18 GOD baving called and fitted him for his Work, from my Mother's Womb, me, 16 To reveal his Son in Sect. 2. Sect lays fo much ftrefs. But when at 15 But when it pleased length it pleafed GOD, who in the fecret GOD, who separated me Gal. I. 15. Purposes of his Mercy had fet apart and and called me by his Grace, Separated me to this Office from my Mother's Womb, (as he did Jeremiah to that of a Prophet, Jer. 1. 5.) having determined to employ me as a Minifter of his Gospel; and who afterwards called [me] by fuch an aftonishing Difplay and Energy of his Grace, while I was actually engaged in Oppofition to his Caufe and Intereft; 16 When it pleated him, I fay, to reveal by Vifion and Infpiration bis Son Chrift Jefus in me, and thus to give me a Difcovery of the Glories of his Perfon, and of his Righteousness and Grace, that I might not only know him for my own Salvation, but alfo in due Time, when Providence fhould open a convenient Way, might preach him among the Gentiles (c), as well as among the Jews, to whom my Addreffes were at firft confined; immediately my Heart was overpowred, and all my Prejudices fo entirely removed, that I conferred not with Flesh and Blood (d), and ftood that I might preach immediately I conferred not him among the Heathen; with Flesh and Blood; (c) That I might preach him among the Gentiles.] This was undoubtedly the Scheme of Providence concerning Paul, who was accordingly diftinguished by the Character of the Apoftle of the Gentiles: But if his Converfion happened, as we fuppofe, about the Year 35, and Peter's preaching to Cornelius in the Year 39, then fince it is inconteftably evident that the Gentiles first heard the Gospel by the Mouth of Peter, it will follow, that Paul did not at first understand the full Extent of his Commiffion, and therefore, when he first began to preach, confined his Labours to the Synagogues at Damafcus; which is indeed intimated, Acts ix. 20,—22. (d) Immediately I conferred not with Flesh and Blood.] Dr. Wells and fome others understand this, as if the Apostle had faid, "Immediately after the Recovery of my Sight, without conferring with any Man in the World, or fo much as applying "to Ananias himself for Advice, I retired by Divine Direction into the Defart of "Arabia; where, after fome Time spent in Devotion, I had a full Revelation "made to me of the most important Facts and Doctrines of Chriftianity, [which "some suppose to be the Rapture referred to, 2 Cor. xii. 3.] and then, after my Return from thence, preached at Cos for the firft Time." (See Wells, Gorg. Vol. iii. pag. 275.) And Mr. Locke infifts, that laws here does not refer to 6 his he went not for Inftructions to Jerufalem. 18 Then after three Years I went up to Jerufa with him fifteen Days. food not to confider what would be moft 19 Sect. 2. Gal. I. 16. 17 Then at length, after three Years from 18 the Time of lem, to fee Peter, and abode Jerufalem, to vifit and converfe with Peter, the Time of my Converfion, I went up to by whom, when he had heard from Barnabas an Account of my Converfion and my preaching at Damafcus, I was cordially received as one whom the Lord had called; and I abode there with him at his Houfe So his immediately engaging in the Work of the Miniftry without applying for Advice C.2 20 Gal. I. 18. In his firft Vifit there, be faw but Two Apostles Sect. 2. House but fifteen Days, to have the Plea fure of difcourfing with him on the mutual: Succefs of our Miniftry, and not with the leaft View of receiving any farther 19 Authority from him. But I faw no one of the Apostles then befides, except it were James, the Brother or near Kinfman of the Lord Jefus (e); for all the rest of that facred Society were abfent at that Time on their refpective Miffions. 