evidently fprung from much felf-conceit, working together with the vapours of melancholy upon a warm imagination. And this is one reason, befides the contagious nature of melancholy, or fear, that makes enthusiasm so very catching among weak minds. Such are moft ftrongly difpofed to vanity; and when they fee others pretend to extraordinary gifts, are apt to flatter themselves that they may partake of them as well as thofe whofe merit they think no more than their own. Vanity therefore may justly be deemed a principal fource of enthusiasm. But that St. Paul was as free from it as any man, I think may be gathered from all that we fee in his writings, or know of his life. Throughout his epiftles there is not one word that favors of vanity, nor is any action recorded of him, in which the least mark of it appears.

In his epiftle to the Ephefians he calls himself less than the least of all faints, Ephef. iii. 8. And to the Corinthians he fays, he is the least of the apostles, and not meet to be called an apostle, because he had perfecuted the church of God, 1 Cor. xv. 9. In his epiftle to Timothy he fays,

1

This is a faithful faying, and worthy of all acceptation, That Christ Jefus came into the world to fave finners, of whom I am chief. Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jefus Christ might fhew forth all long-fuffering, for a pattern to them which fhould hereafter believe in him to life everlasting.” 1 Tim. i. 15,

16.

It is true indeed, that in another epistle he tells the Corinthians, that he was not a whit behind the very chiefest of the apostles, 2 Cor. xi. 5. But the occafion which drew from him these words must be confidered. A falfe teacher by faction and calumny had brought his apostleship to be in queftion among the Corinthians. Against fuch an attack not to have afferted his apostolical dignity, would have been a betraying of the office and duty committed to him by God. He was therefore constrained to do himself juftice, and not let down that character, upon the authority of which the whole fuccefs and efficacy of his miniftry among them depended. But how did he do it? Not with that wontonnefs which a vain man indulges, when he can get any Opportunity of commending himself; not

with a pompous detail of all the amazing miracles which he had performed in different parts of the world, though he had fo fair an occafion of doing it, but with a modest and fimple expofition of his abundant labours and sufferings in preaching the gofpel, and barely reminding them," that the figns of an apostle had been wrought among them in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds,

2 Cor. xii. 12. Could he fay lefs than this? Is not fuch boafting humility itfelf? And yet for this he makes many apologies, expreffing the greatest uneafinefs in being obliged to speak thus of himself, even in his own vindication, 2 Cor. xi. 1, 16, 17, 18, 19, 30. When in the fame epiftle, and for the fame purpose, he mentions the vifion he had of heaven, how modeftly does he do it! Not in his own name, but in the third perfon, I knew a man in Christ, &c. caught up into the third heaven, 2 Cor. xii.

2.

And immediately after he adds, but now I forbear, lest any man fhould think of me above that which he feeth me to be, or that he heareth of me, 2 Cor. xii. 6. How contrary is this to a spirit of vanity! how different from the practice of enthusiastic

that he appears to have been mafter not of the Jewish learning alone, but of the Greek. And this is one reason why he is lefs liable to the imputation of having been an enthufiaft than the other apostles, tho' none of them were fuch no more than he, as may by other arguments be invincibly proved.

I have mentioned credulity as another characteristic aud caufe of enthufiafm, which that it was not in St. Paul the hiftory of his life undeniably fhews. For, on the contrary, he feems to have been flow and hard of belief in the extreme degree, having paid no regard to all t done by our Saviour, the far he could not be a ftranger to

of the children of Ifrael had fent their officers to bring them before them, the officers came and found them not in prison, but returned, and made this report: "The prifon truly found we fout with all fafety, and the keepers standing without before the doors, but when we had opened we found no man within." And that the council was immediately told, that the men they had put in on were standing in the temple, and ing the people. And that being brought thence before the council, they had thefe memorable words, We ought to God rather

en. The God of our

whom ye flew and hath God exalted be a Prince and Satance to Ifrael, and

nd we are bis witnd fo is alfo the Holy as given to them that 18, 21, 22, 23, 25, 2. All this he refiftating to the murder of eached the fame thing, by miracles, Acts viii. 1. 1, far from being difpofed faith, or a too eafy recep