Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1851-05-09
SUNDAY READING.
LIFE OF ST. PAUL.

LITE OE OIsIAOL. |
Tarsus, the place OF this Apostles ma
tivity, was the metropolis Of CECILIA, and
was situated about three hundred miles
from Jerusalem it was exceedingly
rich and populous and a M~unicipium, or
free corporation, invested with the priv
ileges of Rome by the two first empe-
rors, as a reward for the firm adherence
Of the citizens TO the Caesars at the re-
bellion of Crassus. ST. Paul, therefore
was born a Roman citizen, and he often
pleads this privilege on his trials.
Paul was sent to Jerusalem by his pa
rents 10 complete his legal education,
and was instructed in the school o. Ga
maliel, an eminent Rabbi, or doctor Of
the Jewish Law. He became attached
10 the sect of the Pharisees who made
religion to consist in a strict observance
of the Jewish rituals.
On account Of his Jewish extraction,
he was called Saul, a name of Hebrew
origin, but in the capacity OF a Roman
citizen, he obtained the secondary title
of Paulus, the Latin name from which
the English Paul is derived, 1t was the
constant and commendable practice Of
the Jews TO bring up their children to
some honest calling, by which, in cases
ofnecessity. they might provide for them
selves by the labor of their own hands
Paul was by trade a tent maker.
; Paul or Saul, having become a prof.
Gent in the Jewish learning, and being
= naturally of a fiery temper, became a
great champion of the laws of Moses ant
the traditions ofthe elders. He was i'm,
patient of all opposition 10 the faith he
had imbibed, and he became a vehemen
s prosecutor of the Christians, who were
supposed to be the enemies and destroy
ers of the Jewish economy.
After assisting in the persecution o
the Christians at Jerusalem, he apple,
m to the SanhedrinD, and procured a com
mission from that Court to extend hi
persecution to Damascus. 1t was on hi
= way to the latter city, that he received hi
Is call TO become an apostle of that YER
faith which had been tine object of hi
jealous and untiring opposition. Fo
the account Of his conversion and tn
wonderful circumstances which atten
it. see Acts of the Apostles, chap. TX.
Gu The miraculous convert retired TO Arr
bia Petrae, where he received a full re,
citation ofthe Christian mysteries f
he himself declares that he onverse
not with flesh and blood. Havin
preached in several parts of that coul
try tor some time, he returned TO D
= mascGs and was very successful in II
work Of his ministry. 1t was now h
turn TO be prosecuted for the truths sak
and no man ever suffered more from i
" noraut and malicious opponents.
MI Being divinely instructed not to 60
Jerusalem, he departed for his matt,
city, Tarsus, and soon after visited A
tioch, in company with Barnabas, whe
they remained for a year, and had Il
satisfaction 10 see the gospel flourish
ipt a remarkable name
the St. Paul travelled much among vario
inc nations, as he became the apostle of t
uE- Gentiles, unfolding the arcana of the Gc
YES pei wherever he went, and enduri
urt- many Affections and prosecutions. Ha
and ing at last been arrested on a charge
fter sedition, heresy and a proclamation of t
the temple, he was tried before Felix, a
ms, having appealed to Cesar, was sent
tile Rome 10 have his case finally adiudic
in ted. 1t is not known how he obtain
sal, his acquaittal of the charges then ma
lple against him, but he lived two years
at a Rome in a house he had hired and aft,
ling wards he returned to Ephesus, wh,
lred he remained three years more. He 81
s~equently visited Sicily, Greece and C
~ ia, and some assert that he preach
the Gospel in Great Britain. Having
turned to Rome, he was thrown i
the prison and sentenced 10 death, but
bout a Roman citizen he was allowed
privilege of being beheaded. He is S
she posed TO have been executed about tn
fa- miles from Rome, at a place now cal
the Aqua Saliva.