( 153 ) DISCOURSE tZ THE DIVINE COMMISSION OE ST. PAUL EXAMINED AND ESTABLISHED. Acrs. xxv. 18, 19. Ot one Jesus, who was dead, whom faul affirmed to be alive.. THE SECOND PART. SECONDLY.: The next thing to be enquired is, what special and particular reasons Paul had to believe the re- surrection of Christ, and thus constantly to preach it. Here I shall not run through all the various proofs of the resurrection of Christ, which are often summed up' together on this occasión ; but only mention those which convinced St. Paul, and gave him this full assurance, that Jesus was risen from the dead. 1. He saw Jesus»Christ after his resurrection, and spake with himmore than once; Acts ix. 4, 5. And d voice saidunto him, Saul, Saul, whypersecutest thou me? And he said, who art thou, Lord ? And the Lord said, I am Jesus, whom thou persecutest. And xxii. 17. While Iprayed in the temple I saw him, saying unto' Me make haste, c. 1 Cor. xv. 4 8. He was seen of Ceplaas, then of the twelve; after that, of above five hundred brethren a once ; after that he was seen óf- James; then of all the Apostles; and last ofall,' he zeias seen of me also. FIe appeals to this sight of Christ, for the truth of the resurrection of Christ. It belongs to the character of an apostle, that he must be one who had seen the Lord ; therefore he partly proves his apostleship that way: 1 Cor. ix. 1; Api not I an apostle? have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord. The first time he saw Christ, after his resurrection, was on the road to Damascus, when there were sevërl with him accompanying him on the road, who were also surprized with the descending glory, though they were -,not permitted to hear the words, He saw him again ;
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