ceedingly mad against them, I perfecuted them even unto strange cities. But as I went to Damafcus, with authority and commission from the chief priests, at mid-day, O king! I faw in the way a light from heaven, above the brightness of the fun, fhining round about me, and them who journeyed with me. And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice fpeaking to 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 replied, I am Jefus whom thou perfecuteft. But rife, and ftand upon thy feet: for I have appeared to thee for this purpofe, to make thee a minister, and a witnefs both of these things, which thou haft feen, and of thofe things in which I will appear to thee; delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, to whom I now fend thee, to open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God; that they may receive forgivenefs of fins, and inheritance amongst them who are fanctified by faith that is in me.

Whereupon, O king Agrippa! I was not difobedient to the heavenly vifion: but fhowed first to them of Damafcus, and at Jerufalem, and through all the coafts of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they fhould repent, and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance. For thefe caufes, the Jews caught me in the temple; and went about to kill me. Having, however, obtained help from God, I continue, to this day, witnefsing both to small and great, faying no other things than thofe which the prophets and Mofes declared fhould come: that Chrift fhould fuffer; that he would be the firft who fhould rife from the dead; and

that he would show light to the people, and to the Gentiles.

And as he thus fpoke for himfelf, Feftus faid, with a loud voice," Paul, thou art befide thyfelf; much learning hath made thee mad." But he replied, I am not mad, most noble Feftus; but speak the words of truth and foberness. For the king knoweth these things, before whom alfo I fpeak freely. I am perfuaded that none of these things are hidden from him: for this thing was not done in a corner. King Agrippa, believeft thou the prophets? I know that thou believeft. Then Agrippa faid to Paul," almoft thou perfuadeft me to be a Christian.” And Paul re

plied, "I would to God, that not only thou, but also all that hear me this day, were both almoft, and altogether fuch as I am, except these bonds.”*

ACTS XXVI,

With

How happy was this great Apoftle, even in the most perilous circumftances! Though under bonds and opprefsion, his mind was free, and raised above every fear of man. what dignity and compofure does he defend himself, and the noble cause he had efpoufed; whilft he difplays the most compassionate and generous feelings, for thofe who were strangers to the fublime religion by which he was animated!

SECTION IV.

LORD MANSFIELD's Speech in the House of Lords, 1770, on the Bill for preventing the Delays of Juftice, by claiming the Privilege of Parliament.

MY LORDS,

WHEN I Confider the importance of this bill to your Lordships, I am not surprised it has taken up fo much of your confideration. It is a bill, indeed, of no common magnitude; it is no less than to take away from two thirds of the legislative body of this great kingdom, certain privileges and immunities of which they have been long pofsefsed. Perhaps there is no fituation the human mind can be placed in, that is fo difficult and fo trying, as when it is made a judge in its own caufe. There is fomething implanted in the breast of man fo attached to felf, fo tenacious of privileges once obtained, that, in fuch a fituation, either to dif cufs with impartiality, or decide with juftice, has ever been held the fummit of all human virtue. The bill now in queftion puts your Lordfhips in this very predicament; and I doubt not but the wifdom of your decifion will convince the world, that where felf-intereft and juftice are in oppofite fcales, the latter will ever preponderate with your Lordships.

Privileges have been granted to legiflators in all ages, and in all countries. The practice is founded in wifdom; and, indeed, it is peculiarly essential to the conftitution of this country, that the members of both Houses fhould be free in their persons, in cases of civil fuits; for there may come a time when the fafety and

welfare of this whole empire, may depend upon their attendance in parliament. I am far from advifing any measure that would in future endanger the state: but the bill before your Lordships has, I am confident, no fuch tendency; for it exprefsly fecures the perfons of members of either Houfe in all civil fuits. This being the cafe, I confefs, when I fee many noble lords, for whofe judgment I have a very great respect, ftanding up to oppofe a bill which is calculated merely to facilitate the recovery of juft and legal debts, I am aftonished and amazed. They, I doubt not, oppose the bill upon public principles: I would not with to infinuate, that private intereft had the leaft weight in their determination.

The bill has been frequently proposed, and as frequently has mifcarried: but it was always loft in the Lower House. Little did I think, when it had passed the Commons, that it pofsibly could have met with fuch oppofition here. Shall it be faid, that you, my Lords, the grand council of the nation, the highest judicial and legiflative body of the realm, endeavour to evade, by privilege, thofe very laws which you enforce on your fellow-fubjects? Forbid it Juftice!-I am fure, were the noble Lords as well acquainted as I am, with but half the difficulties and delays occafioned in the courts of justice, under pretence of privilege, they would not, nay they could not, oppofe this bill.

I have waited with patience to hear what arguments might be urged againft the bill; but I have waited in vain: the truth is, there is no argument that can weigh against it. The juftice and expediency of the bill are fuch as render it felf-evident. It is a propofition of that nature, that can neither be weakened by argument,

nor entangled with fophiftry. Much, indeed, has been faid by fome noble lords, on the wisdom of our anceftors, and how differently they thought from us. They not only decreed, that privilege fhould prevent all civil fuits from proceeding during the fitting of parliament, but likewife granted protection to the very fervants of members. I shall say nothing on the wisdom of our anceftors; it might perhaps appear invidious: that is not necessary in the present cafe. I fhall only say, that the noble Lords who flatter themselves with the weight of that reflection, fhould remember, that as circumstances alter, things themselves fhould alter. Formerly, it was not fo fashionable either for mafters or fervants to run in debt, as it is at prefent. Formerly, we were not that great commercial nation we are at prefent; nor formerly were merchants and manufacturers members of parliament, as at prefent. The cafe is now very dif ferent both merchants and manufacturers are, with great propriety, elected members of the Lower House. Commerce having thus got into the legislative body of the kingdom, privilege must be done away. We all know, that the very foul and essence of trade are regular payments; and fad experience teaches us, that there are men, who will not make their regular payments without the compulfive power of the laws. The law then ought to be equally open to all. Any exemption to particular men, or particular ranks of men, is, in a free and commercial country, a folecism of the grofseft nature.

But I will not trouble your Lordships with arguments. for that, which is fufficiently evident without any. I fhall only fay a few words to fome noble lords, who foresee much inconveniency, from the perfons of their