no sufficient Investigation; they h111l not RScertained the citizenship of the prisoner, at the bar; and now they have to pay for their preoipitanoe. They send a sneaking mcs!'llge to the prison, "Let those men go; 'thus virtu11.lly confessing themselves in the wrong. Then when Paul refused to be thus dismissed, and placed himself In the position of one whose le~ rights had been violated, they were fain t-0 come in person, and beg of their own prisoners to go on their way I To such dishonour did a hasty and unfaithful use of their power bring these men. They who are in 11.ny office, whether in sacred or secular atfairs, should remember that rashness is certain to suffer in the end, that precipitancy in judgment conducts to the shame of him who judii;es, that we should take ample time and make full inquiry before we condemn and punish. Other- wise judging others, we condemn ourselves and bring down the blow on our own head. IT. THE CHRISTIAN DUTY OF REMOKSTRANOE. Paul refused to be ignominiously dis- missed, having first been illegally punished. He uttered an indi~ant, a fervent remon- i;t~nce (ver. 37). He declined, being innocent and wron~cd, to be treated as if be were guilty and as if he bad nothing of which righteously to complain. It is often our Christian duty to act in the same way. In this matter there are: 1. Two laws to which we may make our appeal: either the law of man, which the magistrates of Philippi had now broken, and which Paul claimed they should have regarded; or the law of God, the law v.•hicb makes its demand on every human conscie11ce, requiring truth, equity, respect, etc. When this is palpably violat~d, we may make our appeal to it against the iniquity and ill usage of our fellows. 2. Three laws by which we must be limited: (1) The law of purity. We are not at liberty to indulge in remonstrance if there is nothing in our mind but self-assertion; the spirit by which we must be animated is a sense of wrong havini;: been done, and of a righteous resentment of that wrong. A remonstrance which is nothing more than an attempt to recover something for ourselves, into which the feeling of pure indignation against evil does not largely enter, is not worthy of the name; that is only a contention. (2) The law of innocence. We must take care that we have clean hands, or we shall not be in a position to upbraid others. Too often there are faults on both sides, and those wh9 use the language of remonstrance are open to damaging retort. Only the innocent are at liberty to "reprove, rebuke, and exhort" (see Rom. ii.17-23). (3) The le.w of considerateness. We must consider what is the probable effect of remonstrating. If the outpouring of our indignation, though it would relieve our own mind, would endanger the comfort, the liberty, or even (as is possible) the life of others, then we should restrain ourselves and be silent. If remon- strance, thongh it should bring down bitterness or even blows on ourselves, is likely to benefit others, then it becomes our Christian duty to let loose onr tongue and give ple.y to our indignation. The question to be considered is-Will utterance honour Christ and benefit our fellows? According to that verdict let our behaviour be. Ill THE DIGNITY OF INNOCENCE. These magistrates will always present to the Christian eye the picture of =dignified officialism ; first hastily condemning, and then ignomoniously retreating. Paul and Silas will ever be to us the types of true dignity; first patiently suffering, then loftily refusing to be secretly dismissed, then compo~edly uniting and comforting the disciples, and then quietly departing. They who have God on their side are in a position to be above the fretting and fuming of the world, to posse8S their souls in patience and in calmness.-0.
Vers. l-8.-Paul and Timothy. In the intercourse of the great apostle with Timothy, and the history of the latter, we have an interesting episode. I. THE YOUNG DISCIPLE. His case shows : 1. The blessing of a pi()'ll,8 mother. The mother's love gives force to all her lessons, sanctity to the earliest of life's recollections. " Knowing of whom thou hast learned them." 2. The blessing of Christian society. He enjoyed the testimony of the brethren in Lystra and lconium. Not only the good influences we receive from Christian brethren, but the certificate which their good will and commendation affords us, is to be considered. 3. The blessing of sound instruction. He had an apostle for his tee.cher. There were things he had" heard and been assured of" from those weighty lips. 4. These advantagu turned fo account. He was the pride and console.tion of l.is mother, and the more so as her husband was an unbeliever. He WIL'I an ornament to his community, as we may see from the Epistles to Timothy, iron:. Phil. ii. 22 and 1 Cor. xvL 10; and a joy and support of the apostle. CIU, XVI, 1-40.] THF, ACTl!I OF THE APOSTLES. 41