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St. PAUL'S DEFENCE, before King AGRIPPA, and FESTUS the Roman Governor in Judæa... Acts xxvi.

(a) I THINK myself happy, king AGRIPPA, becaufe I fhall anfwer for myfelf this day before Thee, touching all the things whereof I am accused of the Jews; especially, because I know Thee to be expert, in all customs and questions which are among the Jews: wherefore I befeech thee to hear me patiently.-(b)-My manner of life from my youth, which was at first among mine own nation at Jerufalem, know all the Jews, which knew me from the beginning; if they would tel tify, that, after the most strict fect of our religion, I lived a Pharifee. And now I ftand and am judged, for the Hope of the Promife, made of GOD unto our fathers; unto which promife our twelve tribes, inftantly ferving GOD day and night, hope to come for which Hope's fake, king AGRIPPA, I am accused of the Jews.-(c)-Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that GOD fhould raife the dead?-(d)-I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jefus of Nazareth. Which thing I alfo did in Jerufalem: And many of the faints did I fhut up in prifon, having received authority from the Chief Priests; and, when they were put to death, I gave my voice a

gainft them, and I punished them oft' in every fynagogue, and compelled them to blafpheme; and being exceedingly mad against them, I perfecuted them even unto ftrange cities. Whereupon, as I went to Damafcus, with authority and commiffion from the Chief Priest; at mid-day, O king, I faw in the way a light from Heaven, above the brightnefs of the fun, fhining round about Me, and them which journied with me. And, when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice fpeaking unto me,and faying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why perfecuteft thou Me? It is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. And I faid, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus, whom thou perfecuteft. But rife, and ftand upon thy feet: For I have appeared unto thee, for this purpofe; to make Thee a Minifter and a Witness, both of thefe things which thou haft feen, and of thefe things in the which I will appear unto thee. Delivering thee from the people and from the Gentiles, unto whom now Ifend thee; to open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God; that they may receive forgiveness of fins, and inheritance among them which are fanctified by faith that is in me. Whereupon, O king AGRIPPA, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision; but fhowed, firft unto them of Damafcus and at Jerufalem, and throughout all the coafts of Judea, and then to the Gentiles; that they should repent and turn to GOD, and do works meet for repentance.-(e)--For these causes (e) Refutation,

the Jews caught me in the Temple, and went as bout to kill me. Having therefore obtained help of GOD, I continue unto this day, witnefsing both to fmall and great; faying none other things than thofe, which the Prophets and Mofes did fay should come:That CHRIST fhould fuffer; and that 'He should be the first, that should rise from the dead; and should fhow light unto the people, • and to the Gentiles.'-(ƒ)—I am not mad, most noble FESTUS, but fpeak forth the words of truth and soberness: for the King knoweth of these things, before whom alfo I fpeak freely; for I am perfuaded, that none of these things are hid-den from him: for this thing was not done in a corner. King AGRIPPA, believest thou the Prophets? I know, that thou believeft. I would to GOD, that not only Thou, but also All that hear me this day, were both almoft and altogether fuch as Lam, except these bonds.

(f) Peroration.

Q. How are the different

are the different arguments of the Con

firmation and Refutation to be handled? A. As fo many diftinct Themes.

Q. What is a Theme?

A. A fhort, elegant, and flowery Treatife on a given fubject.

Q. How many and what are the parts of a Theme? A. The parts of a Theme are Seven: Propofition, Reafon, Confirmation, Simile, Example, Teftimony, and Conclufion.

EXAMPLE.

A THEME in English. The THESIS and Subftance taken from 1 Efdrafs, iv.

Great is the TRUTH, and fronger than all things.

(a)-TRUTH endureth, and is always ftrong; it liveth, and conquereth for evermore: the Earth calleth upon it, the Heaven bleffeth it, and with it is no unrighteous thing. All works fhake and tremble at it.

(b)-With her there is no accepting of perfons or rewards: She doeth the things which are juft, and all men approve of her works.

(c)-In her judgment there is no unrighteousness; and She is the Strength, Dominion, Power, and Majefty of all Ages.

(d)-Great is the Earth, His is the Heaven, fwift is the Sun in his Courfe: Is he not Great, who made these things? So is TRUTH Greater and Stronger than all things.

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(e) David, calling upon the Lord, his Rock, his Fortress, his Deliverer, and his Strength, ufes thefe words: 'I have hated thole, who confide in lying vanities; but truft in the Lord: Q Lord GOD of TRUTH!'

[a] Propofition. [b) Reafon. [c] Confirmation. [d] Simile. [d] Example.

Q. What is Elocution?

A. Elocution is the proper, polite, and ornamen tal exprefsions of our thoughts.

Q. What are the Parts of Elocution?

A. The Parts of Elocution are, Compofition, Elegance, and Dignity.

Q. What doth Compofition regard?

A. Compofition regards grammatical Plainness and Propriety, by imitating the Phrafe, Idiom, andorder of Words, made ufe of by the Authors who wrote in the fame Style.

Q. What doth Elegance confist in?

A. Elegance confifts in the Purity, Perfpicuity, and Politeness of Language; and is chiefly gained by studying the most correct Writers, by converf. ing with Gentlemen and Scholars, and by accurate and frequent Compofition.

Q. What mean you by Dignity of Language?

A. Dignity is that, which adorns Language with fublime Thoughts and Rhetorical Flowers; fuch as noble Tropes, moving Figures, and beautiful Turns. Q. What is the difference between Tropes and Figures?

EXAMPLE.

(f)-Qur Saviour CHRIST himfelf, to fhow the Greatnefs of Superiority, and Eternity of TRUTH, calls himself the TRUTH: I am the Way, the Life, and the TRUTH.

g)-Wine is wicked, Kings are wicked, Women are wicked; All the Children of Men are wicked, and fuch are all their wicked works, for there is no Truth in them; in their Unrighteoufnefs alfo they fhall perifh: Therefore, Great is the TRUTH, and Mighty above all Things. Blessed ba the Gon of TRUTH! (f) Teftimony. [g] Conclufion.