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time, he felt prepared to do and suffer all that his heavenly Father should allot him. Hence, instead of yielding to the entreaties of his friends, he persevered in his intended visit to Jerusalem, in spite of the dangers that, he was well assured, there awaited him. Certain of the disciples of Cæsarea, it appears, accompanied St. Paul and his companions to Jerusalem, taking with them an old disciple of Cyprus, of the name of Mnason, with whom it was proposed that Paul and his companions should take up their abode during this visit It is probable, this Mnason might have been converted by St. Paul, when that Apostle went with Barnabas to Cyprus, soon after his second visit to Jerusalem". In that case, a feeling of gratitude would naturally make him the more anxious to afford St. Paul every accommodation on the present occasion. Be that as it might, this aged disciple could not but feel honoured and happy, in receiving as a guest one who was so generally, and so justly esteemed, as was St. Paul.

a Acts xiii. 4.

CHAP. XI.

ST. PAUL BELIEVED-continued.

SECT. I.

His Arrival at Jerusalem, and Reception by the Apostles.

So far were the brethren, at Jerusalem, from viewing St. Paul as an intruder, or an unwelcome visitor, that they received him and his companions with feelings of delight. The conduct of James, and other Apostles and elders, clearly evinced the estimation, in which they held the life and character of St. Paul, since they proposed that certain measures should be adopted, with a view to protect his reputation and his person, against the malevolence of his enemies. Mr. Gamaliel Smith has laboured hard to shew, that on the occasion of this last visit to Jerusalem, Paul had no intercourse with any of the Apostles, except James. A little consideration, however, will shew us how unadvisedly he has written on the subject. The history says, "And

the day following Paul went in with us unto James; and all the elders were present." Acts xxi. 18. Commenting upon this passage, Gamamaliel Smith says, "Who were they? the elders, all the elders; of the Apostles not so much as one besides James. Let it not be said, that under the word elders, the Apostles were meant to be included: on other occasions, on which elders are mentioned, (Acts xv. 4, 6, 23.) the Apostles are mentioned as forming a body, distinct as they naturally would be, distinct from these same elders," p. 233. Now, in spite of this bold declaration of Mr. Gamaliel Smith, I am prepared to contend, that by the term elders, the Apostles, where they are not distinctly mentioned, are included. James, and all the elders were present. From the expression used, we may fairly infer that James was one of the elders. John the beloved disciple of Jesus was also an elder, so he himself more than once declares". The Apostle Peter also was an elder, as he himself assures us. Thus, without further controversy, it appears that three of the most distinguished Apostles, at the least, were present on this occasion, and if those three Apostles were elders, it is highly probable, that other

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of the Apostles were occasionally designated by à like title, and were present at this interview with St. Paul.

SECT. II.

St. Paul declares the Things which God wrought among the Gentiles, by his Ministry.

HIGHLY honourable to St. Paul, was the reception which he met with from the Apostles and elders, assembled to greet him on his arrival; and the grateful humility, with which they ascribed to God the glory of St. Paul's success among the Gentiles, while it evinced their perfect dependence on the author of " every good and every perfect gift," clearly shewed that they regarded

Mr. Gamaliel Smith, heedless of what is stated in The Acts (xii. 2.) says, "That the number of the legitimately instituted Apostles, had as yet" (namely, at the time of St. Paul's last visit to Jerusalem,) "suffered any diminution, is not, by any of the documents, rendered so much as probable. Neither in the works of Paul himself, nor in that of his historiographer, is any intimation to any such effect to be found," p. 217. Gamaliel Smith also tells us, that St. Luke was one of the eleven Apostles, and an eye-witness of all that he relates, (p. 342.) and that Aquila, and Priscilla, were two female disciples of Paul's!! (p. 370.) See Luke i. 2. and Acts xviii. 2. O Gamaliel Smith! "Where was your discernment !”

St. Paul as an Apostle, whose ministry was derived from, and accompanied by the blessing of God. Gamaliel Smith says, St. Paul did not, on this occasion, speak of the miracles which he is reported to have performed, and that "his silence proves them unreal," p. 238. I entirely disagree both with Mr. Gamaliel Smith's assertion, and the inference drawn from it. St. Paul's Apostleship having been so often recognized by the other Apostles, it was by no means requisite, that he should, on his own account, speak of the miracles which God had wrought among the Gentiles by his ministry; but that St. Paul did mention the miracles which he had performed, a very little attention either to the English Translation, or the Greek Original, will clearly shew; and we may safely conclude, that his reason for doing so, arose from a persuasion, (which was justified by the event,) that the Apostles would hear with emotions of delight and satisfaction, the success with which his ministry, accompanied by miracles, had been attended, and glorify God on that account. "And the day following Paul went in with us unto James, and all the elders were present. And when he had saluted them, he declared 'particularly, what things God had wrought among the Gentiles by his ministry." The Ori

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