fl2 HOE^ PAULINA. 



eompellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews ?" Ho"W 

 did he do that ? The only way in which Peter appears to 

 have connpelled the Gentiles to comply with the Jewish 

 institution, was by withdrawing himself from their society 

 By which he may be understood to have made this declara- 

 tion : " liYe do not deny your right to be considered as 

 Christians ; we do not deny your title in the promises of the 

 gospel, even without compliance with our law ; but if you 

 would have us Jews live with you as we do with one 

 another, that is, if you would in all respects be treated by 

 us as Jews, you must live as such yourselves." This, I 

 think, was the compulsion which St. Peter's conduct im- 

 posed upon the Gentiles, and for which St. Paul reproved 

 him. 



As to the part which the historian ascribes to St. Petei 

 in the debate at Jerusalem, besides that it was a different 

 question which was there agitated from that which pro- 

 duced the dispute at Antioch, there is nothing to hinder us 

 from supposing that the dispute at Antioch was prior to the 

 consultation at Jerusalem ; or that Peter, in consequence ol 

 this rebuke, might have afterwards maintained firmer 

 sentiments. 



