restless dispositions are too easily attracted by horetical notions, St. Paul had t.o deal with all these forms of evil, and he strove t.o correct them by establishing mQre firmly than before, in mind and heart, the great Christian foundations ; going ovi,r, again anrl again, the "first principles or the doctrine of Christ." III. "STRENGTHENING,, AS APPLIED TO PRAOTIOAL HELP IN CHRISTIAN LIVING. Many practical questions arose in those times out of the relations of Christian principles to pagan customs, such as the eating of meat which had been offered in sacrifice to idols. And though Christians, under the apostolic guidance, would at first take a decided stand in relation even to the details of private and social life, we can well understand that daily association would gradually wear down their resistance, and they would fail to keep the strictness of moral purity, and the full power of Christian charity, under the influence of daily surroundings. It is too seldom duly considered how the worship and ministry of each returning sabbath day helps to keep up the moral standard of life and conduct among Christian people. IV. "STRENGTHENING" AS APPLIED TO THE QUICKENING OF ZEAL IN CHRISTIAN n"TEBPBISE, The Christian Church is essentially an aggressive Church. It has its mission, and that mission is to the world. It has no right of existence save as it seeks to extend and enlarge itself. A selfish regard for its own interests is simply ruinous to its own best interests. .And yet we find that individuals and Churches are ever liable to flag in enerey and enterprise, and weakly to fall back upon mere self-culture, or upon the excuse that they must attend to their self-culture. Apostles, and earnest men in all ages, have to arouse the Church to a sense of its duties and responsi• bilities, and to strengthen it for duly meeting and fulfilling them. And so we find, in St. Paul's letters to the Churches, indications of the various spheres and departments in which he found it necessary to "strengthen the disciples." Illustrate by the tender scene in the life of David, when his friend Jonathan found him out, in his time of depression and seemingly hopeless failure, a.nd "strengthened his hand in God."-R. T,
EXPOSITION. CHAPTER XIX. the Holy Ghost was given, ae In the R. V., isjnsti.fied by John vii 39, where the exactly Ver. 1.-Covntry for coasts, A.V.; found similar phrase, 011,,,., ~" Ilv•iiµc, "A-y,ov, is for finding, A.V. and T.R. l'he upper rendered in the A.V.; "The Holy Spirit was oomitry ( ,-a. ur11r•puca. p.<f"TI); the inland not yet 5 • ven." "Esse pro adesse" (Bengel), districts of GeJatie. and Phrygia, through The sense gh-en in the A.V. does not seem which St. Panl journeyed on his way to probable. The answer means, "Not only Ephesus, as distinguished from the see.coast have we not received the Holy Spirit, but on which Ephesus stood. Disciples. They we bad not even heard tbnt the dispenst1tion were like .A.polios, believers in the Lord Jesns of the Spirit was come." through the preaching of John the Baptist, Ver. 3.-He said for 1wJ said unto them, It looks as if they were companions of A. V. and T.R.; into for unto (twice), A.V. Apollos, and had come with him from Alex• Into what then were ye baptized t Nothing ilildrie., pe!"haps for 10me purpose of trade can mark more strongly the connection be- or commerce. tween baptism and the reception of the Holy Ver. 2.-.And 1wJ said for 1wJ ,aid,A.V.and Spirit than this question does. For it implies, T.R.; did 11e reed« for ha1!e 11e received, " How could you be ignorant of the giving of A. V.; when for Biru:e, A.V.; nay, we did the Holy Ghost if you were dnly baptized?" aot so much a, hear wlwJtJi,er the Holy Ghost (comp. eh. ii. 38) The answer explains it, wcu girlen for we haTJe not so mwh as heard "We were baptized with John's baptism, whether there be any Holy Ghost, A.V. J;)id to which no promise of the gift of the Holy ye receive, etc.? The R.V. gives the sense Ghost was attached." mnch more accurately than the A. V., which Ver. 4.-.And Paul ,aid for then said Paul, is, "Did ye receive the Holy Ghost at the A. V.; John for John 'Verily, A. V. and T.R.; time of your baptism, when ye first believed ?n JesUB for Christ Jesus, A.V. and T.R. The Something led the apostle to suspect that baptiBm of repentance. See Luke iii. 3, etc., they had not received the seal of the Spirit and for the difference between John'11 (comp. Epb. i 13,,,..,,-,..6.,...,,.,.u icr~pc,-ylcrBrrr<), baptism and that of Christ, Luke iii. 16. u1d 10 he e.aked the question. The answer, llim which should oomo after him (Lukr, la7, we did !Wt ao muck u koar wlietllor iii, 16; Jolin iii, 28; Marki, 7), OH, XIX, 1-41.] THE AC'l'B OF 'l'HE APOS'l'LES. 1[.j