the ohief teachers, compare Diocletian's subsequent scheme for finding and burning the Ohristia.n booles. Neither echemewae allowed to succeed. Another point of importance in introducing the subject is the recognized position of leadership which St. Peter had evidently gained. St. James, as one of the three specially favoured disciples, may have been equally prominent. Of St. John we learn very little during the first period of the early Ohurch history. St. James's sudden removal left St. Peter the recornized head of the Christian sect. It appears that only the intervention of the feast-time (humanly speaking), preserved St. Peter from the sudden fate which overtook St. James. The delay, during which St. Peter was in prison, gave opportunity for human intercessions and Divine interventions. Some may serve God in a yielded life, others by being made the subjects of Divine rescuings and deliverances. The first thing to be noticed in the narrative is- L liELPLEBSNEBB THROUGH CIRCUMBTANOEB, The Church was thoroughly overborne by the suddenness, activity, and vigour of this new persecution. They could do nothing. St. James was gone; St. Peter was in prison. They did not know where the next blow would fall. They could not open the prison doors. They were paralyzed. And so it often is with us in life. We incline to say," All these things are against me." Our way seems to be blocked in all directions, as truly as was the way of the fleeing Israelites when the Red Sea rolled before them, the mountains hemmed them in, and a raging foe pressed on their rear. At times in our lives we are compelled tc feel that we can do nothing ; and the experience is a great testing of patience, faith, and feeling. Compare David, convinced that circumstances were hopelessly against him, and despairingly saying, " I shall now perish one day by the hand of Saul." II. APPEAL TO THE LoBD 011' CIBCCTMSTANClEB. This is always left t.o us. It is our last possibility, and it is our best. 1. It is important that we realize fully that our God can control all circumstances. Nothing is too hard for him. He may not always show his mastery by miracle, but he can always prove his mastery by his providences. It is our belief that over all laws, relations, and orderings of events our living God presides, never loosing his hands or failing to guide all so as to fit into and, either quickly or slowly, work out his gracious purposes. 2. We must realize that tc know the power of our God may not suffice; we must personally inquire of him, commend our case to his care, and submit ourselves to his leadings. For all the arrangements of our circumstances, as well as for all supplies of grace, "he will be inquired of by the house of Israel to do it for them." The Divine foreknowledge and omniscience may never be so presented as to lift off men the claim of prayer. Whatsoever may be our trouble or our need, we may pray ; we must pray, God would have us " cast our care on him." So the disciples were doing the best thing possible, altogether the most hopeful thing, when they " prayed earnestly" for the imprisoned St. Peter. III. THE FORCE OF UNITED PBAYEB TO OVERCOME CIBCUJIISTANCES. It has pleased God tc give special assurances to those who unite in prayer. God responds to the faith and fervour of the individual seeker; but in all matters of general interest, in every- thing bearing upon the well-being and progress of bis Church, God wants us to blend together in our supplications. "If two of you shall agree on earth as touching any- thing that they shall ask, it shall be dono for them of my Father." By this requirement God: 1. Checks the tendency to isolation and to distinction of interests among his people, binding them ever closer together in the expression of their common wants. 2. Assures earnestness and fervour of feeling, as one devout soul inspires another. 3. Pre- pares the way for his answer by ensuring a state of mind fitted to receive the answer, and make it a blessing indeed. 4. Is enabled to respond by ordering the circumstances of bis providence so as to secure the general good of many rather than the particular desires of one. It may be shown, in conclusion, how a common point of interest or o. common trouble may serve to bring many souls together in a blessed unity oj p1·ayer,-R. T.
Vers. 7-10.-Miraculous deliverances. The series of miracles wrought by our Lord during his ministry, and the miracles associ:ited with_ the hi_story and work of his apostles, require to be very carefully comparea. Sometimes miracles were wrought by the apostles as agents, and sometimes for them as teachers whose ministry it wiu 896 THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES. [ OR, :m. 1-26,