discipline, bnt H will be followed by a time of splendid triumph when the meseengern h11vu been preporocl for it.-R Ver. 23.-771e Ohristirun arluocate putting forth his pleas. "Persuading them con- cerning Jesus." Importance of the crisis. Jeru~a Jem. Rome. A few years, and Jerusalem destroyed. Judaism brought Paul in fetters to Rome. The old Jerusalem and the new Jerusalem struggling together. Brief notice of Pa11l's bboura at Rome, a.nd then the book closes. Significant of the fact that the new dispensation was in11ugura.ted. Peculiar population of Rome, representative of the cosmopolitan Roman empiro, a fitting ground for the gospel to be sown in. I. 'fHE MATTER OF THE MESSAGE, "Concerning ,Tesus." (Compare the Epistles to the Romans and Hebrews.) 1. 'l'he righteousness of God set forth, insteacl of man's right- eousness. 2. The priestly office of Christ abolishing ritualism, and opening the gates of the spiritual temple. 3. Jesus the promised King, the Lifter-up of the fallen people, the Desire of all nations, the Renovator of the world. Compare with such a. settin-..: forth of Jesus, the state of the Jews and Romans, in faith, worship, and hope, both iu the individual and in society, both for time and for eternity. II. THE METHOD ADOPTED by the messenger. Persuasion. 1. 771e wriUen Word of God the basis. The Old and the New 'Testaments harmonized. Faith is an outcome of faith: "Ye believe in God, believe also in me." 2. Pers1Jnal testimony. "I am n. Christian; be such as I am." True persuasion is personal. We must aim at the heart, and not merely at the intellect; and the heart must direct the aim. 3. Those that would persuade must be prepared to use none but spiritual means. Neither sensational excitement, nor ritualistic seductions, nor co1Tupt appeals to lower natures, a.re per- missible to the Christian advocate. Let truth win its victory.-R. Ver. 24.-The Word of God trying the hearts of men. "And some believed,'' etc. The end of all preaching is practical faith. Not sentiment. Not mere intellectual change. Illustrate from those who listened to Paul What faith involved to a Jew, to a heathen. 'l'he alternative, not indifference, not neutrality, but "disbelief" (Revised Version), exemplified in the opposition of Jews. Moral responsibility for faith, as seen in the light of the Old Testament view (vers. 26, 27). Resistance to the Spirit a moral perversion and hardening. I. GoD's SPIRIT WORKS BY MEANS OF HUJII.AN AGENCY. 1. The truth is presented to the heart, notwithstanding infirmities of method and manner. 2. The external minis- tration corresponds to the internal work of grace. 3. The essential point in all preachinu is the presentatio:c. of an object of faith. Jesus. " w II. THOSE WHO LISTEN TO THE ORD OF Goo ABE TRIED BY TT. 1. The broad dis- tinction between acceptance and rejection of Christ. The heart which moves towards the Saviour is changed. 2. No compromise in the final result, though hearts may deceive themselves. By faith we stand. 3. While there is the opportunity of hearino-, there is hope of turning the unbelief into faith. God's people must never take it f~r granted that any are beyond reach. They hear not as they might hear. 4. The oppor- tunity may be itself decisive. "Now is the accepted time."-R. Vers. 30, 31.-The watchman upon the walls of Jerusalem. "And he abode two whole yoors," etc. The last look at Paul significant of the future. The kin~dom of God traced in Acts from the old Jerusalem to Rome. The apostle of the Gentiles left at his work, soon to seal it with his blood. Pauline Christianity in its relation to the spread of the kingdom. No one taught better "the things concerning the Lord Jesu~ Christ." I. AN EXAMPLE OF INDIVIDUAL DEVOTEDNESS. The value of such a witness to tl e early Church. 1. All his strength derived from Christ. 2. All his life given to service, 3. The character of the man opened for him the way of his ministry. He longed to be at Rome, a.nd at Rome he fulfilled his own ideal of the Christian mes- senger. II. A WONDERFUL ILLUSTRATION OF OVERRULING PROVIDENCE. The prophecy fulfilled. 'l'hu restraint of enemies. The provision of opportunities. 'l'he sustenance of physical aud iuoral strength. The preparation of the mau for hie po~t. Tl:.e intellectual 336 THE AO'l'S OF THE APOSTLES.
training and world-wide ex:perienoe all employed. A poet ie fitted for each and eaoh ie fit.t.ed for bis post. ' UL A BIGNlFI0ANT FACT IN THE WORLD'S IIISTORY. The most momentous facts not always t.hoee which appear most 11ta.rtliug. 'l'he palace of the Crosare beside the hired house of the apostle. The world then would have despised the day of small things. A germ of new life in the old corruption. The gospel wins its triumphs by simple methods. 'l'he Act.a of the Apostles are greater in the history of the world than the annals of Rome. The kingdom of God ha.s oome, is coming, shall come. May we 11ay in heart and life, "Thy kingdom oome "I -R.