nature perfectly (Hob. iv. 15). 3, He claim~ that we shall all come into living relation to himself; we must all be "found m him'' (Phil. iii. 9; John xv. 4, 6; 1 John ii. 28). IV. 'l'HAT Gon BAB 0IVEN O'B STRONG ASSURANCE OF ms DIVINE PURPOSE. "Whereof he bath given," etc. We have an assurance of such intention in: 1. Our own conscious- ness of ill desert and incomplete retribution. We feel that sin demands condemnation and punishment, and that our o~n individual guilt has not received its due penalty. For how much and how many thmgs do we deserve the reproval of the Divine voice, the infliction of the Divine hand ! 2. Our observation of the course of abandoned and wicked men. How many are they who go down to the grave with (as it assuredly appears) unpunished sins on their soul I 3. The general apprehension of mankind. 4. But the assurance of God's purpose ie in the language and the life of Jesus Christ; more especially in the fact of his resurrection, preceding, predicting, and ensuring our own. (1) How foolish to treat as if it were the whole of onr career that which is no more than the commencement I (2) How wise to live in view of that great day of account I (3) How needful to be rightly related to the supreme Jo.dgs !-C. Vere. 1-9.-Paul at Thessalonica. I. Hre WORK. The synagogue was here again the scene of labour; the substance of the evangel again the theme of his discourse. 1. This is in contents ever the same; founded on the Scriptures. His special function as an apostle did not set him free from the authority of the past. Religion at any epoch is the fulfilment of all that has gone before and the prophecy of all that is to be. But let us beware of the slavery of the letter, and seek the truth of the freely developing Spirit. Fresh light and truth are to break forth at every epoch from the Scriptures. Preaching culminates in Christ. The Messiah must suffer and rise. Paul had no other theme than the crucified and risen One. The triumph of the spiritual element in mankind in and through, in spite of and over, suffering,-this is the eternal message of Christianity to mankind. 2. The results the same. Some believe, others not. The good ground for the seed is there or it is not there. Vain to seek to penetrate below this mystery. Women again are specially named as favourable to the gospel. It is fair to argue that, when the feelings and the intuitions lead the judgment, the verdict will be for Christ and his religion. Divine grace does not court those in high station ; certainly it does not repel them. II. THE BEARING OF THE ENEMIES OF THE 0OSPEL. 1. Instinctive perversion of the tr'/1,th. As before, jealousy, whether proceeding from self-interest or sectarian pride, attacks the apostles. 'l'heir enemies would misrepresent the emissaries of peace, [\S public disturbers and revolutionaries. 2. Glaring inconsistency. They commit the very offence of which they accuse the apostles. They play on the feelings of the mob. It is a sign of weakness or of insincerity when men must dr::i.g the fickle multitude into such questions. The mob may be turned momentarily to any account. If they favour the gospel, they are despised as stupid (John vii. 47--49). If they can be stirred up against it, their clamour is equally used as evidence, III. THE EPISODE OF HOSPITALITY, Good Jason shelters these dangerous guests. The guest who is loved and cherished in spite of danger to the host, will bring a blessing on the head of the latter. Be mindful of hospitality-the true hospitality, which gives without asking in return (Heb. xiii. 2).-J.
Vere. 10-15.-Nobility of soul at Berrea. Berma. stands out as a bright oasis in the dreary landscape of persecution. When Paul and Silas enter the synagogue, they fiml themselves in a new atmosphere. They find "men of nobler soul" then the dishonest cavillers and intriguers of Philippi and of Thessalonica. What were the elements of this nobility of soul? I. WILLING AND O'Nl'REJO'DICED RECEPTION OF NOVEL VIEWS. This spontaneous receptiveness springs only from the rooted love of truth. Let us not forget how startling and how shocking was the story of a cruoified Messiah to Jewish prejudice; it may help us to appreciate the candour of these men, II. INDEPENDENT INQumY. They did not carry on a battle of notions with notions; they went to the sources, they studied the documents and facts. Let Protestants learn a lesson, and be true to themselves. In our time people a.re only beginning to un<lar- 'i'2 THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES. [en. xvn, 1-34.