St. Paul,

APOSTLE.

25 JANUARY.

The Sacred Text.

AUL, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the High Priest, and desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or

women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem. And as he journeyed, and was come nigh unto Damascus about noon, suddenly there shone from heaven a great light round about him, above the brightness of the sun. And he fell to the earth, and heard a Voice saying unto him, in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou Me? And he said, Who

art Thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus Whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do. Stand upon thy

feet for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee; delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee, to open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in Me. And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a Voice, but seeing no man. And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man:

And

.. could not see for the glory of that Light, but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus. And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink. And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord. the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth, and hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight. Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to Thy saints at Jerusalem: and here he hath authority. from the Chief Priests to bind all that call on Thy Name. But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: 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 shew him how great things he must suffer for My Name's

sake. And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost. And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized. And when he had received meat, he was strengthened. Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus. And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God. But all that heard him were amazed, and said; 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? But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ.-Acts ix. 1, &c.; xxii. 6, 11; xxvi. 13, &c.

BIOGRAPHICAL ADDITIONS.

HUS across that very Plain of Damascus where a Jewish tradition places the murder of Abel, did Saul of Tarsus, fired by zeal, hasten to destroy his more acceptable brethren and there by an overflow of the grace of Christ was he called and chosen who, being nothing, yet became in nothing behind the very chiefest Apostles, and laboured more abundantly than they all. From that day forward so many were his toils,

I

his persecutions, his journeys, his sermons; so inexhaustible was his zeal, so indomitable his witness; so largely did he spend, so utterly was he spent for Christ and for them that were Christ's, or that by any travail pangs might be born to Christ; that the time would fail us to recount his life.

Omitting therefore any summary of his glories as set forth in the Book of Acts, let us mark him already far on his way to Rome; when being met by brethren within fifty miles of the Imperial City, he thanked God and took courage. And so he went toward Rome; there to undergo two years of imprisonment, chained presumably to the soldier who guarded him, yet specially favoured, inasmuch as except for that soldier he was suffered to dwell by himself. During this captivity it was that Epaphroditus, Bishop of Philippi, solaced him by gifts from that beloved Church; that Onesimus, the spiritual son begotten in his bonds, cheered for some while his loneliness; and that he wrote his Epistles to Philemon and to the Colossians. At the expiration of

two years, no accusers having come forward, he was set at liberty: after which, returning to the East, he resumed his perilous preaching, his inspired writings, his labours manifold.

The traditions of his death have not come down to us without some variation. One account purports that about the year 64, certified by revelation of his impending martyrdom, he joyfully revisited Rome. There he converted Nero's concubine, to the exasperation of that debased tyrant; and being cast into prison for such an offence, added yet this that he converted the

monarch's cupbearer also. It was whilst undergoing these his last bonds that he composed his Second Epistle to Timothy and his Epistle to the Ephesians. Then at length was his own cup full, that which was behind of the afflictions of Christ in his flesh being filled up. On the 29th of June in the year 65 (though this date is uncertain), the same day on which St. Peter is said to have endured the exceptional self-appointed agony of his Cross, St. Paul, having, as is alleged, laid claim to his privilege of Roman citizenship ("I was free born"), was beheaded at the Salvian Waters.

A Christian Church has long hallowed that spot of Roman ground which tradition endears to us as having witnessed the farewell of the two great Apostles of the Circumcision and of the Uncircumcision on their several roads to Heaven: and a friend's note-book has furnished me with the following translation of a Latin legend which, being inscribed on a stone, is built into the fabric of the Church itself:

"In this place SS. Peter and Paul separated on their way to martyrdom. And Paul said to Peter, Peace be with thee, Foundation of the Church, Shepherd of the flock of Christ. And Peter said to Paul, Go in peace, Preacher of good tidings, and Guide of the salvation of the just."

I am jealous over you with godly jealousy.-2 Corinthians xi. 2.

Wherefore did this mighty Saint plead a privilege which exempted him from extremity of torture? Could it be that whilst indeed his spirit was willing, his flesh was weak?-Now first of all I protest, "O Lord God,