that invitation longed for the opportunity it would bring for themselves and others. They we.ntro what the memory of it would give them to lay up e.e though "precious Ftoro." ThOl!e who received that invitlltion would read respect to themselves in It and what was better, the sign of religious lifo and love. 4. They were a most welcome' con- trast. to the soenes and the dangers, the strife and the ta.lk and the company of all tho time since Paul and bis companions set sail from Crosarea (eh. xxvii. 1). II. THEIR ST.U."DING AND LASTING SJG1''"IFIOANCE. They tell of the loving, lonaina purposing communion of brethren. They stamp the genuineness and even superior"so~t of ('hristian brotherhood. The communion of Christifln brethren is: 1. Distinctly honouring to the Master, even him who himself once said, "One is your Master, even Christ, and all ye are brethren " (Matt. xxiii. 8). 2. It is distinctly adapted to be use- ful e.t the time to those brethren themselves, for reminding them of the relation of all of them to One; and of their mutual relations; for comparing experiences, for impart- ing instruction, for joining in the quickening exercises of united worship, so stirring to deepest fer,Jings of the heart, and so stimulating to faith and love. 3. It is, further, in one particular direction specially inspiring. While by nature it takes out the painfulness of ma.ny a strong present impression, it also supersedes these by the materials and the very scenery, ll'hich are sure to abide, full of the resources of comfort and encouragement for " the future distress." How much we live on memory I What a force holy memories have proved themselves! Those that have come out of the silence and the solitude of the closet have bad their peculiar mission. Certainly not less powerful for good have those holy memories been which have seemed to come borne by" a cloud of witnesses," the former companions of our thoughts, our prayers, and our praises. 4. It is entitled to expect special influences from a.hove, and the special presence of the Holy Spirit (eh. i. 4; ii. 1). Those who meeting together seek by all means within their reach and by prayer, light, and knowledge, love and grace, will be those most abundantly rewarded. Light ,vill be reflected from face to face, and love will glow from heart to heart. It is not vainly added, " So we went toward Rome." The weeks, the days, the hours, were numbered of Christian converse for Paul--of Christian help and enjoyment, whether given or received. And the surprise the Master had graciously prepared is gratefully received. It assists Paul, body, mind, and soul, in his journey" toward Rome."-B. Ver. 15.-Gratitude and courage well linked, together. Paul speaks elsewhere of the se'°'erity in some sort, at all events of the stress, laid upon his spiritual sympathies at times (2 Cor. xi. 28-30). We can well understand that any severity, any pain, felt from the claim set up by such sympathies lay not in the act of sympathizing, but in the consideration of the state of things, the sins, the errorl', the inconsistencies in " all the Churches," or in the members of them that called for both "care," on the one hand, for the erring, and on the other sympathy with the aggrieved. The sympathy which he so ungrudgingly gave, however, at whatever expenditure, he had a wonderful heart to receive when proffered to himself. And it is among the signs of his large and susceptible heart that it was so, and that he made so much of it. Here we read of another help of this kind given him by the way. How gratefully and with what appreciation he received it! He felt it was a token of the Divine presence and the Divine gcodness, and that as such it must be used and improved. Therefore first he "thanked God," and then " took courage " afresh. Let us notice the following implications of this verse:- L THE IDGHEST STYLE OF CHRISTIAN PURPOSE AND ENTEBPBISE 18 AIDED BY lltJ'IIIAN SYMPATHY. 1. This is great testimony to the inartiflcial character of Christianity. 2. It is one of its great safeguards against superciliousness and other temptations to affect separateness from or superiority to ordinary humanity. JI. 'J.'HE SIMPLEST BTYLE OF SHOWING S'Oll'ATHY AND KINDNESS STRmES HOME ALL AS SUI!ELY TO THE HEABTB OF THE GREATEST AS TO THOSE OF TBE BUMDLEB. III. GRATITUDE IS ALWAYS DUE TO GoD, WHO, BOLDING ALL HEARTS IN ms HAND, UOVES NOW THE BEABTS OF THOSE WHO SHALL OOIIIE TO GIVE UB SPEOIAL HELP FOR liPEClAL 2''1:ED. 1. How often help coming at the ea;act crisis of need ought to count with all e.s great moral force as a physical miracle, for our 1iersttasion, that a heavenly Friend IB ob11ervantly and graciously watching our every step I 2. What an incentive to rcligio~ life the network of hope and fear, joy and sorrow, and all the play of light and OB. xxvm. 1-31,] THE ACTS OF 'l'HE APOSTLES,
shade, because such constitution of life finds the prized opportunities of Divine inter- p,isition, as no more equable life, were it aU light or all shade, could possibly find. IV, THE FAITHFUL SERVANT OF CHRIST NEVER MORE FEELS HOW DUE THANKS ARR T•> BIB MASTER THAN WHEN THAT MASTER APPEARS TO SHOW ms OWN COMMANDING mTEn&:BT IN ms OWN wonK, How many the ways are in which Jesus does this! 1. By the occasiono.l manifest blessing upon it that he gives. 2. By the Spirit he puts into the hearts of many to uphold the hands and arms of those who do the actual work. 3. By such more delicate methods as that now before us, when the help that the many bring to the one is seen, ay, and felt, to lie in the life and the love that the Divine work ha.a wrought in their heart. They can "/,ring nothing excep~, perhaps, that all to bring, themselves. V. THAT THE REAL THING, COURAGE, wmcn DOES NOT BURN DOWN, AWAKE:-l'ED THOUGH IT HAY DE DY HUMAN AID AND SYMPATHY, RESTS EVER STILL ON THE D1vnm. It was not in obedience to any hollow professionalism that Paul " thanked God." Nor did his courage lack the energy that came from sincere acknowledgment of dependence on God. This was surely betokened by his" thanking God."-B.