Works · Joseph Mede
Works, Book 5 · Chapter 2
CHAP. II.
The Mystery of S. Paul's Conversion: or, The Type of the Calling of the Iews.*Se… this largely treated of in Book IV. Epist. XVII.
| 1. | 1. |
| PAVL among the sons of men the greatest Zelot of the Law, and Persecutor of the way of Christ. | THE Iews among the Nations most obstinate Zelots of Moses, and the most bitter Enemies of the Followers of Christ. |
| 2. | 2. |
| Paul in the height of this his zeal, and heat of his persecuting fury, found mercy and was converted. | The Iews, though persisting unto the last in their extremity of bitterness and mortal hate to Christians, yet will God have mercy on them, and receive them again to be his People, and be their God. |
| 3. | 3. |
| Paul converted by means extraordinary, and for manner strange: not, as were the rest of the Apostles, by the Ministerie of any Teacher upon earth, but by visible Revelation of Christ Iesus in his glory from Heaven; the light whereof suddenly surprising him, he heard the voice of the Lord himself from Heaven saying, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? | The Iews not to be converted unto Christ by such means as were the rest of the Nations,Isa. 59. 19. & 4. 5. by the Ministerie of Preachers sent unto them; but by the Revelation of Christ Iesus in his glory from Heaven when they shall say,Dan. 7. 13. Zach. 12. 10. 2 Macc. 2. 8. Matth. 23. 39. not as when they saw him in his humiliation, Crucifie him, but, Blessed is he that comes in the Name of the Lord. Whose coming then shall be as a lightning out of the East,Matth. 24. 27. 30. shining into the West; and the sign of the Son of Man shall appear in the clouds of Heaven, and every eye shall see him,Revel. 1. 7. even of those which pierced him, and shall lament with the Spirit of grace and supplication, for their so long and so shameful unbelief of their so merciful Redeemer. |
| 4. | 4. |
| Those who accompanied Paul at the time of this Apparition saw the light only, and were amazed; but Paul alone saw the Lord, and heard the voice which he spake unto him. | This Revelation of Christ from Heaven like to be most apparent to the Iews in all places where they are dispersed, but not so perhaps to the Gentiles with whom they live. The light of his glorious presence shall be such as the whole world shall take notice of, but those only to see him and hear his voice who pierced him. |
| 5. | 5. |
| Paul no sooner converted, but was immediately inspired with the knowledge of the Mysteries of Christ, without the instruction of any Apostle or Disciple; for he received not the Gospel which he preached of Man, neither was he taught it but by the Revelation of Iesus Christ. He consulteth not with the rest of the Apostles, but after 14 years preaching communicated to them the Gospel which he preached among the Gentiles, who added nothing unto him, but gave him the right hand of fellowship. | The Iews together with their miraculous Calling, shall be illuminated also with the Isa 54. 13. Ier. 31. 34. knowledge of the Mysteries of the Christian Faith, even as it is taught in the Reformed Churches, without any Instructers from them or Conference with them; and yet when they shall communicate their Faith each to other, shall find themselves to be of one communion of true belief, and give each other the right hand of fellowship. |
| 6. | 6. |
| Paul the last called of the Apostles. | The Iews to be called after all the Nations in orbe Romano or in the circuit of the Apostle's preaching. |
| 7. | 7. |
| Paul once converted, the most zealous and fervent of the Apostles. | The … Za…. 13. Iews once converted, the most zealous and fervent of the Nations. |
| 8. | 8. |
| Till Paul was converted, the Gospel had small progress amongst the Gentiles; but when he became their Apostle, it went forward wonderfully. | Till the Calling of the Iews, the general Conversion of the Gentiles not to be expected; but the receiving of Israel shall be the riches of the world, in that by their restitution the whole world shall come unto Christ. |
| 9. | 9. |
| The miracle of S. Paul's Conversion (the person so uncapable, till then a Persecutor and most bitter Enemy of Christians; the manner so wonderful as by an Apparition and Voice from Heaven,) was a most powerful motive to make all those who heard and believed it, Christians; and therefore so often by S. Paul himself repeated. | The miracle of the Iews Conversion so much the more powerful to convert the Nations of the world not yet Christians, by how much their opposite disposition is more universally known to the world than was S. Paul's, and by how much the testimony of a whole Nation, living in so distant parts of the world, of so divine a miracle as a Vision and Voice from Heaven, exceeds that of s. Paul, being but one Man. |
| 10. | 10. |
| Paul reproveth Peter, one of the chief Apostles, for symbolizing with Iudaism. | May not the Iews likewise reprove (if not more) the Church of Rome, the chief of Christian Churches, for symbolizing with Gentilism? |
S. Paul to Tim. 1 Ep. c. 1. v. 16.
Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Iesus Christ might shew forth ill long-suffering, for a Pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to everlasting life.