and wonder how
Jesus can love us. Out of such frames of feeling the Lord sometimes
suddenly lifts us, by causing light to break in upon our souls,
revealing some new truth, some fresh affection, in which we rejoice.
In addition to these instances of unexpected blessings, we sometimes
see men gathered into the fold, for whose conversion we had lost all
hope.

We need not wonder that Saul's conversion was wholly unexpected. He
had shown such hostility to Jesus of Nazareth that no ground for hope
of any change in him was anywhere visible. His conviction was
therefore, in the eyes of Christians, a miracle. But it was so only in
appearance. The light, above the brightness of the sun, that shone
upon him, was but the same light that shone from the face of the Lord
and glistened from his raiment on the holy mount when he was
transfigured. John had a somewhat similar vision of the Lord upon the
isle of Patmos. John was better prepared to receive the vision than
was Saul; but even John fell at the Lord's feet as dead. The Lord
immediately laid his right hand upon John, and in the tenderness of
his love said: "Fear not." These same sweet words fell from his lips
upon the ears of the three disciples on the holy mount. But Saul heard
far different words. A voice sounded into his soul: "I am Jesus of
Nazareth whom thou persecutest." This terrific announcement broke up
the sealed fountain of his sinful heart and he cried out: "Lord, what
wouldst thou have me to do?" He was then told to go into the city of
Damascus, and it would there be told him what he had to do.

Notice the difference. The Lord did not say to him as he had to many
others: "Fear not." This seemed to be his cherished phrase to all who
loved and believed on him. To the women at the sepulcher, these words,
"fear not," were addressed by the angel. To the church, seen in vision
by the prophetic eye of Isaiah, the words, "Fear not, for I have
redeemed thee: fear not, for I am with thee," are tenderly spoken by
the Lord. If Saul's conviction had been brought about by human agency
through the preaching of the Word, the adversaries of the cross might
have said that he had been persuaded, or bribed with money to change
his manner of life. But nothing like this could be said now. The men
who journeyed with him could testify otherwise. They saw the light
that flashed upon him; but they heard not the words spoken. They were
not persecutors of Jesus by intention as Saul was. L