FIRST EPISTLE TO THE COfllNTHIAN S . 45 



within which this epistle was written. Acts 18:13, 26, 

 " I will tarry at Bphesus until Pentecost." 16:8. This, 1 

 apprehend, is in terms almost asserting that he was at Eph- 

 esus at the time of writing the epistle. " A great and effect- 

 ual door is opened unto me." 16:9. How well this decla- 

 ration corresponded with the state of things at Ephesus, 

 and the progress of the gospel in these parts, we learn from 

 the reflection with which the historian concludes the ac- 

 count of certain transactions which passed there : "So 

 mightily grew the word of God and prevailed," Acts 19 , 20, 

 as well as from the complaint of Demetrius, " that not alone 

 at Ephesus, but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul hath 

 persuaded and turned away much people." 19 : 26. "And 

 there are many adversaries," says the epistle, 16 : 9. Look 

 into the history of this period : " When divers were hard- 

 ened, and believed not, but spake evil of that way before 

 the multitude, he departed Irom them and separated the 

 disciples." The conformity, therefore, upon this head of 

 comparison is circumstantial and perfect. If any one think 

 that this is a conformity so obvious, that any forger of toler- 

 able caution and sagacity would have taken care to preserve 

 it, I must desire such a one to read the epistle for himself; 

 and when he has done so, to declare whether he has dis- 

 covered one mark of art or design ; whether the notes ol 

 time and 'place appear to him to be inserted with any refer- 

 ence to each other, wdth any view of their being compared 

 with each other, or for the purpose of establishing a visible 

 agreement wdth the history, in respect of them. 



III. Chap. 4 : 17-19 : " For this cause I have sent uu.to 

 you Timotheus, who is my beloved son and faithful in the 

 Lord, who shall bring you mto remembrance of my ways 

 which be in Christ, as I teach everywhere in every church. 

 Now some are puffed up, as though I would not come to you 

 But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord will." 



With this I compare Acts 19:21, 22: "After these 

 things were ended, Paul purposed in the spirit, when he had 



