580 A SHORT VIEW OP SCRIPTORE HISTORY. Lis success among idolaters, which he had communicated only before privately, and to a few; Gal. ii. 2. 65. Q. VI hat advice did the elders at Jerusalem give him ? A. They advised him to shave and purify himself by an offering after the manner of the Jews who had the vow of the Nazarite upon them ; Numb. vi. 2-12. that he might not be suspected of disobeying the Jewish law, either by the believingor unbelieving Jews, who were all zealous for it; Verses 20--25. Note, This compliance of St. Paul being recommended to him by one apostle, viz. James, and by the elders at Jerusalem ; Acts xxi. 18, 20-26. and being put in practice by himself, who was, perhaps, the chief of the apostles, we cannot reasonably suppose it sinful or blame- worthy, especially since the scripture passes no censure on it; and yet must we not say the religious ceremonies of the Jews, and particularly all the sin - offerings, such as this was; Num. vi. 14. were abolishedby the great sacri- fice of Christ, and the introduction of cbristianity by the Holy Ghost at Pentecost? In order thereforeto vindicate this practice of St. Paul, we may consider the Jewish ceremonies under a two-fold aspect, 1. As they were part of their national laws, under God as their king ; and, 2. As part of their religious worshippaid to him, as their God. Now the Jewish state being not yet destroyed, may we not suppose that St. Paul might comply with these prac- tices as a part of the national Jewish laws, - rather than as reli- gious worship, for he every where declared the Gentiles to be free from them? Or, if we consider these ceremoniesonly in their religious design, may we not suppose, that from the death of Christ, which was the substantial sacrifice, these shadows so far van- ished, that they ceased to be necessary, but were left, for a season, as indifferent things to the Jews, which, as the apostle expresses; lieb. viii. 13. were decaying and waxing old, and ready to van- ish way ? May we not suppose the divine indulgence of them for a season, because of the weakness of mankind, who cannot easily bear an universal change of their ancient customs all at once ? and for this reason, lest the Jews should take too great offence, St. Paul took Timothy and circumcised him, in order to make him a preacher, since his mother was a Jewess; Acts xvi. ], 3. this being, a'lawful thing to him, though not necessary. At the same time, he would not have Titus circumcised be- cause he was a Gentile, and had nothing to do with the Jewish law ; Gal. ii. 3. And the same apostle being a Jew, for the same reason, might complywith the Jewish rites of sha- ving his head, and sacrificing, as things left indifferent to the Jews for a season, by the will of God, in compliance with the weakness of man. 66. Q. Did this piece of compliance secure Paul from the persecution of the Jews ? A. The unbelieving Jews had such a
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