The more he

interested in the character of Paul, AS A CHARACTER. read of him, the more his admiration increased. And if I do not greatly err in memory, it was THE EARNESTNESS of Paul, more than any other characteristic, which deeply affected his heart, and was blessed of God to his ultimate conversion. In all his life, as he thought, he had never found a man with a SOUL like that of Paul; so EARNESTLY devoted to his God, and to the work of spreading the knowledge of salvation by the Lord Jesus Christ.*

And is it strange that he should have been so affected? Who can now read of Paul in those delineations of his fellow-laborer, and in his own writings, without seeing that he was indeed in earnest, like a man, who felt to the very utmost power of emotion, and not seldom to agony, that to those who perished, he was a savor of death unto death; but to those that were saved, of life unto life! Neither the "love that passeth knowledge," nor "the terrors of the Lord" could ever languish sleepily upon his tongue! In earnest he always was: and sometimes, as before Felix, "terribly in earnest." His mode of reasoning very strikingly displays this element of character and of power. Let him take any point to argue, and however systematic may be his plan, or important the regularity of the succession of his positions or facts, he proceeds but a little way, before he seems to forget that he is reasoning, and breaks out in some burst of glowing exclamation or appeal. His reasoning is always "logic set on fire," and fire so powerful as to threaten to burn off the very strongest links of the chain of the argument.

But in all his earnestness, you see no proof of mere animal excitement, or of extravagance and enthusiasm. It was emotion, inspired legitimately by the realities of the great and the glorious theme, which enkindled and exalted his soul. And hence, we cannot doubt, that it was with an overwhelming moral dignity and grandeur, that he replied to Festus-"I am not mad, most noble Festus, but speak forth the words of truth and soberness !"

6. The BOLDNESS of Paul may next be specified, as a means by which he endeavored to promote the gospel.

Hardly had the scales fallen from his eyes at Damascus, after "the heavenly vision," before he "entered the synagogues." and "preached Christ that HE IS THE SON OF GOD. All that heard him

were amazed, and sai, "Is not this he that destroyed them, which called on this name in Jerusalem, and came hither for that intent, that he might bring them bound unto the chief priests ?" When subsequently he went to Jerusalem, "Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord on the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus. And he was with them coming in and going out of Jerusalem. And he spake boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus, and disputed against the Grecians; but they went about to slay him."

It would not be proper to say more. The facts were not known, until after the student had left Cambridge; and it is doubtful whether any officers of the University were ever aware of what the writer has here ventured to record.

As he began, so he continued. Surely he was not unapprised of the scorn, and the obloquy, the scourgings, imprisonments, and deaths, which everywhere threatened the heralds of the cross of Calvary. Beside the vivid suggestions of his own experience, while "breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord,"--suggestions which would be sufficient to dishearten any man who had not the fortitude and courage of the noblest in the army of the martyrs-we find, that, at the very outset of his ministry for Christ, he received a revelation of suffering, no less than of salvation. While Ananias was hesitating to perform the service to which a vision directed him-thinking it impossible, that Saul of Tarsus had become a man of prayer in spirit and in truth— "Go thy way," said the Lord: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel. For I will show him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake."

It was then in full view of all his liabilities to reproach, and ignominy, and torture, and frightful martyrdom, that he went through all the populous cities, the marts of commerce, and the seats of opulence and learning-preaching boldly the gospel of the kingdom of the Son of God. If men of the highest rank ridiculed his doctrine, and scoffed at his warnings, they could never have raised a blush upon his cheek. He could say to all, I AM NOT ASHAMED OF THE GOSPEL. He could "weep in secret places for their pride," like the prophet of Lamentations; but no reproach or reviling could have ever caused him to appear "with confusion of face." Never did he flee for his life, or hide himself, because he feared death in any of its terrors; for he was always "ready, not to be bound only, but also to die for the name of the Lord Jesus."

Beyond a question, his appeal to those elders of Ephesus was applicable to all, whom he had been permitted to address according to his heart's desire. "I have not shunned to declare unto you the whole counsel of God." He neither disguised the truth, nor withheld any truth, nor neutralized the truth, that he might make his doctrine more agreeable to the depraved taste of the carnal mind. In the conclusion of his Epistle to the Church of Ephesus-written when he was in chains-is the memorable exhortation, to "put on the whole armor of God, that he might be able to stand against the wiles of the devil, Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints, and for me," it is added, "that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel; for which I am an ambassador in bonds that therein I may speak boldly as I ought to speak."

7. If Paul was distinguished for BOLDNESS, he was no less remarkable for the MEEKNESS and HUMILITY, with which also he labored to promote the gospel.

Fierce as he was, before he became a new man, he was so transformed into the image of Christ, that it might be said of him most

truly, that he was "meek and lowly in heart." He could suffer injuries without any desire of revenge; and whatever trials might come upon him, it was all well, if the power of Christ was present with him for his strength of consolation. The remembrance of what he once was, while a destroyer of the faith, and the consciousness of the unspeakable mercy which had been bestowed upon him, disarmed him of all asperity, and subdued all his haughtiness. This we are fully warranted to believe, from his words and his example. Still it was true, that he insisted firmly and indomitably upon a recognition of his rights, as a Roman citizen, and withstood even Simon Peter to the face, when he was justly "to be blamed."

