perceivest not, that it will soon tumble. I see the threatening danger, and with warning voice cry aloud, flee!' Thou mockest my zeal, and livest reckless in the court of the falling edifice. I will not judge thee, or condemn thee. The Lord knoweth thy heart: He knoweth mine also. What He wills, I will: what He loves, and wills that every Israelite should love, I love: what He hates, and wills that every child of Abraham shall zealously hate, I hate. There is nothing He can hate, or wills to be hated, so much as the making of another a god, whoever he may be, and placing him by His side. He will have no one, be he ever so great, seated with Him on his throne. Can I be mistaken in this? Is it an errour to say: 'the man, the Nazarene, the carpenter, the sabbathbreaker, the contemner of the law, Jesus, seats himself by the side of the Almighty? He will be worshipped: he suffers persons to be baptised in his name: he places his name between those of the Eternal Father and the Holy Spirit.' I ask, can any thing be more certain than these facts, which are exhibited daily before our eyes? And farther, can any madman whatever have ideas more inconsistent with reason? or can any more impious, more blasphemous, be con thing ceived? . If this most horrible of doctrines, by which our whole religion is overturned, spread daily farther and farther; if the light of truth be not opposed to this magical sect, which has something so humane, so eyes amiable, so insinuating, that to a susceptible, delicate, tender, benevolent heart it is almost irresistible; if the evil appear in a short time to be past remedy ; if our holy temple, if Moses, if circumcision, if the solemnity of the sabbath, be regarded as no longer of importance; what will be the end, while we quietly look on? No man can deny one syllable of what I here advance. They are facts open to the of the World. And shall I hold my peace at all these things, as thou dost? Shall I be silent, because thou art dumb? Act thou temperately, because thou findest it most convenient so to act: and answer for thy moderation and silence to Him, to whom thou art answerable. To Him, to whom I also am answerable, I will answer for my zeal. God gave me courage: shall I throw away this courage to please the timidity of others? God gave me firmness, to pursue to the end whatever of good I begin before Him, and with Him: and shall I not use this firmness in the most important of all causes? I may sooner be persuaded to any thing, than to coldness, and inactive indifference in this business, the most unheard of and most weighty since the cre ation. Prudent age, and prematurely prudent youth speak of nothing but moderation, patience, forbearance, waiting, as if a man had neither eyes nor ears. These pious, gentle, dovelike souls have no zeal, except against the zeal of those, who give the name of weakness, want of religion, and indifference in the cause of God, to coldness in the most sacred con cern of God and man. They have not a spark of zeal in their hearts for the God of Israel against a false Messiah, who arrogates to himself equality with God. Prudence has taken the place of spirit. But the moment any one is zealous against those, whom their heartless prudence has thought good to take under it's protection, these frozen souls burst out into a flame. I appeal to their own consciènces, can such zeal be pleasing to God? Of this enough. Spare your cooling diluents for men in a fever, they are thrown away on me. Most foolish to me appears the wise observation I daily hear. 'Let the fanatics take their full swing. Every fanaticism destroys itself. The more importance we attach to it, the more it is hardened and confirmed. It is best to take no notice of it. This might be well, were not the fanaticism of this wholly new and unprecedented kind, that on the one hand it bottoms itself on incontrovertible facts, on palpable miracles, that have been performed, and are still performing daily; and on the other on a morality of the most sublime and admirable perfection. There, my friend, is the twofold and apparently insuperable difficulty, which nothing but the extreme of vialence can overcome. For these reasons the tree must be plucked up by the roots, and cast into the fire. This in my opinion is the only true prudence suited to the present case. If thou be acquainted with any better means, communicate them to me. Peace and love be with thee, SAUL LETTER VI. SAUL TO JUDAS OF DAMASCUS. Appointment of his quarters, and account of the purpose of his journey. Exhortation to him, to afford him assistance. Violent exclamations against Jesus and his worshippers. DEAR JUDAS! AT length the happy days are come, when I may hope to see thee again. May the Lord go with me, and his angel attend at my right hand! I am full of grand projects, am on the eve of great acts, that befit a just Israelite. God has heard my prayer to be useful to my brethren, and to give me strength against the enemies of His name. Rejoice with me, that God, my father, thinks me worthy, to tread in the steps of the boldest of those who have been jealous for Him, of whom all Israel speaks with honour, and whom posterity will never mention without reverence. The point, my friend, is nothing less than the total extirpation of the Galileans. This great work is especially entrusted to me. I am coming to Damascus, whither I know of a certain many have fled from Jerusalem. I have sufficient authority from the priesthood. It is impossible to wish for stronger recommendations, than I have in my hand signed by Caiaphas himself. But of this say not a word to any man. I wish to take up my abode with thee; to whom I certainly shall not be unwelcome. I never was so yet; and shall be so least of all now. The men who accompany me, the escort given me by the priesthood, I wish to be quartered in thy neighbourhood. Of this thou wilt take care. There will be seven or eight of them, true Israelites, perfectly of my way of thinking, and labouring to the same end. But the principal object of my writing to thee beforehand is as follows. Endeavour to have in readiness against my coming an accurate and complete list of all the disciples of Jesus, who are in Damascus, both men and women. Mark down the streets and the houses wherein they dwell, and above all, the house where they are wont to assemble. I hear much in particular of one Ananias, formerly a strict pharisce, a man of great wisdom and much weight, who is said to be one of the heads of their assemblies. Probably they meet together in his house by night. Procure accurate information of every thing, that we may lose no time. Let nothing be wanting on thy part, to assist me in the necessary preparations for the great and holy work. I think to fall upon them suddenly, when they are all assembled together, will be the best and shortest way. The elders of the fynagogue in Damascus must assist us also. I have full powers to them from the priesthood. Every thing is prepared: the plan can |