a considerable time: "He longed after you | about in the body the dying of the Lord Je all, and was full of heaviness, because that ye sus." This train of reflection is continued to had heard that he had been sick." Epaphro- the place from whence the words which we ditus was with St. Paul at Rome. He had compare are taken. The two epistles, though been sick. The Philippians had heard of his written at different times, from different plasickness, and he again had received an account ces, and to different churches, were both writhow much they had been affected by the in- ten under circumstances which would natutelligence. The passing and repassing of these rally recall to the author's mind the precariadvices must necessarily have occupied a large ous condition of his life, and the perils which portion of time, and must have all taken place constantly awaited him. When the Epistle during St. Paul's residence at Rome. Third- to the Philippians was written, the author was ly, after a residence at Rome thus proved to a prisoner at Rome, expecting his trial. When have been of considerable duration, he now re- the Second Epistle to the Corinthians was gards the decision of his fate as nigh at hand. written, he had lately escaped a danger in He contemplates either alternative, that of his which he had given himself over for lost. The deliverance, ch. ii. 23. “Him therefore (Ti-epistle opens with a recollection of this submothy) I hope to send presently, so soon as Iject, and the impression accompanied the wrishall see how it will go with me; but I trust ter's thoughts throughout. in the Lord that I also myself shall come shortly:" that of his condemnation, ver. 17. "Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy and rejoice with you all." This consistency is material, if the consideration of it be confined to the epistle. It is farther material, as it agrees with respect to the duration of St. Paul's first imprisonment at Rome, with the account delivered in the Acts, which, having brought the apostle to Rome, closes the history by telling us "that he dwelt there two whole years in his own hired house."

No. VI.

Chap. i. 23. "For I am in a strait betwixt "two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better."

With this compare 2 Cor. chap. v. 8: "We are confident and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord."

I know that nothing is easier than to transplant into a forged epistle a sentiment or expression which is found in a true one; or, supposing both epistles to be forged by the same hand, to insert the same sentiment or expression in both. But the difficulty is to introduce it in just and close connexion with a train of thought going before, and with a train of thought apparently generated by the circumstances under which the epistle is written. In two epistles, purporting to be written on dif ferent occasions, and in different periods of the author's history, this propriety would not easily be managed.

No. VII.

"For unto you

Chap. i. 29, 30; ii. 1, 2. is given, in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake; having the same conflict which ye saw in me, and now hear to be in me. If there be, therefore, any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies; fulfil ye my joy, that ye be like minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind."

them; and when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely; who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks"

The sameness of sentiment in these two quotations is obvious. I rely however not so much upon that, as upon the similitude in the train of thought which in each epistle leads up to this sentiment, and upon the suitableness of With this compare Acts, xvi 22: “And that train of thought to the circumstances un- the multitude (at Philippi) rose up against der which the epistles purport to have been them (Paul and Silas;) and the magistrates written. This, I conceive, bespeaks the pro-rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat duction of the same mind, and of a mind operating upon real circumstances. The sentiment is in both places preceded by the contemplation of imminent personal danger. To the Philippians he writes, in the twentieth verse of this chapter, "According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also, Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life or by death." To the Corinthians, "Troubled on every side, yet not distressed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; always bearing]

* Αλλ' ει και σπενδομαι επι τη θυσία της πίστεως ύμων, if my blood be poured out as a libation upon the sacrifice of your faith.

The passage in the epistle is very remarkable. I know not an example in any writing of a juster pathos, or which more truly repre sents the workings of a warm and affectionate mind, than what is exhibited in the quotation before us. The apostle reminds his Philippians of their being joined with himself in the

endurance of persecution for the sake of Christ. | fore, was the confession for which he declaro He conjures them by the ties of their common himself to be in bonds. Now let us inquire profession and their common sufferings. 66 to how the occasion of St. Paul's imprisonment fulfil his joy;" to complete, by the unity of is represented in the history. The apostle had their faith, and by their mutual love, that joy not long returned to Jerusalem from his sewith which the instances he had received of their cond visit into Greece, when an uproar was zeal and attachment had inspired his breast. excited in that city by the clamour of certain Now if this was the real effusion of St. Paul's Asiatic Jews, who "having seen Paul in the mind, of which it bears the strongest internal temple, stirred up all the people, and laid hands character, then we have in the words "the on him." The charge advanced against him same conflict which ye saw in me," an authen-was, that "he taught all men every where tic confirmation of so much of the apostle's against the people, and the law, and this place history in the Acts, as relates to his transac- and farther brought Greeks also into the temtions at Philippi; and, through that, of the in-ple, and polluted that holy place." The fortelligence and general fidelity of the historian.

