SECOND EPISTLE TO THE CORimHIAKS GS 



which may be pointed out between them will admit of no 

 solution so probable, as the attributing of them to truth and 

 reality, as to their common foundation. 



III. The opening of this epistle exhibits a connection 

 with th« history which alone would satisfy my mind that 

 the episile was written by St. Paul, and by St. Paul in the 

 situation in which the history places him. Let it be remem- 

 bered, that in the nineteenth chapter of the Acts St. Paul 

 is represented as driven away from Ephesus, or as leaving 

 however Ephesus, in consequence of an uproar in that city 

 excited by some interested adversaries of the new reUgion. 

 The account of the tumult is as follows : '' When they heard 

 these sayings," namely, Demetrius' complaint of the danger 

 to be apprehended from St. Paul's ministry to the established 

 worship of the Ephesian goddess, " they were full of wrath, 

 and cried out, saying, Great is Diana of the Ephesians. 

 And the whole city was filled with confusion : and having 

 caught Gains and Aristarchus, men of Macedonia, Paul's 

 companions in travel, they rushed with one accord into the 

 theatre. And when Paul would have entered in unto the 

 people, the disciples suffered him not. And certain of the 

 chief of Asia, which were his friends, sent unto him desiring 

 him that he would not adventure himself into the theatre. 

 Some therefore cried one thing, and some another ; for the 

 assembly was confused, and the more part knew not where- 

 fore they were come together. And they drew Alexander 

 out of the multitude, the Jews putting him forward. And 

 Alexander beckoned with his hand, and would have made 

 his defence unto the people. But when they knew that he 

 was a Jew, all with one voice about the space of two hours 

 cried out, Great is Diana of the Ephesians. And after tb^. 

 uproar was ceased, Paul called unto him the disciples, and 

 embraced them, and departed for to go into Macedonia." 

 When he was arrived in Macedonia, he wrote the secoiw^ 

 epistle to the Corinthians, which is now before us ; and he 

 begins his epistle in this wise : " Blessed be God, even the 



