Vers. 13-16.-Troa.s to Muetu.s. A glimpse into the activity of Paul's life. I. His extraordinary E:t-."EEGY, Walking probably some twenty miles to Assos to meet the vessel. His independence of character. Although a man of strong affections, he loved to be alone sometimes. His purposes were maturely formed and resolutely carried out. IL His spiritual life was sustained by FELLOWSHIP WITH BRETHREN. The long voyages made in those days in sailing-vessels of only moderate speed would afford time for conversation with Luke and others, for a narrative of the past labour to be at least laid up in Luke's memory. Possibly prepared under the apostle's direction. IIL The movements of the messenger of Christ were not capricious and arbitrary, but under the SPECIAL GUIDANCE OF THE SPIBIT. He passed by Ephesus because the Spirit urged him on towards Jerusalem. He was lift.ed above all thought of self and offered as a. sacrifice in spirit. An elllll.ple of Christ-like devotion.-R. Vars. 17-38.-.Last 'IDO'rds. The scene at Miletusrepresentati'1111. L Of the relations between the apostolic leaders and the Churches.·· 1. Affectionate. 2. Founded on a comm.on faith in the gospel of the grace of God. 3. Absolutely free from all sordid and worldly ent.anglements. 4. While recognizing the eminence ot the leaders, still not dependent on individual .men. Sorrowi.ilg separation ·was not overwhelming despair. II. Of the character of primitive Christianity as exemplified in the words of the apostle and in the elders of Ephesus. L Simplicity of the faith. 2. Confidence in the final victory of the truth as it is in Jesus, notwithstanding the inroads of error, 3. Dependence on the Holy Spirit. 4. Brotherhood ; helping the weak and ministering to the needy. The love felt towards the apostle an example of the kind- of feeling prevailing at Ephesus and in tk e early Church, so different from the formal and .con- ventional Church life now seen, which is content with a very superficial recognition ot brotherly 11ympathy. The heroism of Paul a fruit of the Spirit.-R. Ver. 21.-The annlx,,na,dore meuage. "Testifying both t.o the Jews," ef:4. L THE mtIVEBSAL REQUJBBDNT. 1. The temptations of Jews and Greeks, by which they were hindered. from repenting and believing-formalism ; self-righteousness; ritusJiam; ignorance. Both in the synagogue and in the heathen temple need of such a proclamation. 2. The blessedness of the change which such a message would effect, The Jewish and Gentile characters, though very different, both requiring an entire renovation. Belplesmeu apart frosn the gospel The m8Sllage worked wonders- in CH. XX. 1-38,] THE AC'fS OF THE APOSTLES.
fa111ilios. Contrast of the now lifo of the Christian Church with the old life of J udai~m nn<l paganism. Tho samo messago tho substance of all Christian teaching, both in our own populations an<l in heathen landA. II. 'l'nm FIRM FOUNDATION OF MINISTERIAL SUCCF.SB, The testimony WBB clear aorl undoubted; public and privato. Hepentanco and faith. 1. Apostolic preaching aimed at personal conversion. It was not merely intellectual, or sentimental, or doubtful in doctrine, or perfunctory and cold. 2. The foundation on which tho truth was placed was tho firm one of the go8pel facts. Repentance looked towards God who had spoken in tho Old Testament, and faith looked towards Christ w·hose life, death, resurrection, arnl ascension Paul testified. Mere cblL!lge of life is not all, but spiritual renovation throu,:h Obrist. 3. A clear enounccment from the pulpit must be accompanied by a faithful testimony from house to house. The private ministry is as important as the public. 4. Such a testimony of repentance and faith involves all who listen to it in immeasur- able responsibility, Let each one add to his seal by personal repentance and personal faith.-R. Ver. 24.-Tlie missionary .~pirit. "But none of these things move me," etc. I. A DIVINE CREATION. "Received of the Lord Jesus." 1. After the pattern of C!hrist'8 own mission. 2. By the inspiration of the Divine Spirit. Not by education or any lower means. Not influenced by worldly motives. 3. In the spirit of a witness, simply declaring the gospel; recognizing that " the gospel of the grace of God " is "the power of God" to men's salvation. II. AN EXAMPLE OF srmrTUAL HEROISM. 1. Victory over fear and selfish calculation. 2. Endurance in toil. The work of the ministry never finished while there are souls to be saved. 3. Superiority to the influence of lower types of character in the Church of Christ. A true man will not be swayed by opinion. The spiritual hero must reckon with the world's spirit of compromise and the Church's lack of sympathy; he must be sometimes misunderstood and maligned. 4. Lively expectation of the future. Paul constantly animated by the prospect of the whole world the kingdom of Christ. The true missionary must lay hold of the future by faith. The missionary spirit in the Church is very different from mere visionary optimism, or speculative schemi.ilg for mankind. It is not like the socialistic spirit which easily becomes revolutionary, or the spirit of religious fanaticism ,which easily becomes cruel and self-destructive; it is based on distinct promises, and it lifts up the whole nature into the light of God. It is the true enthusiasm of humanity (see Isaac Taylor's 'Lectures on Spiritual Chris- tianity ').-R. Ver. 24.-" The gospel of the grace of Goo." The world requires a gospeL Not theories about religion, not theological dogmas, not philosophical speculation, not dreamy sentimentality, but the glad tidings of a Divine work actually achieved on our behalf. l. THE GRAOE OF Gon 18 THE BUBSTANOE OF THE MESSAGE. Not a new law, seeing that the old Law cannot be fulfilled, but a. proclamation of Divine forgiveness and life in One set forth as a Propitiation, whose righteousness is unto all and upon all them that believe. II. 'l'BE WORLD'S NECESSITIES ARE SUPPLIED BY THE GOSPEL. L lndividuaily. The glad tidings of reconciliation. The creation of a new principle of life in the soul. 2. Socially. The kingdom of grace. Tidings for the homs; for the state; for the community of nations; for all sorts and conditions of men. All other gospels set up in vain as rivals to this. Preach it in Paul's spirit, and let all who have themselves heard it become evangelists, "pure from the blood of all men."-R. Ver. 28.-The true Church. "The Church of God which he hath purchased with hie own blood." Significance of this passage in view of Church history and present controversies. I. Tm: BPmITUALITY OF THE CmrncH. " Purchased with his own blood." Therefore neithe! an external organism nor a mere idea, but composed of living souls, whose salvation is secured by the merit of his blood. Not a mixed multitude, united by a formal rite, but, professedly at least, those who are partakers of Christ. The admu.ture IGO 'l'HE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES. [err. xx. 1-38,