etc. (var. 4). Unrloubteclly the disciples at Cmsare11 based their dissuasions on tb~ announcements of Agnbu.q (ver. 11), and they probably pleaded with no little force, that the Divine intimation of danger was given on purpose th~t the imper..ding evil might be averted. Often with us, now, human affection has much to say that is plm1Aible, an~ even poworf~l.. It I_IJakes out a strong case why special stritual faculty should refram from sacnficmg itself by presumptuous confidence 1 why it should "not tempt the Lord its God" by running into needless danger, why it should reserve itself for other paths of usefulness where it could walk with equal fruitfulness and with- out the threatening injury. IV. CHRISTIAN DEVOTEDNESS RISES ABOVE TFIE STRONG TEMPTATION. With Paul it "will not be persuaded" (vcr. 14); with him it says," I am ready not to be bound only, hut also to die . . . for the Name of the Lord Jesus" (ver. 13). The Huguenot will not have the white ribbon bound round his arm even by the tender hand of the sweetest human love. Men will w11.lk to the stake, a.nd women to the open grave wherein their living bodies a.re to be enclosed, even though there are voices, gentle and strong, calling them to the home of affection. The will of the Divine S11.viour hM been found, and will be found to the end of time, mightier than even these forces of affection. v. HUMAN AFFECTION WILL BEOO0NIZE ITS DUTY AND ACCEPT THE WILL or Gon. It still says, after a while," The will of the Lord be done" (ver. 14).-C. Vers. 18-26.-Relations betw~ disciples. Our Lord has said, "By this shall all men know that ye a.re my disciples, if ye have love one to another" (John x:iil. 35). It was of the very last importance that, in the early days of Christianity, there should be inward harmony and outward concord among the disciples of Jesus. Division would have been grave disaster, if not irreparable defeat. Bnt with the strongest reasons for desiring unanimity and a complete understanding, we have to face- I. GREAT DELI0A0Y OF POSITION A.MONG CHRISTIAN BRETHREN, then as now. There is a great deal really contained in the simple statement, "Paul went in with us unto James; and all the elders were present" (var. 18). It was a. meeting of two streams, differently composed. It was a meeting of those who believed in the Law with the addition of faith in Jesus Christ, a.nd of those who believed in Jesus Christ with a high regard for the Law as a venerable but passing institution. Between these a.nd those the Mosaic Law held a very different position, seriously affecting their views of doctrine, of religious activity, and of daily behaviour. It required the utmost charity a.nd for- bearance on the part of both to maintain positively friendly relations. There must have been no little constraint, there was probably some discomfort in the openinf; interview. Thus is it now, and for a long time will be, between Christian disciples. Differences of social standing, of pecuniary position, of education and refinement, of ecclesiastical connection, of intellectual tendency (to liberalism on the one hand, or conservatism on the other), will interpose between Christian disciples and make their relations delicate, difficult, strained. II. TBI!: BE0ON0ILING ASPECT. Very wisely indeed Paul passed immediately from the introductory salutation to a full no.rration of" all that God had wrought among the Gentiles by his ministry" (ver. 19). This was striking the true note,-the note that brought peace and concord; "when they heard it, they glorified the Lord" ("er. 20). It is certain that if Paul had spoken in an argumentative strain they would not have bee!l thus unanimous ; but they all rejoiced to know that through his instrnmentality- though he had worked with different weapons from those in their hands-men and women had been turned from dumb idols to serve the living God. This is the recon- ciling aspect in which to present our cause. However our distinctive views may differ from those of tho men whom we meet in conference, or before whom we lay our case, if we can relate a true and simple story of souls converted, of lives transformed, of families or tribes or islands altogether changed and renewed " in the spirit of their mind," we go a. lonii; way-if not all the way-to convince those who hear that we a.re "disciples of Christ indeed;" they will glorify God in us. III. CoNFORMITY AND NONCONFORMITY. It remains in doubt whether the expedient of James and of his friends was wise or unwise (vers. 20-24). Certainly it failed in its object. It is also in doubt whether Paul, with his vieVlr.!, was right in yielding to the wish of the elders (ver. 26); ccrtaiuly by doiug so he eudangored his life and lost his lE<O TIIE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES. [on. xx.1. 1-40
liberty without securing his end. But there are somci certainties here. 1. Thl\t It Is right to look at the question before us from our opponent's point of view. 2. 'l'hat it i8 wise to conform 88 fe.r 88 possible to our opponent's wishes. 3. 'l'hat we should nlways be ready to offer or accept an honourablci compromise (vcr. 25). 4. 'l.'hat tho utmost scrupulousness cannot prevent ill-natured or bigoted misunderstanding (ver. 21), 5: That ;1onconformity may be as honourable and advantageous ae conformity (Rom. XIV, 4-4).-C.