I ferve.” He told them, how he had been affured by an Angel, that he muft certainly be arraigned at Cefar's tribunal, and that, though they muft fuffer fhipwreck, the whole number of perfons with him, amounting to more than two hundred and seventy, fhould be fpared for his fake. Thus, then, a peculiar honour was put upon the Lord's minifter; and the careless navigators, furely, were conftrained to attend to his religion. They could not but perceive, that he was fupported and comforted by a God, whom they knew not, and whom the winds and feas obeyed. They faw him compofed and cheerful, amidst the dashing

Pfal. lxxvii. 8, 9.

of

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