DISCOIIRSE II. The Divine Commission of St. Paul examined and established. ACTS xxv: 18, l9. Of one Jesus, who was dead, whom Paul 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 resurrection of Christ, and thus constantly to preach it. Here I shall not run through all the various proofs ofthe resurrection of Christ, which are often summed up together on this occasion ; but only men- tion those which convincedSt. Paul, and gavehim this full assu- rance, that Jesus was risen from the dead. 1. Hesaw Jesus Christ after his resurrection, and spake with him more than once; Acts ix. 4, 5. Anda voice said unto 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, sa ling unto me, Make haste, &c. 1 Cor. xv. 4 -8. He wasseen of Cephas, then of the twelve; after that, of above five hundred brethren at once ; after that he was seen o James: thenof all the apostles ; and, last of all, he was seen offme also. He appeals to this sight of Christ, for the truth of the resurrection of Christ. It belongs to the characterof an apostle, that he must be one who had seen the Lord ; therefore he partlyproves his apostleshipthat way ; 1 Cor. ix. 1. Am notIan 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 several with him ac- companying 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 ; Acts xxii. 17, 18, 21. when Christ sent him to preach to the Gentiles. 2. He felt a wonderful change in himself, both in his body and soul, after he had the first vision of Christ : He was struck blind, and after three clays had his sight restored, by the layingon ofthe hands of Ananias, achristian, according to thevision which was given him ; Acts ix. 8, 18. He had a new scene of things set before his understanding, even the whole scheme of Christi- anity. Some suppose that in the three days of his blindness, he was taught thegospel. And accordingly it is said ; Acts ix. 20, VOL. It. N
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