called to equal sufferings with a Paul, or the first followers of Christ, or with those who, in later ages, have borne this severe witness to the truth, by being stoned, sawn asunder, slain with the sword, or committed to the flames, yet in most cases the Christian, like his Master, may expect to be tried by sufferings. If our afflictions come not always from without, most assuredly they will from within. Out of the heart of man proceed evil thoughts, and evil propensities of every kind. Here then surely is cause for trouble. But Christian faith triumphs over all; and these afflictions, which are but for a moment, through the grace of God communicated to every one who thus believeth, "work for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory'."

One great object, accomplished by the Apostles' return, was the ordination of regular Ministers in all the Churches which they had established, by the same ceremony used at their own ordination; namely, by prayer, fasting, and the imposition of hands. In no part of the early history of Christianity do we read of self-ordained Pastors; and as the days of immediate inspiration are long since past, and we have no reason to expect, and much less to deserve, a particular revelation, we must rest contented with that ordinary suggestion of the Holy Spirit, which prompts us to aspire after this holy office, and that original Church authority, which enjoins, that "all things be done decently and in order"."

After this manner Paul and Barnabas passed through the provinces of Pisidia and Pamphilia ; and after spending some short time in Perga, where they had formerly landed from Cyprus, and preaching the Gospel there, they changed the latter part of their tour, and came to Atalia, another sea-port town of that country, and passed by sea to Antioch in Syria, from whence they had originally been recommended to the important work which they had now fulfilled. As faithful stewards of the mysteries of God, they render an account of their mission to the assembled Church; and they rejoice together at the large accession of Christian believers, in the persons of the idolatrous Gentiles.

With the transactions of this journey, I conclude this Section of my Lectures. We see the great plan of the Gospel gradually unfolding before our eyes. Let us use our endeavours to further its progress throughout the earth. Though wickedness continue to prevail, and infidelity to flourish, let us not be discouraged. Such things must needs be, but the end is not yet. But whatever be the lamentable state of public religion, every man should remember that he has a little world within his own breast, as well as within the influence of his brief authority. Let these be the sphere of his private conquests; for with respect to him who conquers himself, and rules well his own house, God's blessing will accompany his labours, and acquaint him that he has not lived, neither has he borne his sceptre in vain.

SECTION III.

LECTURE XV.

ACTS XV. 1-35.

Paul and Barnabas remain a long time at Antioch.-Attend a General Council of the Apostles at Jerusalem, concerning Circumcision. Antioch.-Jerusalem.-Antioch. A.D. 51, 52.

THE return of holy times and seasons, the recurrence of pious thought and devout meditation, the review of past comforts, and the approach of expected hours of happiness, afford to the religious mind a constant and never-failing source of intellectual delight. With propriety may all those adopt the observation, who are accustomed to diversify the necessary employments of life, with the still more necessary study of the Word of God, and attention to the important duties of devotion. These true servants of their Maker "go out to their work, and to their labour, until the evening1:" -but as the close of the day reminds them of re

1 Ps. civ. 23.

freshment and repose, the silent and solemn season brings with it sentiments suitable to its tranquillity; and they reflect upon that "rest, that eternal rest, which remaineth for the people of God'." To this period of calm joy and religious delight, the weary and heavy laden look forward with earnest expectation, and through faith in the promises of the Gospel, endure the evils, or reputed evils, of life, as seeing Him who is invisible."

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Thus, my Brethren, are we again assembled, by the blessing of God, at this holy season and in this holy place, from our various avocations and employments, to pursue the delightful study of the Scriptures, to follow the steps of the primitive Apostles, and by the prospect of their faith to invigorate our own. May our God make that faith stedfast in our hearts! May its most invaluable properties be so incorporated with every action of our lives, every movement of our souls, that our "whole spirit, and soul, and body, may be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ?!"

We left the Apostles, Paul and Barnabas, after a successful journey to convert the idolatrous Gentiles, peacefully settled at Antioch in Syria, and preaching the pure doctrines of Christianity to the Church at that place. "Here they abode a long time with the Disciples 3." But as the happiest of men have no reason to expect a continuance of prosperity, so the best established Churches may, from outward or inward causes, look for an occa

1 Heb. iv. 9.

2 1 Thess. v. 23. 3 A. D. 47-51.

sional interruption of their tranquillity. In this dispensation, Providence designs the good of both.

The doctrines peculiar to the revealed Gospel of Christ were the great subjects of the Apostles' preaching at Antioch; and particularly that most important doctrine so emphatically inculcated by St. Paul in his Epistles, that the salvation of Christians depended on the alone merits of Him who became a propitiatory sacrifice for the sins of men. Some of those converts who had formerly professed the religion of the Jews, retained so much of their prepossession for the rites of the Mosaic law, that they were not satisfied with this account of Christianity. They held a different doctrine; and taught publicly that, faith in Christ alone was not sufficient for salvation, but that they were to add to this the distinguishing tenets of the Jewish Legislator. Fraught with this opinion, certain brethren came down from Judæa, and very peremptorily declared to the Christians at Antioch, that "except they were circumcised after the manner of Moses, they could not be saved."

They could not be saved!-How dare any fallible man pronounce so decided a sentence on a fellow mortal? Who are we, that we should think ourselves the mouth of God? Even when the wicked man walks abroad with bold and open front, the humble Christian fears indeed for his salvation, and prays for his deliverance from the tyranny of sin, but he will not hastily pronounce his final judgment; he will not restrain the mercies of his Saviour, or deny the efficacy (however doubtful the

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