the appointed means of calling us to ourselves, our God, and our home. So also when these come to me, even me, me mysilf, is it not the equivalent of the name named, and sharply no.mad twice, "Saul, Saul"? We often individually doubt our mercies, and foil to give God praise for them ; seldom do we fa.ii to cry out individually because of our pains, or to murmur at God because of them. II. How PAUL BAYB IlE TREATED IT, The treatment which Paul returned for bis most merciful, but so to call it rough, usage in this heavenly vision, was prompt attention, practical obedience. The kindest, gentlest providences you may so abuse that they turn into bitter, hard experiences, and memories of pain and shame. The hardest, sternest providences may be so accepted, so treated, that they become trans- muted into the brightest spots of memory, the happiest realities of a painful life, and the undoubted points of departure for a new and holier life. Of what seem the unlikeliest materials, it is possible to secure heavenly advantage-by obedience to the convictions, .the thoughts, the suggesti()'11,s that come of the pain and darkness and fearful care that were inwra.pt in them. For what reason, however, does Paul say, "I was 'not disobedient,'" instead of "I was obedient"? 1. Perhaps he chooses his expression of real, deep modesty before God. "Disobedient," be thought to himself, "I will no longer be," and that thought lingered still with him, though, as to being fully and adequately obedient, " who is sufficient for it?" The twenty-seven years that have now sped away have just done this for him, ma.de him feel that to be perfectly obedient will need an energy and an unfa.lteringness never seen below the sun, except in the one Lord and Master himself. 2. Or was the mode of Paul's language rather due to the thought, perhaps all but unconsciously felt, that disobedience was the broad road and wide gate, whereat the many go in, the million to one! and he had been long of the number? But Paul would say," Being' by the grace of God what I am,' I would no longer _be disobedient, nor 'walk in their counsel.'" Use we then our provi- dences, though dark and stern, and let Ull not be unfaithful to their suggestions. It will be a great step towards baulking the fruitfulness of evil, and towards producing au abundant fruitfulness of good. 'fo be not disobedient may soon usher in the ambition and the joys of a real and hearty obedience. The word may tremble on human lip, to say, "I have been obedient," but with a good conscience before man and God, Paul prefers to say," I was not disobedient."-B. Ver. 20.-The missi()'11, and burden of the evangelut. Three great themes are here announced by Paul. They stand in close relation with one another. The chain of truth and of highest duty is short, of three links, but most strong and most useful. The apostle, describing his own great work as the first evangelist to the wide world, describes for all time and for all place the work of the evangelist. However far beyond religion may go, may be taught, may develop itself to an opening eye, a quickened imagination, a deepening heart, and an inspired outlook, it begins here, and rests on these three things. The preacher of Christ to humanity must preach- I. REPENTANCE. 1. Conviction of sin. 2. Deep sorrow for sin. 3. Confession of sin. II. TBE 0ONDITION--THAT MAN "TURN To GoD." There is, no doubt, a crisis in the inner life, in the very man himself, called fitly the turning to God. Let it be prodnced as it may; let it be concealed or manifest as it may ; let it be short and sharp and very defined .to day and hour, or the reverse ; yet this is a fact in the moral spiritual history of one called by Christ and obeying that call. So much so that the call itself shall in part be worded thus: "Turn;" "Turn to God;" "'l'um ye, tum ye; why will ye die?" The reversal of the old life, old character, old principle of action, cannot be more plainly asserted as a necessity. III. 'l'm: NECESSITY-OF PRACTICAL HOLINESS OF LIFE. Christ will not allow pro- fession, will not accept mysticism, does not acknowledge V&,,"'lle dreaming, nor admit the idler. Change from the old, honest departure from the past, reality of a new future, ire his watchwords.-B. Vere. 22, 23.-.A good confession. If FestUll and Agrippa had known half of what Paul had been passing through since his journey to Damascus was so peremptorily stopped, they would well understand why he interposes the acknowledgment, so full of dependence and of humble gratitude, " Therefore having obtained help of God. I oon- 284 THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLE~ [oli. XXTI. 1-82,
tinue unto thi~ day." Paul tllk68 credit to himself for neither his work, nor euff'cring, nor safety. These are all due t,o hie sovereign " Leader" and "Commander" and Protector. But he makes a good confession indeed, one, if true-and none deny its truth-mOBt worthy of imitation, of all and every one who would in any measure be a follower in hie work. He claims justly, and not boastfully, but for manifestly other reason, that he has maintained- !. A PERSEVERING WITNESS. II. AN IMPARTIAL WITNESS. ~II. AN UNOHANGING OONBISTENT SCRIPTURAL WITNESS. Paul wishes to lay stress on this, that he had been to "the Law and the testimony and the prophets;" and had been true to them ; had not gone beside nor beyond them, and had not fallen short of them, as his people and opponents were, in fact, guilty of doing. IV. A llTBONG WITNESS TO FOUR THINGS IN ESPECIAL. These tDM'e flu, four grand t_rnths imbedded in the Law, enshrined in the testimony, and many a time bursting out like h~pe•s own light from the prophets. These were (1) the death, (2) the resurrection, of Chnst; (3) the "great Light" he would be to " his people," ( 4) to all the world. V. A WITNESS MARVELLOUSLY OWNED BT THE "HELP OF Gon." In a lower sense, no doubt, but in a very trne sense, Paul had done and suffered the things that none other could, "save God were with him."-B.