CHAP. VIII. ST. PAUL BELIEVED-continued. SECT. I. Interview between St. Paul and St. Peter at AntiochPaul reproves Peter. GALATIANS, ch. ii. ver. 11-21. 11. BUT when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed. 12. For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision. 13. And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation. 14. But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews? 15. We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles, 16. Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. : 17. But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid. 18. For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor. 19. For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God. 20. I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. 21. I do not frustrate the grace of God for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain. : It is not easy to determine whether the interview between St. Paul and St. Peter, mentioned in the above account, took place before or after St. Paul's third visit to Jerusalem. On either supposition, St. Paul's conduct was consistent with the uniform regard which he evinced for the religious liberty of the Gentiles, and the rebuke which he gave to Peter, was justified by the occasion which gave rise to it. Having arrived at Antioch, St. Peter it appears not only required conformity to Jewish rites and ceremonies, but withdrew himself from the society of the Gentile converts, "fearing them which were of the circumcision," and thereby scandalizing the liberty of the Gospel. Encouraged by this vacillating conduct the other Jews likewise dissembled, and even Barnabas was also carried away by their dissimulation, so dangerous is bad example. "Peter therefore was to be blamed," and St. Paul by openly withstanding him, made an honorable stand for the truth and purity of the Gospel. His reproof of Peter was at once temperate and firm, and the arguments by which he justified it, were calculated to convince Peter of the error of his conduct; and that this rebuke produced no diminution of St. Peter's regard for St. Paul, is evident from the affectionate and commendatory manner in which the former spoke of St. Paul, in an Epistle written subsequent to the above interview. "Account that the long-suffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you,” 2 Pet. iii. 15, SECT. II. St. Paul and Barnabas separate. Nor content with having stigmatized St. Paul as an "impostor," our author proceeds to represent him as a despot, a title which, utterly unwarranted as it is by any thing Paul ever did or wrote, seems to accord well enough with K world". 66 Mr. Gamaliel Smith's conceit, that "Paul was to cast forth his shoe" over the whole heathen "In no place," says Gamaliel Smith, can this man exist, but to exercise hostility, or to provoke it with no man can he hold intercourse, without acting towards him, if not in the character of a despot, in that either of an open and audacious, or in that of a secret adversary, or both." p. 196. In the angry and virulent style of invective, in which Mr. Gamaliel Smith has indulged, we may discern strong presumptive proof of the weakness of that cause which he has unfortunately espoused. Nothing daunted, however, by Mr. Gamaliel Smith's hard words, let us proceed to examine the grounds for his assertions. In regard to the rebuke given by St. Paul to Peter at Antioch, it has already appeared, that Paul was fully justified. We are now about to take a view of what afterwards passed in Antioch, as far as regards Paul, Barnabas, and Silas. ACTS xv. 35-41. Paul also and Barnabas continued in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also. 36. And some days after Paul said unto Barnabas, Let us go again and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they do. 37. And Barnabas determined to take with them John, whose surname was Mark. 38. But Paul thought not good to take him with them, who departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work. $9. And the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from the other and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto Cyprus; 40. And Paul chose Silas, and departed, being recommended by the brethren unto the grace of God. 41. And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches. "to "With regard," says Gamaliel Smith, Paul's separation from Barnabas, departure from Antioch, and taking Silas for a companion, we have nothing from Paul himself, nothing from any other source, than as above, The Acts. In The Acts, though the contention is said to be sharp, no cause is stated for it other than a difference respecting the choice of a companion"." Now, even had Gamaliel Smith's assertion been correct, which it is not, the above account would afford ample vindication of St. Paul's conduct on the occasion. St. Paul felt an affectionate solicitude for the welfare of the churches, which he and Barnabas had planted; when, therefore, he was about to visit them, for the purpose of confirming them in the faith, it was natural that he should wish to be accompanied by |