his Persuasion of Immortality, though it should be proved to be an erroneous one.  But had he lived to see all that Christianity has brought to Light, how would he have lavished out all the Force of Eloquence in those noblest Contemplations which humane Nature is capable of, the Resurrection and the Judgment that follows it?  How had his Breast glowed with Pleasure, when the whole Compass of Futurity lay open and exposed to his View?  How would his Imagination have hurried him on in the Pursuit of the Mysteries of the Incarnation?  How would he have enter’d, with the Force of Lightning, into the Affections of his Hearers, and fixed their Attention, in spite of all the Opposition of corrupt Nature, upon those glorious Themes which his Eloquence hath painted in such lively and lasting Colours?

’This Advantage Christians have; and it was with no small Pleasure I lately met with a Fragment of Longinus, which is preserv’d, as a Testimony of that Critick’s Judgment, at the Beginning of a Manuscript of the New Testament in the Vatican Library.  After that Author has number’d up the most celebrated Orators among the Grecians, he says, Add to these Paul of Tarsus, the Patron of an Opinion not yet fully proved.  As a Heathen, he condemns the Christian Religion; and, as an impartial Critick, he judges in Favour of the Promoter and Preacher of it.  To me it seems, that the latter Part of his Judgment adds great Weight to his Opinion of St. Paul’s Abilities, since, under all the Prejudice of Opinions directly opposite, he is constrained to acknowledge the Merit of that Apostle.  And, no doubt, such as Longinus describes St. Paul, such he appeared to the Inhabitants of those Countries which he visited and blessed with those Doctrines was divinely commissioned to preach.  Sacred Story gives us, in one Circumstance, a convincing Proof of his Eloquence, when the Men of Lystra called him Mercury, because he was the chief Speaker, and would have paid Divine Worship to him, as to the God who invented and presided over Eloquence.  This one Account of our Apostle sets his Character, consider’d as an Orator only, above all the celebrated Relations of the Skill and Influence of Demosthenes and his Contemporaries.  Their Power in Speaking was admired, but still it was thought human:  Their Eloquence warmed and ravished the Hearers, but still it was thought the Voice of Man, not the Voice of God.  What Advantage then had St. Paul above those of Greece, or Rome?  I confess I can ascribe this Excellence to nothing but the Power of the Doctrines he delivered, which may have still the same Influence on the Hearers; which have still the Power, when preached by a skilful Orator, to make us break out in the same Expressions, as the Disciples who met our Saviour in their Way to Emmaus, made use of; Did not our Hearts burn within us, when he talked to us by the Way, and while he opened