SERMON VII.

THE DIVINE ORIGIN OF THE GOSPEL.

BY REV. I. D. WILLIAMSON

"For I certify you, brethren, that the Gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was taught it except by the revelation of Jesus Christ. "GAL. i. 11, 12.

The conversion of St. Paul and his subsequent history, are among the most remarkable incidents recorded in the New Testament. Born a Jew, brought up at the feet of Gamaliel, and belonging to the strictest sect of the Pharisees, he commenced his career as a bitter enemy of the religion of Christ. Clothed with authority from the High Priest, he persecuted the Christians "even into strange cities, and when they were put to death, gave his voice against them." But suddenly, and for no earthly reason, he pauses, and immediately commences preaching the Gos

pel which he had despised. And he is no ordinary preacher. He understands, at once, all the mysteries of the new religion - he meets its learned adversaries in the arena of open discussion, and confounds them by his arguments. He establishes churches, and instructs them thoroughly, in all the principles and precepts of the gospel. He writes letters, which evince the most thorough acquaintance with the whole system of Christ in all its parts, and with his voice and pen, labors more abundantly and successfully than any other of the disciples of his day. In view of these facts, it seems natural to inquire, how Paul obtained this thorough knowledge of this new and unknown religion? The brief history of its author was not written. There were no libraries containing expositions or commentaries, to which he had access. He had not seen Jesus in the flesh, or heard a word from his lips, nor did he, after the scene that occurred on his way to Damascus, go to Jerusalem to take counsel, or get instructions from the disciples; but he went forthwith to Arabia, and returned again to Damascus. Three years he preached, before he went up to Jerusalem, and abode with Peter fif