hindrancee of thoee evil times, the Word of God grew. 2. And that II sndden revival of zeal, earneetnees, and succese followed on_ the dreadful judgment and eudden removal of the Ohurch's great persecutor. It 1s to the first of these two points that we now direct attention. I. THE APPARENT BINDRANOEB OF TR0UBL0UB TDD8, The recent hietory or Mada- gascar Christianity provides most effective illustration; or instances may be found in the histories of Lollards, Waldenses, etc. Persecuting times seem to be ruinous; their influence is directed to (1) the removal of the Christian leaders; (2) the silencing of Christian teachere and ,writers; (3) the etoppage ?f. Christian worship; (4) the destruction of Christian booke, and especially of the D1vme Word. But it hae never been found that physical violence has been more than appa:rent hindrance. The nearest approach ever made to success is probably the crushing of French Protestantism by the Massacre of St. Bartholomew, We are learning well the lesson that intellectnal evils must be met by intellectual resistances and corrections, and that moral evils must be removed by moral agencies. "The weapons of our Christian warfare are not carnal, but spiritual," and it is vain work for any to oppose us with mere shield and sword and spear. Illustrate from the martyrdom of John Brown, the advocate of freedom for the slave. Persecution seemed to succeed, and "John Brown's body lies a-mouldering in the grave, But his soul is marching on"- marching on to triumph in the vast lands of America, and marching on f;o another glorious victory in the newly found highlands of mighty .Africa. Persecution cannot stop the onward progress of man's thought or man's love. II. THE BEAL HELPFULNESS OF TBOUBL0US TIMES. The marvel is that the seed actually grows and multiplies in such times, We think the rainstorms hopelessly beat down the young and tender blades. Nay, they really nourish the roots, and prepare for vigorous upspringing and richer fruitage. Moral harvests wave where martyrs' blood was shed, We may recognize the helpfulness of troublous times if we notice: 1. How they tend to bind men together. Differences of opinion and judgment are for a time forgotten. The common ground is fully recognized. Suffering throws each one upon the loving interest and care of the others, and lessons of the Christian brotherhood are then learned as they can be under no other circumstances. Prosperity and times of peace tend to bring prominently forward men's diversities, and in such times sects are multiplied. Troublous times make men forget their peculiarities in facing a common foe and in sharing a common woe. 2. How they increase enthusiasm and develop energy. Nothing calls forth the latent powers of men like resistance to liberty of opinion. Let a scientific truth be opposed, and the whole energy of the discoverer is called forth for its maintenance, and to him that truth grows tenfold more important and more precious. So with the Christian verities, we "earnestly contend for the faith once delivered to the saints" only when that faith is being contended against. 3. How they bring men more fully to lean on the Divine power. They bring that sense of personal helplessness which makes us cling to the assurance, "Greater is he who is with us than all who can be against us." We feel we may walk alone if it is all light about us, We must lean hard on God if it is night-time and stormy all about us. 4. How they draw public attention to the Christian workers, There is no advertising agent comparable for a moment in efficiency with persecution. .A.ge after age Christ's enemies have done Christ's work, and witnessed among all lands for him, as they have martyred his servants and persecuted his Church. Suffering has a sacred power on human hearts everywhere, and Christ's suffering Church wins men for Christ.-R. T.
Ver. 25.-The charactwr of John Mark. This man is not introduced to us for the first time in this verse, but this may be regarded as his formal introduction. For the sketch of his life, which should prepare for our study of his character, our readers 11.re referred to our Commentary on St. Mark's Gospel. We only recall to mind a few prominent points. 1. He was evidently at this time a comparativel_y young man. 2. Ho was directly associated with the early disciples, as they seem to have met at his mother's house, 3. It is more than probable that he bad personally known the Lord 400 THE ACTS OP. THE APOSTLES, [oR. xm. 1-52,