340 The NEW and COMPLETE LIFE of our BLESSED LORD afferting the doctrine of the from the grave at the tall day." Having thus heard both parties, Felix refuted to pats any final fentence, till he had more fully advifed about it, and con- fulted Lyfias the governor of the cattle, Who was the moft proper perfon to give an account of the fedition and tumult; commanding, in the mean time, that St. Paul fhould be kept under a guard, but at the fame time enjoy the liberty of being vifited by his friends, and receive from them any office of - friendfhip and kind- nefs they thought proper to bellow. Drufilla, a Jewels, and daughter of the elder Herod, who was alto the wife of Felix, foon after this came down to him at Cefarea, in whole pretence the governor fent for Paul, and gave him leave to ex- plain the doctrines of Chriftianity. In this difcourfe, the apoftle took occafion particularly to infili upon the great obli- gation which the laws of CHRIST lay upon men to juflice and righteoufnefs, to fobriety and chaflity ; urging, at the fame time, the revere and impartial ac- count that mutt be given at the judg- ment of the great day, when all men [hall be arraigned before the awful tribunal of Omnipotence, for the afions of their part lives, and be eternally punifhed or re- warded, according to their works done . in the body. . This reafoning was wifely adapted to the fiate and temper of Felix ; but cor- rofives are very uneafy to a guilty mind : men naturally hate whatever brings their fins to remembrance, and sharpens the fling of a violated confcience. But how- ever difagreeable thefe truths may be, they cannot be heard without confufion; and, accordingly, when St. Paul patheti- cally defcribed the terrors of the laft judgment, Felix trembled on his throne; and was fo greatlyaffecled, that he canted the spofllle to break off abruptly, telling him that he would hear the remainder of his difcourfe at a feafon more convenient than the prefent. 3 Certainly Felix had fufficient reafon to tremble, and his confcience to be fenfrbly alarmed at thefe reflet.ions; for he was a man notorioufly infamous for rapine and violence. Tacitus tells us, that he made his will the lawof his government, prac- tising all manner of cruelty and injuftice : his incontinence, luxury, and debauchery, w s remarkable ; nor did he fcruple to violate all the laws of God and man, to fatisfy his unruly pafflons : to thefe quali- ties he added bribery and covetoufnefs ; and, therefore, often fent for our apoflie to difcourfe with him, expelling he would have given him a confiderable fum for his releafe; having, in all probability, heard that St. Paul had brought a large quantity of money to Jerufalem : but find- ing no offers were made him, either by the apostle himfelf or his friends, he kept him prifoner two years; when he himfelf being difcharged from his office by Nero, he left Paul in prifon, in order to gratify the malice of the Jews, and engage them, after his departure from Judea, to fpeak the better of his government. After the difplacing of Felix, the go- vernment of the province was conferred on Portius Feflus, before whom, at his firlt coming to Jerufalem, the high-prieft and Sanhedrim preferred an indiiment againft Paul, defiring that he might be fent for up to Jerufalem, in order to his trial, intend- ing to affaffinate him by the way : but Feftus told them, that he was fhortly go- ing himfelf to Cefarea; and that, if they had any complaint againft Paul, they might come down thither and accule him. Accordingly, as foon as he was come to Cefarea, he afcended the tribunal, where the Jews renewed the charge they had before brought againft Paul; but the apoftle loon cleared himfelf ofevery part . of the charge, they not being able to prove any thing againft him. Feflus, however, being willing to procure the favour of the Jews at his entrance on the government; afked him whether he would go up and be triedbefore him at Jerufalem? But
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