"mind had none of the characters of "enthusiasm; that the coolness of his "head always kept pace with the warmth "of his heart?"

His conduct uniformly exhibits the precise distinction between Christian. wisdom and worldly policy. His boundary-line is clearly defined, and he never steps over it to serve a purpose. Of that prudence which is a-kin to selfishness, of that discretion which leans to craft, of that candor which tends to undue pliancy, of that wisdom which is sensual and earthly, he had not the slightest tincture. What an illustrious orator of our own time said of his contemporary statesman, may be far more appropriately applied to Saint Paul, - that, in gaining admiration, his virtues

His intellectual powers were admirably constituted to second his high moral

Mr. Burke of the Marquis of Rockingham.

and

and spiritual attainments. He had an intuitive sagacity of mind. This deep master of the science of man was intimately acquainted with all the doublings and turnings, the intricacies and perversenesses of the heart. In short, he knew the exact point from which to take the most comprehensive view of this scene of man; and his writings possess this great advantage, that they also put the intelligent reader in the position to take the same view. He knew every plait and fold of the human character. He had studied the species in all its modifications and varieties, from the monarch on the throne to the meanest officer in his court; from the high priest presiding in the Sanhedrim to the pharisee praying in the street of the intolerance of the one, he had had personal experience; through the duplicity of the other, his keen eye could pierce, without consulting the breadth of his phylactery.

The

The same acute penetration brought him no less acquainted with the errors of the well-intentioned, with the weaknesses of the wise, with the failings of the virtuous, and the inconsistencies of even the conscientious. Yet did he never convert his knowledge of all the shades of the human mind to an unkind, malevolent, or selfish purpose. It never taught him to hate the unworthy, with whose obliquities it made him acquainted: or to despise the weak, whose infirmities it had discovered. So far was he from availing himself of his sagacity by turning the vices or imbecilities of others to his own account, that it inspired him with a more tender and compassionate feeling for the frailties of their common

nature.

In perusing his Epistles we should always bear in mind that Saint Paul is not addressing the profligate and profane, but converts, or at least, religious

pro

professors.

This consideration would prevent our putting the reproofs and corrections which he thought necessary for them at too great a distance from ourselves. Into this danger we may be too much inclined to fall, if we do not bring these people nearer to what we suppose to be our own level. They were already Christians. It was not, therefore, always necessary to arrange all the fundamental doctrines into a regular system, much less to begin with a formal exposition of the elements of a religion, with the principles of which they were already imbued; or at least with the doctrines of which they were acquainted. This manner of addressing them is a proof that their progress was already considerable.

The first Epistle is inscribed "To all "that are at Rome, beloved of God, "called to be saints, whose faith is "spoken of throughout the world." The next is "to the church of God at Co“rinth,

5

"rinth, with all the saints in Achaia." Another to the saints that are at "Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ "Jesus." Again, "to the saints and "faithful brethren in Christ at Colosse." His letters to individual friends, designate also the piety of his correspondents. "To Timothy his son in the faith;" "to Titus his own son after the common "faith." And in writing to the Hebrews collectively, he denominates them "holy "brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling."

It would be well if the generality of Christians could aspire to rank with any of these classes. Saint Paul's knowledge of mankind, however, of which we have said so much, would prevent his addressing the best of his converts, as characters who did not require either caution, correction, or improvement. He knew even after they had adopted the Christian profession, how pertinaciously bad habits

would