20 21 . Now with respect to all thefe Circumftances, [as to] the Things which I write unto you, you may give the most entire Credit to them, how little foever they may confift with fome Reports, that have been artfully fpread abroad concerning me; for bebold, I folemnly profess to you before GOD, that I do not lye or falfify in the least Degree (f), but with all poffible Franknefs and Sincerity fpeak what I affuredly know to be the most certain Truth. Afterwards departing from Jerufalem, I came into the Regions of Syria; and from thence I paffed into my native Country of Ci 19 But other of the Apoftes faw I none, fave James the Lord's Brother. 20 Now the Things which I write unto you, behold, before GOD, Llie not. 21 Afterwards I came into the Regions of Syria and Cilicias; e) Fames, the Brother, or near Kinfman of the Lord Jefus.] He was the Son of Alpheus and Mary, the Sifter of the Virgin; fo that James was Coufin-german to Jefus. See Vol. ii. Sect. 174 Note (e), pag. 457.- This Vifit to ferufalem, (which is mentioned Acts ix. 26, & feq.) as it was three Years after his Converfion, appears to have been in the Year 38; and after Paul had preached fo long before, it cannot be fuppofed he was inftructed how to preach the Gofpel in the fhort Stay he now made at Jerufalem, where he faw only Two of the Apoftles. (f) Before GOD, I do not lye.] A Revelation of the Facts and Doctrines of Chriftianity immediately from Jefus Chrift himfelf, without the Affiftance of any human Teacher, fo wonderfully agreeing in all its Branches with that which Chrift had taught on Earth both before and after his Refurrection, was fo extraordiuary an Event, and of fo great Importance to thofe whom St. Paul vifited and to whom he wrote, that one cannot wonder, he should think proper to affert it in fo folemn a Manner. We have great Reafon, while we read the Atteftation he has given to the Truth of what he fays, to acknowledge that it is of a Piece with the many Signs and Wonders attending both his Converfion and his Ministry; which Mr. Lyttelton had fo admirably illuftrated in his Obfervations on the Conversion, &c. of St. Paul. nor was he known in Judea, but by his Converfion. 22 And was unknown by Face unto the Churches Chrift: 23 But they had heard 21 Cilicia, to exercife my Miniftry there; and Sect. 2. Gal. I. 21. among whom GOD in me. IMPROVEMENT. LET'us alfo, at this Diftance of Time and Country, join with Ver. 24. Grace, that engaged him to preach the Faith he would once have Hadi : 22 Sect. 2. Ver. 17, any Reflections on the Change wrought on St. Paul. Had the Gospel been taught St. Paul by Ananias, or Peter, or of the Apostles, his Readiness to receive it from fuch Teachers, and to preach it at the certain Expence of his Reputation, his Intereft, and his Life, would no Doubt have ranked him among the most illuftrious Witneffes to the Truth of Christianity. But Ver. 11, 12. this additional Fact of an originul Revelation of the whole Syftem of it to him, independent of human Teaching, deferves our Admiration, and demands our Praise. GOD herein wrought according to the fecret Counsel of his Ver. 15. Divine Will, and that Purpose, by which he had separated Paul from the Womb. In vain was it oppofed by the prevailing PrejuVer. 13, 14. dices of his Education, or by the Violence of his Zeal for Judaifm, and that Proficiency in it, by which he had eclipfed fo many of his Co-temporaries, and thofe of his own Nation. All his Zeal for the Traditions of his Fathers gave Way to a yet greater Zeal for a nobler Object; a Zeal, which carried him through Arabia and Syria, through Judea and Cilicia, and prevented him in one Sense as well as another, from confulting with Flesh and Ver. 16. Blood, from being influenced by any selfish worldly Views, or giving heed to any Man's Opinion. Ver. 21, 22. Adored be the Grace, that animated and supported him in overcoming every Difficulty; and having fo miraculously furnished him for the great Work that he was called to, made him fo gloriously fuccefsful in it. So may we be enabled to furmounte Obstacle! and fo may we be taught, as to thofe Things which we have most highly efteemed, to count them all but Lofs for the Excellency of the Knowledge of Chrift, and to grudge no Labour, SelfDenial, or Suffering, by which the Gospel may be any way promoted or adorned, and a Teftimony given of our faithful Subjection to it! SECT. |