Iowa capitol reporter. [volume] (Iowa City, Iowa) 1841-1855, 1851-12-31
The Character of Paul.

Paul, in his natural character before his con.
version, resembles Bonaparte more than any
other mani mean both in his intellectual de-
velopments and energy Of will. He had the
same infexiblity 0f purpose, the same utter
indifference to human suffering when he had
once determined on his course, the same tire
less unconquorable resolution; the snme fear.
lessness both Of mans power and opinion and
that calm, self reliance and mysterious control
over others. But the point Of greatest rcsen,-
blance is in the union Of strong, correct judg
ment, with rapidity of thought and sudden
impulse. They thought quicker, yet better
than other men. The power, too, which both
possessed was all practical power. There are
F, many men of strong minds, whose force nev.
:lller.heless x@a,e- ;a s.rlaa&e~svss In theoriss
for others to net upon. Thought may work
out into language, but not into action. They
will plan better than they can perform. But
these men not only thought better. but they
! could work better than all other men.
The same self control and perfect subsection
of his cmotons-cven terror itsclf--to the man.
dates of his will are exhibited in his conduct
when smitten to the earth, and blinded by the
Light aud voice from Heaven. John, when ar.
rested 10y the same voice on the Is'e of Patmos
fell on his face as dead man. and dared not
stir or speak till encouraged by the language,
fear not But Paul, for Saul, } though per.
secutor, and violeDt man, showed no symp.
toms Of alarm or terror. The voice, the blow,
the light the glory, and the darkness that fol-
lowed, were sufficient to upset the strongest
mind; but, master Of himself and his emotions
instead of giving way to exclamations of ter.
ror, simply said: Lord. what wilt thou have
me do!' with his reason and judgment as
steady and strog as ever, he knew at once that
something was wanted Of him, and, ever ready
to act, he asked what it was
From this time on. his track can be distn-
guished by the connections about it, and the
light above it. Straight back to Jerusalem,
from whence he had so recently come with
letters to lcgalizc his prosecutions, he went to
east his lot in with those he had followed with
violence and slaughter. His strong heart
never beat one quicker pulsation through, fear
when the lofty turrcts Of the proud city fash
ed on his vision. Neither did he steal away
W tHc VAIN aiieyS sIIcttS, NHpTc tUe us
ciples were concealed, and tell them secretly
his faith in the Son of God He strodc into
the synagogucs, and before tho ;.sto.!isLed
priests preached Christ and him crucifed -
He thundered at the door of the Sanhedrm
itself. and shaking Jerusalem like an earth
quake. awokc a tempest of rage and fury on
himself. With assassins dogging his footsteps
he at length left the city. But, instead Of 60
ing to places where he was unknown, and
where his feelings would be less tried he start
ed for his native city, his fathers house. the
home Of his boyhood, fer his kindred friends.
To entreaties, tears, scorn, and violence, he
was alike impervious. To Antioch and Cy-
prus, along the coast of Syria and Rome, over
the known world he went like blazing com
ct, waking up the nations of the earth. From
the top of Mars Hill, with the gorgeous city
at his feet and the Acropolis and Parthenon
behind him; on the deck Of his shattered YES.
sci in the intervals of the crash of billows, in
the gloomy walls Of a prison, on the borders
of the eternal kingdom. he speaks in the same
calm and determined tone. Deferred by no
danger. awed by 10 presence, and shrinking
from no responsibility, he moves before us like
SOME grand emhodiHept Of poyer. The ma,
,ions hcave around him, and kings turn pale
in his presence. Bands Of conspirator swear
neither to eat or driak till they have slain him
rulers and priests combine against him; and
people stone him; yet, over the din of the con-
Hict and storm Of violence, his voice of elo-
aucnce rises clear and distinct as trumpet
call, as hc still breaches Christ and him cry
cited The whip is laid on his back till the
blood starts with every blow, and then his
mangled body sthrown into q dungeon; but at
midnight you hear that same calm, strong voice
WI ich has shaken the world, poured forth in
hymn ofpraisc TO Cod, ard lo' an earthquake
rocks the prison to its foundations; the mana
cles fall from the hands Of the captives, the
bolts withdraw Of themselves, and the massive
doors swing back on their hinges.
One cannot poirt to single spot in his ca