Sketches from the Life of Paul (1883) — PDF Scan 264

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ADDRESS BEFORE AGRIPPA . 257 as a mere man . He had looked for him to come inrobesof majesty,attendedwithroyalpomp, and proclaimedby the angelichost as king of the Jews . But he found that he had not read theScripturesaright; Christcame as prophecy foretold,a humble man ,preachingthe word of lifein meekness and humility. He came to awaken the noblestimpulsesof the soul, to satisfyitslongings,and tocrown thework and warfare of lifewith infinitereward . Paul had vainlylookedfora Messiahtodeliver the nationfrom the bondage of foreignkings, but he had found in Christ a Saviour from the bondage of sin. Life had been to him a blind and bafflingconflict,an unequalbattle,a fever of unsatisfieddesires, untilhe had seen Christ. Then his longings were satisfied,his fears banished, his burdens lightened. He had found Him of whom Moses and the prophetshad written, Jesus of Nazareth, the Saviour of the world . Why , he asked, should it appear incredible that Christ should rise from the dead ? It had once been so to himself; but how could he disbelieve what he had himself seen and heard in that noonday vision? He couldbearwitnessto the resurrectionof thedead; forhe had lookedupon the crucified and risen Christ,-the same who walked the streetsof Jerusalem, who died on Calvary, who broke the bands of death, and ascended to Heaven from Olivet. He had seen him and had talkedwith him as verilyas had Cephas, James, John, or any otherof the disciples. And how couldhe be disobedientwhen theVoice from Heaven senthim forthto open the eyesof Jews and Gentiles,that theymight turnfrom darknesstolight,and from thepower 17