LETTER ΤΟ GILBERT WEST, Esq. SIR, IN Na late converfation we had together upon the fubject of the Christian religion, I told you, that befides all the proofs of it which may be drawn from the prophecies of the Old Teftament, from the neceffary connection it has with the whole fyftem of the Jewish religion, from the miracles of Christ, and from the evidence given of his refurrection by all the other Apoftles; I thought the Conversion and the Apostleship of St. Paul alone, duly confidered, was of itself a demonftration fufficient to prove Chriftianity to be a Divine Revelation. As you seemed to think that fo compendious a proof might be of use to convince thofe unbelievers that will not attend to a longer feries of arguments, I have thrown together the reafons upon which I fupport that propofition. In the 26th chapter of the Acts of the Apofiles, writ by a cotemporary author, and a companion of St. Paul in preaching the Gofpel, as appears by the book itself, ch. xx. ver. 6, 13, 14. xxvii. 1. &c. St. Paul is faid to have given himfelf this account of his converfion and preaching, to King Agrippa and Feftus the Roman governor: My manner of life from my youth, which was, at the firft, among mine own nation at Jerufalem, know all the Jews, which knew me from the beginning (if they would testify) that after the strictest fect of our religion, I lived a pharifee. And now I ftand and am judged for the ، hope of the promife made by God unto our fathers: unto which promife our twelve tribes, inftantly ferving God day and night, hope to come; for which hope's fake, King Agrippa, I am accused • by the Jews. Why fhould it be thought • a thing a thing incredible with you, that God fhould raife the dead? I verily thought with myfelf, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of • Nazareth: Which things I alfo did in Jerufalem, and many of the faints did I fhut up in prifon, having received autho rity from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I gave my voice against them. And I punished them oft in every fynagogue, and compelled them to blafpheme, and being exceedingly mad against them, I'perfecuted them even unto strange << cities. Whereupon as I went to Damafcus • with authority and commiffion from the chief priests, at mid-day, O King, I' faw in the way a light from heaven, above the brightness of the fun, fhining round about me; and them which journeyed with me. And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice fpeaking unto me, and faying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why perfecuteft thou me? It is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. And I faid, Who art thou, Lord? And he faid, I am Jefus whom thou perfecuteft. But rife, ftand upon thy feet; for I have ap •peared A 4 peared unto thee for this purpofe, to make thee a minifter, and a witnefs both of those things which thou haft feen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee; delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom I now fend thee, to open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of fins, and inheritance among them which are fanctified by faith that is in me. Whereupon, O King Agrippa, I was not difobedient to the heavenly vifion but fhewed first unto them ⚫ of Damafcus, and at Jerufalem, and throughout all the coaft of Judea, and to the Gentiles, that they fhould repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance. For thefe caufes the Jews caught me in the temple, and went about to kill me. Having therefore obtained help of God, I <continue unto this day witneffing both to fmall and great, faying none other things than those which Mofes and the prophets did fay fhould come: that Chrift should fuffer, and that he fhould be the first that fhould rife from the dead, and fhould 'fhew |