and SAVIOUR, JESUS CHRIST, and his APOSTLES, &C. gig impoffible to anfwer him, or difprove his arguments. St. Paul did not flay long at Damafcus after his convection ; nor did he return to Jerufalem; but being commandedto preach the gofpel to the Gentiles, he retired into Arabia Petrwa, where he received a full revelation of all the myfleries of Chriflia- nity : for he himfelf declares, that he con- verfed not with flefh and blood. And having preached in feveral parts of that country fome time, he returned again to Damafcus, applying himfelf with the ut- molt affiduity to the great work of the miniftry, frequenting the fynagogues there, powerfully confuting the objeêlions com- monly made by the defcendants of Jacob againfl JESUS of Nazareth, and converting great numbers of Jews and Gentiles to the faith. ltis apoftle was indeed remarkably zeal- his preaching, and blelfed with a r, extraordinary method of reafoning, .k:creby he proved the fundamental points of Chriftianity beyond exception. This irritated the Jews to the higheft degree ; and, at length, after two or three years continuance in thofe parts, they found means to prevail on the governor of Da- mafcus to have him put to death : but they knew it would be difficult to take him, as he had fo many friends in the city ; they therefore kept themfelves a continual watch, fearched all the houfes where they fuppofed he might conceal himfelf, and alfo obtained a guard from the governor to obferve the gates, in order to prevent his efcaping from the place. His Chriflian friends were far from de- ferting him in this diftrefs; they tried every method that Offered, to procure his efcape: but finding it impoffible for him to pats through either of the gates of the city, they let him down from one of theirhoufes through a window in a bafket, over the wall, by which means the cruel defigns of his enemies were rendered in ffeftual. St. Paul having thus efcaped from his malicious perfecutors,repaired to Jerufalem, and, on his arrival, addreffed himfelf tq the church : but they knowing well the former temper and principles of this great perfecutor, fhunned his company, till Barnabas brought him to Peter, who was not yet can into prifon, and to James our Lord's brother, bifhop of Jerufalem, informing them of his miraculous conver- fion, and that he had preached the gofpel with the greateft boldnefs in the fynagogue of Damafcus ; upon which they gladly received him, and entertained him fifteen days with the greatefl hofpitality and af- fection. He was remarkably affiduous, during this interval, in preaching the gofpel of the Son ofGod, and confuting the Hellen- iflic Jews with the greatefl courage and refolution. But fnares were loon laid for him, as malice can as eafily ceafe to be, as to remain inaEtive ; and being warned by God in a vifion, that his teftimony would not be received at Jerufalem, that therefore it was neceffary for him to de- part and preach the gofpel to the Gentiles. Accordingly, being condufled by the bre- thren to Cmfarea Philippi, he let fail for Tarfus, his native city ; from whence he was loon after brought by Barnabas to An- tioch, to affift-him in propagating Chrifli- anity in that city. In this employment he fpent one whole year, and had the pleafure of feeing the gofpel flourifh in a very re- markable manner in thofe parts. Here the difciples firfl acquired the name of Chriffians, for before they were flyled Nazarenes ; but this appellation loon pre- vailed all over the world, and the former was, in a few ages, almofl entirely laid afide. A terrible famine, foretold by Agabus, happened, about this time, in feveral parts of the Roman empire, particularly Judea; which induced the Chriffians at Antioch to compaffionate the miferies of theirbrethren at Jerufalem; and, accordingly, railed con- fiderable contributions for their relief, which they fent to the capital ofJudeaby the hands of Barnabas and Saul, who, immediately after M
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