CHAPTER VIII.

THE EPISTLE TO THE COLOSSIANS.

No. I.

mer part of the charge seems to point at the doctrine, which he maintained, of the admission of the Gentiles, under the new dispensation, to an indiscriminate participation of God's favour with the Jews. But what follows makes the matter clear. When, by the interference of the chief captain, Paul had been rescued out of the hands of the populace, and was permit|ted to address the multitude who had followed him to the stairs of the castle, he delivered a brief account of his birth, of the early course of his life, of his miraculous conversion; and is proceeding in this narrative, until he comes to describe a vision which was presented to him, as he was praying in the temple and which bid him depart out of Jerusalem, "for I will send thee far hence unto the Gentiles." Acts, xxii. 21. "They gave him audience," says the historian, "unto this word; and then lift up their voices, and said, Away with such a fellow from the earth!" Nothing can shew more strongly than this account does, what

THERE is a circumstance of conformity between St. Paul's history and his letters, especially those which were written during his first imprisonment at Rome, and more especially the epistles to the Colossians and Ephesians, which being too close to be accounted for from accident, yet too indirect and latent to be imputed to design, cannot easily be resolved into any other original than truth. Which circumstance is this, that St. Paul in these epistles attributes his imprisonment not to his preaching of Christianity, but to his asserting the right of the Gentiles to be admitted into it without conforming themselves to the Jew-was the offence which drew down upon St. ish law. This was the doctrine to which he Paul the vengeance of his countrymen. His considered himself as a martyr. Thus, in the mission to the Gentiles, and his open avowal epistle before us, chap. i. 24. (I Paul) "who of that mission, was the intolerable part now rejoice in my sufferings for you"-" for of the apostle's crime. But although the you," i. e. for those whom he had never seen; real motive of the prosecution appears to for a few verses afterwards he adds, "I would have been the apostle's conduct towards the that ye knew what great conflict I have for Gentiles; yet, when his accusers came beyou and for them in Laodicea, and for as many fore a Roman magistrate, a charge was to be as have not seen my face in the flesh." His framed of a more legal form. The profasuffering therefore for them was, in their ge- nation of the temple was the article they chose neral capacity of Gentile Christians, agreeably to rely upon. This, therefore, became the to what he explicitly declares in his Epistle to immediate subject of Tertullus's oration bethe Ephesians, iv. 1: “For this cause, I Paul, fore Felix, and of Paul's defence. But that he the prisoner of Jesus Christ, for you Gentiles." all along considered his ministry amongst the Again, in the epistle now under consideration, Gentiles as the actual source of the enmity iv. 3: "Withal praying also for us, that God | that had been exercised against him, and in would open unto us a door of utterance to particular as the cause of the insurrection in speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am which his person had been seized, is apparent also in bonds." What that "mystery of Christ" | from the conclusion of his discourse before was, the Epistle to the Ephesians distinctly informs us: "Whereby when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ, which in other ages, was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit, that the Gentiles should be fellow. heirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the Gospel." This, there

Agrippa: "I have appeared unto thee," says he, describing what passed upon his journey to Damascus, "for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness, both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee, delivering thee from the people and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee, to open their eves, and to turn them from darkness to light.

