The Works of Nathanael Emmons, D.D., Third Pastor of the Church in Franklin, Mass (Volume 4); With a Memoir of His Life

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated.1860 Excerpt: ... SERMON LIII. THE CRIMINALITY OP PAUL IN HIS OPPOSITION TO CHEET. FKEACHED SEPTEMBER 14, 1828. I verily thought with myself, that I onght to do many thinga contrary to the name rf Jeans of Nazareth.--Acts 26: 9. Paul was by birth a Jew, by tradition a Pharisee, and by conversion a Christian. His conversion from Judaism to Christianity was a very great and sudden change, which excited great admiration. Neither the friends nor enemies of Christ could easily believe that the most bitter and powerful enemy of the gospel had become its sincere friend and defender. But Paul soon convinced the world that he had become a warm and zealous friend of that cause which he had violently opposed and endeavored to destroy. His zeal in preaching the gospel and spreading the religion of Christ, awakened the enmity and opposition of his former friends; who took the first opportunity of manifesting their resentment. As soon as he returned from his journey from Damascus, and openly appeared in Jerusalem, the Jews conspired to take away his life, and would have executed their purpose, had not the chief captain rescued him from their hands. This officer committed him to Felix, and Felix committed him to Festus. While he was under the authority of Festus, he presented him to king Agrippa, who wished to hear what he could say in defence of himself and the new religion which he had embraced and propagated. In this defence, he related his views and feelings, both before and after his converges) sion. And speaking of himself before he embraced the gospel, he said, I verily thought with myself that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. To set this passage in a clear light, it is necessary to show, I. That Paul had a wrong opinion of Christ before he cmb...