The proper purpose of the following work is, to bring together, from the Acts of the Apoftles, and from the different epiftles, fuch paffages as furnish examples of undefigned coincidence; but I have fo far enlarged upon this plan, as to take into it fome circumstances found in the epiftles, which contributed ftrength to the conclufion, though not strictly objects of comparifon.

It appeared also a part of the fame plan, to examine the difficulties which prefented themselves in the course of our enquiry.

I do not know that the fubject has been proposed or confidered in this view before. Ludovicus Capellus, Bishop Pearfon, Dr. Benson, and Dr. Lardner, have each given a continued history of St. Paul's life, made up from the Acts of the Apoftles and the epiftles joined together. But this, it is manifest, is a different undertaking from the prefent, and directed to a different purpose.

If what is here offered fhall add one thread to that complication of probabilities

by

by which the Christian history is attested, the reader's attention will be repaid by the fupreme importance of the fubject; and my design will be fully answered.

CHAP. II.

THE EPISTLE TO THE ROMANS.

TH

No. I.

'HE firft paffage I fhall produce from this epiftle, and upon which a good deal of obfervation will be founded, is the following:

"But now I go unto Jerufalem, to mi"nifter unto the faints; for it hath pleased "them of Macedonia and Achaia to make 66 a certain contribution for the poor faints "which are at Jerufalem." Rom. xv. 25,

6.

In this quotation three diftin&t circumftances are ftated-a contribution in Macedonia for the relief of the Chriftians of Jerufalem, a contribution in Achaia for the fame purpose, and an intended journey of St. Paul to Jerufalem. Thefe circumftances are stated as taking place at the fame time, and that to be the time when the epiftle was written. Now let us enquire whether we can find thefe circumstances

elsewhere;

count :

elsewhere; and whether, if we do find them, they meet together in refpect of date. Turn to the Acts of the Apostles, chap. xx. ver. 2, 3, and you read the following ac"When he had gone over those parts (viz. Macedonia), and had given "them much exhortation, he came into "Greece, and there abode three months; "and when the Jews laid wait for him, as "he was about to fail into Syria, he pur

66

pofed to return through Macedonia." From this paffage, compared with the ac-. count of St, Paul's travels given before, and from the sequel of the chapter, it appears, that upon St. Paul's fecond visit to the peninfula of Greece, his intention was, when he should leave the country, to proceed from Achaia directly by fea to Syria; but that, to avoid the Jews, who were lying in wait to intercept him in his route, he so far changed his purpose as to go back through Macedonia, embark at Philippi, and pursue

his voyage from thence towards Jerufalem. Here therefore is a journey to Jerusalem; but not a fyllable of any contribution. And as St. Paul had taken feveral journeys to Jerufalem

C 3

Jerufalem before, and one also immediately after his firft vifit into the peninsula of Greece (Acts xviii. 21.), it cannot from hence be collected in which of thefe vifits the epistle was written, or, with certainty, that it was written in either, The filence of the historian, who profeffes to have been with St. Paul at the time (c. xx. v, 6.), concerning any contribution, might lead us to look out for fome different journey, or might induce us perhaps to question the confiftency of the two records, did not a very accidental reference, in another part of the fame history, afford us fufficient ground to believe that this filence was omiffion. When St. Paul made his reply before Felix, to the accufations of Tertullus, he alledged, as was natural, that neither the errand which brought him to Jerufalem, nor his conduct whilft he remained there, merited the calumnies with which the Jews had afperfed him. "Now after many "years (i. e. of absence) I came to bring "alms to my nation and offerings; whereupon "certain Jews from Afia found me puri"fied in the temple, neither with multitude

nor