and from the power of Satan unto God, that ly undesigned, had Aristarchus stood alone. they may receive forgiveness of sins, and in- The observation that strikes me in reading the heritance among them which are sanctified by passage is, that together with Aristarchus. faith that is in me. Whereupon, O king Ag-whose journey to Rome we trace in the historippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly ry, are joined Marcus and Justus, of whose vision; but showed first unto them of Damas-coming to Rome the history says nothing. cus, and of Jerusalem, and throughout all the Aristarchus alone appears in the history, and coasts of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that Aristarchus alone would have appeared in the they should repent and turn to God, and do epistle, if the author had regulated himself by works meet for repentance. For these causes that conformity. Or if you take it the other the Jews caught me in the temple, and went way; if you suppose the history to have been about to kill me." The seizing, therefore, of made out of the epistle, why the journey of St. Paul's person, from which he was never Aristarchus to Rome should be recorded, and discharged till his final liberation at Rome; not that of Marcus and Justus, if the groundand of which, therefore, his imprisonment at work of the narrative was the appearance of Rome was the continuation and effect, was not Aristarchus's name in the epistle, seems to be in consequence of any general persecution set unaccountable. on foot against Christianity; nor did it befall "Marcus,, sister's son to Barnabas." Does him simply as professing or teaching Christ's not this hint account for Barnabas's adherence religion, which James and the elders at Jeru- to Mark in the contest that arose with our salem did as well as he (and yet, for any thing apostle concerning him? "And some days af. that appears, remained at that time unmolest- ter, Paul said unto Barnabas, Let us go again ed;) but it was distinctly and specifically and visit our brethren in every city where we brought upon him by his activity in preaching have preached the word of the Lord, and see to the Gentiles, and by his boldly placing them how they do; and Barnabas determined to take upon a level with the once-favoured and still self-with them John, whose surname was Mark ; but flattered posterity of Abraham. How well St. Paul's letters, purporting to be written during this imprisonment, agree with this account of ts cause and origin, we have already seen.

No. II.

Chap. iv. 10. "Aristarchus my fellow prisoner saluteth you, and Marcus, sister's son to Barnabas, (touching whom ye received commandments: If he come unto you, receive him ;) and Jesus, which is called Justus, who are of the circumcision."

Paul thought not good to take him with them, who departed from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work; and the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from the other: and so Barnabas took Mark and sailed unto Cyprus." The history which records the dispute has not preserved the circumstance of Mark's relationship to Barnabas. It is no where noticed but in the text before us. As far, therefore, as it applies, the application is certainly undesigned.

"Sister's son to Barnabas." This woman, the mother of Mark, and the sister of Barnabas, was, as might be expected, a person of some eminence amongst the Christians of Jerusalem. It so happens that we hear of her in the history. "When Peter was delivered from prison, he came to the house of Mary the mother of John, whose surname was Mark, where many were gathered together praying." Acts, xii. 12. There is somewhat of coincidence in this; somewhat bespeaking rea! transactions amongst real persons.

No. III.

We find Aristarchus as a companion of our apostle in the nineteenth chapter of the Acts, and the twenty-ninth verse: "And the whole city of Ephesus was filled with confusion; and having caught Gaius and Aristarchus, men of Macedonia, Paul's companions in travel, they rushed with one accord into the theatre." And we find him upon his journey with St. Paul to Rome, in the twenty-seventh chapter, and the second verse: "And when it was determined that we should sail into Italy, they delivered Paul and certain other prisoners unto one named Julius, a centurion of Augustus's band: and, entering into a ship of Adramyttium, we launched, meaning to sail by The following coincidence, though it bear the coast of Asia; one Aristarchus, a Mace- the appearance of great nicety and refinement, donian of Thessalonica, being with us. But ought not, perhaps, to be deemed imaginary. might not the author of the epistle have con- In the salutations with which this, like most sulted the history; and, observing that the of St. Paul's epistles, concludes, "we have historian had brought Aristarchus along with Aristarchus and Marcus, and Jesus, which is Paul to Rome, might he not for that reason, called Justus, who are of the circumcision,” iv and without any other foundation, have put 10, 11. Then follow also, "Epaphras, Luke down his name amongst the salutations of an the beloved physician, and Demas.” Now epistle purporting to be written by the apostle as this description, "who are of the circumfrom that place? I allow so much of possibili-cision," is added after the first three names, it ty to this objection, that I should not have pro- is inferred, not without great appearance of posed this in the number of coincidences clear- ¦ probability that the rest, amongst whom is

