natural cause. Nothing, it is evident, could be better suited to the purpose. The assertion was of the sort of those, which, how palpably soever untrue, are not exposed to contradiction by direct evidence: and which, supposing them believed, ensure universal respect, and put all gainsayers to silence.

* An incident not unworthy here of notice, is—the sort of acknowledgment contained in the words"for they will not receive thy testimony concerning "me." In this may be seen-a confirmation of the important fact, so fully proved on the occasion of the first or Reconciliation Visit: and we see-with what consistency and propriety, the mention of it comes in, on the present occasion: namely, in a speech, made to a multitude, of which, many of those,-by whom he had been disbelieved and rejected on that former occasion,-must of course have formed a part.

Such is the fact, which, after having communicated to us, in his own person, (Acts ix. 26) ("they were all "afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disci

ple,") the historiographer is frank enough to communicate to us a second time, through the mouths of Paul and "the Lord," the one within the other. True enough this information: and, moreover, at Jerusalem, as well when the historiographer was writing, as when Paul was speaking, notorious enough: or we should hardly have had it here and now. But, what a truth to put into the mouth of Paul, whose title to credence for his claim, is so effectually destroyed by it!

To return to what, on the occasion of the first visit, is said by the historiographer, in his own person, about the Grecians. That it was false, as to the main point, -namely, that it was by the fear of those same Gentiles that he was driven out of Jerusalem,-is now (it is hoped) sufficiently evident. But, as to his having held disputation with them,-in this there seems not

to be any thing inconsistent or improbable: and this part, supposing it true, might, in so far as known, help to gain credence for that which was false.

A circumstance-not altogether clear, nor worth taking much trouble in the endeavour to render it so, is-on the occasion of this dialogue, the change made, of the supernatural vehicle, from a vision into a "trance. Whatsoever, if any, is the difference,—they agree in the one essential point: namely, that it is in the power, of any man, at any time, to have had as many of them as he pleases: hearing and seeing, moreover, in every one of them, whatsoever things it suits his convenience to have heard or seen.-" I saw a vision:" or, "I was in a trance:" either postulate granted, every thing whatsoever follows.

This trance (it may be observed) is of a much more substantial nature than any of the visions. By Paul in his road vision,-vision as it was,-neither person nor thing, with the exception of a quantity of light, was seen only a voice, said to be the Lord's, heard. In this trance, the Lord is not only heard, but seen. In those visions, that which is said to have been heard, amounts to nothing: on the present occasion, what is said to have been heard, is material to the purpose, and perfectly intelligible. Not that there could be any use in Paul's actually hearing of it: for what it informed him of, was nothing more than that which, at the very time, he was in full experience of. But, in a situation such as his, it was really of use to him, to be thought to have heard it: and therefore it is, that, in the speech ascribed to him, he is represented as saying that he heard it.

CHAPTER V.

Paul disbelieved continued.-Jerusalem Visit II. Money-bringing Visit.-Barnabas accompanying him from Antioch.

SECTION 1.

AT ANTIOCH, AGABUS HAVING PREDICTED A DEARTH, MONEY IS COLLECTED FOR THE JERUSALEM SAINTS.

AT his own house it was, that we last left our selfdeclared Apostle: at his own birth-place-Tarsus: what we have next to see is what drew him from thence.

All this while there were other disciples that had not been idle. To the new religion, already was Antioch (Antioch in Syria) become a new Jerusalem.

Upon the dispersion of the Jerusalem Christians, occasioned by the judicial murder of the sainted trustee of the poor's fund - Stephen,-some of them, among whom were some natives of Cyprus,-in which island was situated the property of the son of consolation, Barnabas,--had betaken themselves to that same island, others to that same city of Antioch in Syria.

ACTS xi. 19-24.

19. Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen, travelled as far as Phenice and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only.-20. And some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, which, when they were come to Antioch, spake unto -21. And the hand of the Lord the Grecians, preaching the Lord Jesus was with them; and a great number believet, and turned unto the Lord. 22. Then tidings of these things came unto the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem: and they sent forth Barnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch. -23. Who, when he came and had seen the grace of God, was glad; and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord. 24. For he was a good man, full of the Holy Ghost and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord.

Of these, some addressed themselves exclusively to the Jews: others ventured so far, as to make an ex

periment upon the Grecians. Unfortunately, these terms are, neither of them, wholly free from ambiguity. By the word Jews, may have been meant either Jews by birth and abode, or Jews by religion: by the word Grecians, either Jews who, born or dwelling within the field of quondam Grecian dominion, used the Greek as their native language,—or Greeks, who were such, not only by language, but by religion. In this latter case, their lot was among the Gentiles, and much more extraordinary and conspicuous was the importance of the success.

They which preach the Gospel, should live of the Gospel." Such, in his own words (1 Cor. ix. 14), is the maxim laid down by Paul, for the edification of his Corinthian disciples. To save doubts and disputation, he prefaces it with the assurance—“ even so "hath the Lord ordained." No great need of support from revelation, seems to attach upon a maxim so natural, and so reasonable: from the time of the first planting of the Gospel, it appears to have been (as indeed it could not fail to be) universally acted upon; saving such few exceptions as a happy union of zeal, with sufficient pecuniary means, might render possible.

How, under the Apostolical aristocracy, it had been acted upon in Jerusalem, has been seen already. The time was now come,-for its being established, and acted upon in Antioch.

At Jerusalem, under the spiritual dominion of the Apostles, lived a man of the name of Agabus. Among the endowments,-of which, in the character of qualifications, a demand was by some understood to be created, by the business of propagating the new reliligion, (qualifications, a list of which, according to his conception of it, Paul (1 Cor. xii. 10) has given us)— was one, which, among these endowments, was called the "gift of prophecy:"-a gift, under which, as under that of speech in general, particularly when applied to

occasions of importance, the faculty of prediction-of forming correct judgements respecting future contingencies-would, if not necessarily, very frequently at least, come to be included.

In the instance of the prophecy here in question, this same prospective faculty, it should seem, was actually included.

The fact, for the purpose of predicting, or giving information of which, this useful emissary was, on the present occasion, sent from Jerusalem, to Antioch,— was-that of signifying, that there should be a great dearth: an inference deduced from it, was-that, at this same Antioch, for the relief of the brethren at Jerusalem, contributions should be collected, and sent to Jerusalem.

ACTS xi. 27-30.

27. And in these days came prophets from Jerusalem unto Antioch.28. And there stood up one of them named Agabus, and signified by the spirit that there should be a great dearth throughout all the world; which came to pass in the days of Claudius Cæsar. 29. Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judea: -- -SO. Which also they did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.

In the calamity of dearth may be seen one of those events, of which-especially if the time of it be not predesignated with too rigid an exactness—a prediction may be hazarded,-and even by any man,-without much risk of falling under the disgrace attached to the appellation of a false prophet. false prophet. Of this observation, an exemplification seems to have been afforded, in the present instance. With not unaccustomed prudence," the spirit," by which, on this occasion, the calamity was "signified," forbore (as we see) from the fixation of any particular year-either for the prophecy, or for the accomplishment of it. "The days of Claudius Caesar" are mentioned as the time of the accomplishment. By agreement of all chronologists, the duration of his reign is stated as occupying not less than thirteen years. Whether this same reign had then already commenced,--is not, on this