Far and wide did Paul preach the gospel, with signal and signalized success. Yet he never speaks of his distinction in this respect, as if disposed to bring himself into notice. Upon one occasion he said, "I suppose I was not a whit behind the very chiefest apostles." It was when compelled for the honor of Christ to vindicate himself against the outrageous aspersions of those, who craftily and shamelessly endeavored to undermine and destroy his influence in a church, for which he had toiled with such self-sacrificing endurance. The same remark will apply to other expressions of a similar nature. Vastly more congenial was the language of his first Epistle to that church: 'Last of all Christ was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time. For I am the least of the apostles, and am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain ; but I labored more abundantly than they all; yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me."

How admirable the wisdom and the spirit of his charge to Timothy "O man of God, follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, MEEKNESS. Foolish and unlearned questions [questions indicating both ignorance and folly] avoid, knowing that they gender contentions. And the servant of the Lord must not contend; but be gentle to all men, apt to teach, patient,-in MEEKNESS instructing those that oppose themselves, if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth."

"Be kindly affectionate one to another with brotherly love, in honor preferring one another," was an injunction to the Romans. To the Colossians also, and to the kindred in Christ generally, he wrote in the style of commandment or exhortation enforcing the obligations of humility and meekness, upon all classes and orders in the household of faith,—as if these graces of the Christian character were of immeasurable importance. And never could he have written as he did to those who had known him so well, if they had not indubitable evidence, that every word was true when he said: "Being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer; being defamed, we entreat; we are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things."

8. We have another and a most important view of the means by which Paul labored to promote the gospel when we consider that he always published it, as being made effectual in no other way, than by the power of the Holy Ghost.

Not the slightest hope of success would the apostle have had, were it not that his "speech was in demonstration of the Spirit and of power." In every variety of manner, he proclaimed as his joy and exultation, that all the glory of the triumphs and the trophies of the gospel belonged to his Saviour and his God. “We have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us." He never speaks or writes of his success in publishing the glad tidings of salvation by the blood of Christ, but as accomplished by the "Lord working with him," or as if his unworthy instrumentality would have availed nothing, and less than nothing, if the word preached had not been "mighty through God." How he rebuked the Corinthians and glorified God, when he said :"Whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal and walk as men? For while one saith, I am of Paul, and another, I am of Apollos, are ye not carnal? Who then is Paul, and and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord Jesus gave to every man? I have planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. So then neither is he that planteth anything, neither he that watereth, but GOD THAT GIVETH THE INCREASE." ""

9. I add, briefly, that Paul published the gospel as being made effectual in answer to fervent prayer.

From the moment he became convicted of sin, and was enlightened into a knowledge of Christ, he was a man of prayer,-earnest, energetic, effectual prayer. "What wilt thou have me do?" was his first petition, and we know not but his last. Certain it is, that from the time his Lord could say of him, "behold he prayeth,"-up to the latest hour of record, we have ample proof that, in enjoining upon the Thessalonians and other Christians, to "pray without ceasing." he enjoined what he himself most sacredly performed.

I know not in how many instances he uses such language as,— "Without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers." And to what end? We pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power; that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ." Again he says to the Thessalonians, "Brethren, PRAY FOR US." How he exhorted the Ephesians "to pray always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, that utterance might be given" to him, for a bold and faithful proclamation of "the mystery of the gospel," may here be instructively called to memory, in connection with his words to the Colossians. "Continue in prayer and watch unto the same with thanksgiving. At the same time also praying for us, that God would open to us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery

of Christ, for which I am also in bonds. That I may make it manifest as I ought to speak."

10. I will notice but one other means, by which Paul labored to promote the gospel. It has been repeatedly implied. He spoke the truth in love.

LOVE to God, to Christ, to the brethren, and to sinners, was, beyond all dispute, the predominant, and all-controlling passion of the great apostle to the Gentiles. It glows in every sermon. It beams with celestial brightness in every epistle. I should be glad, if the time permitted, to illustrate each of the modes or elements of the love in the constant exercise of which Paul preached and exemplified "the faith once delivered to the saints." But I will only refer to the "charity," which he has so inimitably portrayed in the 13th chapter of his first Epistle to the Corinthians. That chapter was written, it must be borne in mind, when he was in those circumstances of most unreasonable, aggravated, cruel provocation! And where in all the writings of the apostles, is there one chapter more beautiful and tender, in sentiment, feeling, and expression? When the apostle thus wrote of the "charity" that "suffereth long and is kind. . . Seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked; thinketh no evil. Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things; can it be doubted by any one among us, that they who had seen the most of the real spirit and the true life of Paul, would at once recognize his own moral likeness? It was because of his own charity," that he could say of his course among the Thessalonians," We were gentle among you even as a nurse cherisheth her children; so being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because you were dear unto us." In the same spirit it was, that at Ephesus, "by the space of three years" he ceased not to warn every man day and night with tears." But even this deeply affecting record is far from doing full justice to him, who could testify of himself, in the Epistle to the Romans:-"I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost, that I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart; for I could wish myself were accursed from Christ, for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh."

It is not strange, then, that a man of such spirit should have been so distinguished for his courtesy and urbanity, in his treatment of men of all ranks and conditions; and that he "became all things to all men," consistently with truth and faithfulness,-" that by all means he might save some." In this connection, however, some may call to mind certain examples of denunciation of opposers of the truth. They must not forget that the apostle refers to the conduct of subtle and malignant, mischievous and incorrigible enemies of all righteousness. And an anathema from one inspired of the Holy Ghost, is no more repugnant to the spirit of love unfeigned, than divine justice is irreconcilable with divine benevolence. Our Lord Jesus denounced the most dreadful woes upon the Scribes