Luke, were not of the circumcision. Now, can] And this result is the effect either of truth we discover any expression in the Acts of the which produces consistency without the wri Apostles, which ascertains whether the author ter's thought or care, or of a contexture of forof the book was a Jew or not? If we can dis-geries confirming and falling in with one anocover that he was not a Jew, we fix a circum-ther by a species of fortuity of which I know stance in his character, which coincides with no example. The supposition of design, I what is here, indirectly indeed, but not very think, is excluded, not only because the puruncertainly, intimated concerning Luke: and pose to which the design must have been diwe so far confirm both the testimony of the rected, viz. the verification of the passage in primitive church, that the Acts of the Apostles our epistle, in which it is said concerning was written by St. Luke, and the general rea- Onesimus," he is one of you," is a purpose, lity of the persons and circumstances brought which would be lost upon ninety-nine readers together in this epistle. The text in the Acts, out of a hundred; but because the means made which has been construed to show that the use of are too circuitous to have been the sub writer was not a Jew, is the nineteenth verse ject of affectation and contrivance. Would a of the first chapter, where, in describing the forger, who had this purpose in view, have field which had been purchased with the re- left his readers to hunt it out, by going forward of Judas's iniquity, it is said, "That it ward and backward from one epistle to anowas known unto all the dwellers at Jerusalem; ther, in order to connect Onesimus with Phiinsomuch as that field is called in their pro- lemon, Philemon with Archippus, and Arper tongue, Aceldama, that is to say, The field chippus with Colosse? all which he must do of blood " These words are by most com- before he arrives at his discovery, that it was mentators taken to be the words and observa- truly said of Onesimus," he is one of you." tion of the historian, and not a part of St. Peter's speech, in the midst of which they are found. If this be admitted, then it is argued that the expression, “in their proper tongue,' would not have been used by a Jew, but is suitable to the pen of a Gentile writing concerning Jews. The reader will judge of the probability of this conclusion, and we urge the coincidence no farther than that probability extends. The coincidence, if it be one, remote from all possibility of design, that nothing need be added to satisfy the reader upon that part of the argument.

No. IV.

is so

Chap. iv. 9. “With Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you."

CHAPTER IX.

THE FIRST EPISTLE TO THE THESSALONIANS

No. I.

It is known to every reader of Scripture that the First Epistle to the Thessalonians speaks of the coming of Christ in terms which indicate an expectation of his speedy appearance: "For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord, shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord Observe how it may be made out that One- himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, simus was a Colossian. Turn to the Epistle with the voice of the archangel, and with the to Philemon, and you will find that Onesimus trump of God; and the dead in Christ shall was the servant or slave of Philemon. The rise first: then we which are alive and remain, question therefore will be, to what city Phile- shall be caught up together with them in the mon belonged. In the epistle addressed to him clouds-But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, this is not declared. It appears only that he that that day should overtake you as a thief." was of the same place, whatever that place (Chap. iv. 15, 16, 17 ; ch. v. 4.) was, with an eminent Christian named ArWhatever other construction these texts may chippus. "Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, bear, the idea they leave upon the mind of an and Timothy our brother, unto Philemon our ordinary reader, is that of the author of the dearly beloved and fellow-labourer; and to epistle looking for the day of judgment to take our beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellow-place in his own time, or near to it. Now the soldier, and to the church in thy house." Now use which I make of this circumstance, is to turn back to the Epistle to the Colossians, and deduce from it a proof that the epistle itself you will find Archippus saluted by name was not the production of a subsequent age. amongst the Christians of that church. "Say Would an impostor have given this expectato Archippus, Take heed to the ministry which tion to St. Paul, after experience had proved thou hast received in the Lord, that thou ful-it to be erroneous? or would he have put infil it," (iv. 17.) The necessary result is, that to the apostle's mouth, or, which is the same Onesimus also was of the same city, agreeably thing, into writings purporting to come from to what is said of him, "he is one of you."

his hand, expressions, if not necessarily conveying, at least easily interpreted to convey, an opinion which was then known to be founded in mistake? I state this as an argument to

shew that the epistle was contemporary with lonia, came to Thessalonica, where Paul openSt. Paul, which is little less than to show that ed and alleged that Jesus was the Christ, Acts, it actually proceeded from his pen. For I ques-xvi. 23, &c. The epistle written in the name tion whether any ancient forgeries were executed in the life-time of the person whose name they bear; nor was the primitive situation of the church likely to give birth to such an attempt.

