The Conversion and Apostleship of St. Paul 115 former ignorant persecution of the church, but there are no gloomy self-imposed penances such as melancholy fanatics in- flict upon themselves. He had a desire to depart and be with Christ, but there was nothing morbid about it. I t was all based on the revelation that he already had of the rewards that awaited him in the life to come. He tactfully met the Athenians adroitly claiming to be the interpreter of “The un- known god” whose altar they themselves had erected. He never hesitated to avert injustice by claiming his privileges as a Roman citizen. He was the very antithesis of gloominess. In whatever state he was, he had learned to be content. Neither his actions, nor his writings, nor his interested greet- ing and salutations, show the slightest tincture of melancholia. ( j ) Ignorance. This charge could not be laid up against the Apostle. Brought up at the feet of the great Gamaliel, he appeared to be master not only of Jewish, but also of Greek (and Roman) learning. ( 4 ) Credulity. As a resident of Jerusalem, Paul could not be a stranger to the fame of the miracles wrought by Jesus. He had the facts of the resurrection of our Lord, of Pentecost and all the miracles wrought by the Apostles up till the death of Stephen. Far from being credulous, he had barred his mind against every proof and refused to believe. “Nothing less than the irresistible evidence of his own senses, clear from all possi- bility of doubt, could have overcome his unbelief.” ( 5 ) Vanity or self-conceit. Vanity and fanaticism usually go together. Men of this type flatter themselves that on account of their superior worth they are the recipients of extraordinary favors and gifts from God, and of these they make their boast. There is not one word in his Epistles, nor one act recorded in his life, in which the slightest mark of this appears. When compelled to vindi- cate his apostolic claim from wanton attack he does it elfec-
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