all the blessings she had received. Hence she desired, and urged the Apostles, if they accounted her sincere, to come and take up their abode under her roof. This was attended, not only with expense, but with considerable danger too11 : but she had counted the cost in every way, and was well content to pay it.
This was an excellent evidence in her favour : for this kind of love is particularly specified by God himself as one of those " things which accompany salvation0:" and in a very eminent degree it may be considered as " fulfilling the law of Christ p." Respecting the exercise of such dispositions under the Christian dispensation, and the consecration of all our wealth to the ser- vice of our God, the Prophet Isaiah spoke repeatedly*1: and wherever the grace of God reigns in the heart, it will produce these effects in the life and conversation1.]
We shall conclude this subject with some reflections naturally arising from it :
1. How necessary in divine ordinances is the Lord's presence !
[Of all the women who heard the Apostle at that time, we hear only of one who gave due attention to the things that were spoken by him : and the source of the difference between her and the others was, that " the Lord opened her heart." To this source must we trace all the good that is done by the ministration of the Gospel s: whoever be the preacher, God alone is the author of the blessing*.]
2. How great are the obligations of those whose eyes are opened !
[Consider the change wrought on her at the time, and the effect of it on her everlasting state ; what cause had she to adore and magnify the grace of God ! So it is with all who are made monuments of Divine grace : they are indeed " brands plucked out of the burning;" and to all eternity must they ascribe their happiness, not to themselves, but unto Him that " chose them from before the foundation of the world," and gave them to his dear Son, to be the trophies of his redeeming loveu.]
3. How anxious should we be to adorn the doctrine we have received !
[Lydia did not wait to have this burthen imposed upon her ; she sought of her own accord, and that with great earnest-
n Acts xvi. 22. andxvii. 6 — 9. ° Heb. vi. 9, 10.
p Gal. vi. 2, 10. <i Isai. xxiii. 18. and lx. 9.
r 2 Cor. viii. 7, 8. s Isai. liii. 1. Acts xi. 21. 1 Thess. i. 5. » 2 Cor. iii. 6, 7. u John xv. 16. Rom ix. 16. Eph. i. 4—6.
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