No. II.

of Paul and Sylvanus (Silas,) and of Timotheus, who also appears to have been along with them at Philippi, (vide Phil. No. iv.) speaks to the church of Thessalonica thus: “ Even after that we had suffered before, and were shamefully entreated, as ye know, at Philippi, we were bold in our God to speak unto you the Gospel of God with much contention." (ii. 2.)

Our epistle concludes with a direction that it should be publicly read in the church to which it was addressed: "I charge you by The history relates, that after they had been the Lord, that this epistle be read unto all the some time at Thessalonica, "the Jews who holy brethren." The existence of this clause believed not, set all the city in an uproar, and in the body of the epistle is an evidence of its assaulted the house of Jason where Paul and authenticity; because to produce a letter pur-Silas were, and sought to bring them out to porting to have been publicly read in the the people." Acts, xvii. 5. The epistle dechurch of Thessalonica, when no such letter clares, "when we were with you, we told you in truth had been read or heard of in that before that we should suffer tribulation; even church, would be to produce an imposture de- as it came to pass, and ye know.” (iii. 4.) structive of itself. At least, it seems unlikely The history brings Paul and Silas and Tithat the author of an imposture would volun-mothy together at Corinth, soon after the tarily, and even officiously, afford a handle to preaching of the Gospel at Thessalonica :-so plain an objection.-Either the epistle was" And when Silas and Timotheus were come publicly read in the church of Thessalonica from Macedonia (to Corinth,) Paul was pressduring St. Paul's lifetime, or it was not. If ed in spirit." Acts, xviii. 5. The epistle is it was, no publication could be more authen- written in the name of these three persons, tic, no species of notoriety more unquestion-who consequently must have been together at able, no method of preserving the integrity of the time, and speaks throughout of their minithe copy more secure. If it was not, the clause stry at Thessalonica as a recent transaction : we produce would remain a standing condem- We, brethren, being taken from you for a nation of the forgery, and one would suppose, short time, in presence, not in heart, endea an invincible impediment to its success. voured the more abundantly to see your face,

If we connect this article with the preced-with great desire." (ii. 17.) ing, we shall perceive that they combine into The harmony is indubitable; but the points one strong proof of the genuineness of the of history in which it consists, are so expressly epistle. The preceding article carries up the set forth in the narrative, and so directly redate of the epistle to the time of St. Paul; the ferred to in the epistle, that it becomes necespresent article fixes the publication of it to the sary for us to show that the facts in one writchurch of Thessalonica. Either therefore the ing were not copied from the other. Now, church of Thessalonica was imposed upon by amidst some minuter discrepancies, which will a false epistle, which in St. Paul's life-time be noticed below, there is one circumstance they received and read publicly as his, carry- which mixes itself with all the allusions in the ing on a communication with him all the epistle, but does not appear in the history any while, and the epistle referring to the continu- where; and that is of a visit which St. Paul ance of that communication; or other Chris-had intended to pay to the Thessalonians durtian churches, in the same life-time of the ing the time of his residing at Corinth :-apostle, received an epistle purporting to have" Wherefore we would have come unto you been publicly read in the church of Thessalo- (even I Paul) once and again; but Satan hinnica, which nevertheless had not been heard dered us." (ii. 18.) Night and day prayof in that church; or, lastly, the conclusion ing exceedingly that we might see your face, remains, that the epistle now in our hands is and might perfect that which is lacking in gennine.

No. III.

66

your faith. Now God himself and our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way un to you." (iii. 10, 11.) Concerning a design Between our epistle and the history the ac- which was not executed, although the person cordancy in many points is circumstantial and himself, who was conscious of his own purpose, complete. The history relates, that, after 'should make mention in his letters, nothing Paul and Silas had been beaten with many is more probable than that his historian should stripes at Philippi, shut up in the inner prison, be silent, if not ignorant. The author of the and their feet made fast in the stocks, as soon epistle could not, however, have learnt this as they were discharged from their confine- circumstance from the history, for it is not ment they departed from thence, and, when there to be met with; nor, if the historian they had passed through Amphipolis and Apol- had drawn his materials from the epistle, is it