Chap.  i.  15,  16.  "  This  is  a  faithful  saying,
and  worthy  of  all  acceptation,  that  Christ  jfesus
came  into  the  world  to  save  sinners;  of  whom  I
am  chief  Howbeit,  for  this  cause  I  obtained  mer-
cy, that  in  me  first  Jesus  Christ  might  show  forth


all  long-sufTering,  for  a  pattern  to  them  which
should  hereafter  believe  in  him  to  Ufe  everlasting."
What  was  the  mercy  which  St.  Paul  here  com-
memorates, and  what  was  the  crime  of  which  he
accuses  himself,  is  apparent  from  the  verses  im-
mediately preceding:  "I  thank  Christ  Jesus  our
Lord,  wlio  hath  enabled  me,  for  that  he  counted
me  faithful,  putting  me  into  the  ministry ;  who
icas  before  a  blasphemer,  and  a  persecutor,  and
injurious:  but  I  obtained  merc^,  because  I  did  it
ignorantly  in  unbelief,"  ch.  i.  12,  13.  The  whole
quotation  plainly  refers  to  St.  Paul's  original  en-
mity to  the  Christian  name,  the  interposition  of
Providence  in  his  conversion,  and  his  subsequent
designation  to  the  ministry  of  the  Gospel ;  and  by
this  reference  affirms  indeed  the  substance  of  the
apostle's  history  delivered  in  the  Acts.  But  what
in  the  passage  strikes  my  mind  most  powerfully,
is  the  observation  that  is  raised  out  of  the  fact.
