2. How earnestly we should improve our present intercourse with each other !
_ [It is but a little while, at all events, that our present con- nexion can be continued : I must soon go to give an account of my ministry, as you also must to answer for the way in which you have improved it : and even from Sabbath to Sabbath we know not whether the present opportunity shall not be our last. Surely this thought should make us exceeding anxious to obtain increasing edification in faith and love, that so "I may be your rejoicing, and you be mine, in the great day of the Lord Jesus."]
st. Paul's appeal to the elders of ephesus.
Acts xx. 17 — 21. And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church. And when they were come to him, he said unto them, Ye know, from the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all seasons. Serving the Lord with all, humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, ivhich befell me by the lying in wait of the Jeios : and how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publicly, and from house to house, testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toivard God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.
IT is to peculiar, and, if we may so speak, to accidental circumstances, that we are indebted for
506 ACTS, XX. 17— 2i. [1798.
that full developement of St. Paul's character which we have in the Holy Scriptures. He never willingly set about to commend himself; but he was some- times compelled to vindicate himself against the accusations of his enemies, and to make known his own principles and conduct, in order to prevail on others to tread in his steps. It was with this latter view that he made his appeal to the elders of Ephesus, when he was about to take a last farewell of them at Miletus.
Let us consider,
I. The appeal he made to them —
His stay among them had been of three years' continuance ; so that during that time they had had abundant opportunities of knowing every thing respecting him. To them therefore he appealed respecting,
1. The exercises of his mind —
[He had " served the Lord with all humility of mind" con- scious of his own utter insufficiency for so great a work as had been committed to hima, and willing to make himself the servant of all, if by any means he might promote their eternal welfare b
With this humility of mind he had blended compassion
for their souls ; so that whether he thought of those who re- jected the Gospel, or those who walked unworthy of it, he had wept much on their account, both in his addresses to them, and
in his supplications in their behalf0 Moreover, he had
persevered in his efforts for their good, notwithstanding such difficulties, as had often proved a severe trial to his faith and patience d e]
2. The labours of his life —
[He had exerted himself for them with fidelity and dili- gence: in all his communications, consulting, not what might
a 2 Cor. ii. 16. b 2 Cor. iv. 5. and 1 Cor. ix. 19.
c Rom. ix. 2. Phil. iii. 18. 2 Cor. ii. 4.
d ver. 3. and Acts xiii. 50, 51. xiv. 5, 6, 19, 20. and xvii. 5.
e This subject should be differently enlarged upon, according to the occasion on which it should be delivered. If it were a Visitation or Ordination Sermon, the duties of the Ministry should be inculcated agreeably to this model : if it were a Funeral Sermon, the character of the deceased, as far as it accorded with this pattern, might be set forth : or, if it were a Farewell Sermon, a similar appeal might be made by the preacher, as far as it might be done with truth.