The conversion of Paul, according to Gamaliel Smith, a Paul's to be the author of the Acts.-Gamaliel's representa- tions refuted. The success of the Gospel at Damascus, in consequence of the conversion of Paul, attested by The apostolic decree sent to Antioch explained. The question proposed to the apostles by the Gentile con- verts, whether the Gospel of Paul was the same with ERRATA. Page 201, line 6, for proved read approved. Page 228, line two from the bottom, for resolutions read resolution: and line 14, for or of prohibitions read or prohibitions of practices. Page 242, line 16, dele more: and for than read that. THE DEVELOPMENT OF FACTS, &c. CHAPTER I. The character of Gamaliel Smith as a writer.-That of the author of the New Trial of the Witnesses.-The principles taught by Jesus Christ as constituting the Gospel. THE work entitled "Not Paul but Jesus," as coming from the pen of a celebrated writer on legislation, and the author of many works against corruption and in favour of civil liberty, deserves the attention of all believers in Christianity. I perused it with a great mixture of pain and pleasure: I felt pain that a writer who has ample claims on the respect and gratitude of mankind should hazard those claims by a work, the immediate object of which, at least in the opinion of the Christian world, is to counteract the most powerful motives to improvement, both in his individual and social capacity, which man can possibly have; to push back into eternal darkness the life and immortality brought to light in the gospel; to deprive the truly wise and good of glory and honour as the final reward and triumph of virtue, and to aggravate the condition of the poor, the sick, and the afflicted, by stopping up the hopes and consolations of religion, as sources of delusion, and pointing to the B grave as their ultimate and eternal abode.-At the same time, I felt pleasure in the perusal of this work, because it proves that a writer of distinguished talents, could after the utmost labour produce nothing against the Christian religion but what is founded in ignorance, misrepresentation, and sophistry. In the charges which the author brings against the apostle, he displays the spirit, the artifices, and the hostility of an attorney-general; eager to criminate his victim, advancing positions without any regard to truth or consistence, without any knowledge of the circumstances of the accused, and without any attention to the laws of the human mind. The volume throughout is penned in the exact style of an indictment or some legal instrument, loaded with useless particularities, intersected by parentheses, rendered voluminous and circuitous by continued repetitions; and from these causes so obscure, that a person who is tolerably acquainted with Greek, could as readily peruse and comprehend the pages of Aristotle.. Another production, called "A new Trial of the Witnesses," has been put into my hands, the object of which is to prove the resurrection of Christ to be a falsehood invented by the apostles, and thus, to tear up the very foundation of the Christian Faith. This pamphlet is written in a more agreeable and perspicuous style than that of Gamaliel Smith's: but there appears in the author the total absence of every requisite which might qualify him to discuss so important a subject. The writer, it is true, professes to have been actuated by a love of truth: but the love of truth, where it is real, supposes the qualifications necessary to find it-patient investigation, candour, and learning; but of these he is totally destitute. Nor does this work come recommended to us by novelty or superior acuteness. The objections which it contains to the evangelical records are as stale as they are groundless; and it may appear surprising to a reflecting person, that a man of such slender powers, and so little acquaint ed with the subject, should ever have thought of writing against Christianity. Among the charges which the author of "Not Paul but Jesus," whom for the sake of brevity I shall call Gamaliel, alleges against Paul, one is, that he tyrannized over the other apostles and taught a doctrine different from the gospel which they had received from Jesus. To prove the futility of this charge, it is necessary to show briefly what it is that our Lord has taught, and what was that anti-apostolic doctrine called antichrist, which his accuser imputes to the apostle. The system of moral and religious instruction which Christ has revealed or sanctioned, may be comprehended under the following heads: 1. That there exists but one God, the creator and governor of the universe, perfect in power, wisdom, and goodness. This doctrine was not new; it was the fundamental principle of the religion of Moses and the prophets. But Jesus improved and perfected it by representing the Great Supreme under the character of Father, not confining his care and providence to one people, but extending his love and protection, without distinction and without partiality, to all mankind. 2. That man, being endued with reason, is an accountable being; that every individual shall hereafter appear before the tribunal of his Maker and moral Governor to account for the use of the talents with which he is intrusted. This doctrine, if not entirely new, was a vast improvement on the vague notions which had hitherto prevailed on this important subject. The Gentiles hoped to appease their gods by ablutions, by superstitious rites and sacrifices in which those divinities were thought to share; while the Jews, at the tribunal of their Judge expected to find favour as the descendants of Abraham, or to be acquitted on the great day of trial for a strict compliance with those external ordinances, which, because |