this was for the cause of truth, and for the purpose of reconciling others to that of which you knew, experimentally, the value and the blessedness. Deceive yourself so no longer! it is too often merely the natural cowardice of the natural heart shrinking from painful opposition, or the natural craving of the natural mind after this world, and its follies, and its applause. There is not a more dangerous temptation to to the Christian than that of desiring to stand well with all men; to possess every man's countenance and approbation. Learn to meet dissatisfaction and contempt, cold looks and disapproving voices, when in the cause of your Lord, without discomfort or dismay; call to your aid His example, His power, His Spirit now, and, above all, strive to realize the day when that single sentence from His lips, "Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall also the Son of man confess before the

angels of God," will outweigh the crowns of princes, and outvalue all the treasures of the world.

The present are times when, both in public and in private, the true followers of our Lord must show their colours fearlessly and openly. "The

enemy is coming in like a flood," and whether it be in the senate or in society, in the pulpit or in the private intercourse of friends, a decided line must be taken, and the friends of God and of the world must no longer attempt to coalesce. "Who is on the Lord's side, who?" will again be the cry of His people, and none will be recognised now, none will be seen hereafter, who have not been content in the midst of an infidel, scoffing ungodly generation, to take up the cross of Christ, to bear it openly amid the taunts of enemies and the sneers of friends, to avow themselves its adherents and its advocates, and to be

ready to give up station, character, property, nay, if called upon, even life itself, in its defence.

That we may all know, experimentally, something of this feeling, and evidence it daily and hourly in our public and private conduct, may God of His mercy grant, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

G. PART II.

122

LECTURE VI.

ACTS xxiii. 11.

AND THE NIGHT FOLLOWING THE LORD STOOD BY HIM, AND SAID, BE OF GOOD CHEER, PAUL; FOR AS THOU HAST TESTIFIED OF ME IN JERUSALEM, SO MUST THOU BEAR WITNESS ALSO AT ROME.

ST. PAUL having been liberated from the hands of his infuriate persecutors by the chief captain of the Roman garrison, as we are informed towards the close of the twenty-first chapter, was permitted by him to address, from the stairs of the castle of Antonia, the assembled multitude. He commenced immediately with that most interesting account of his miraculous conversion,

upon which, in the early part of this history, we fully commented. He went over in detail all those striking particulars of the great light which shone from heaven upon his path, when journeying to Damascus on his errand of cruelty and persecution; of the divine voice which cried unto him, "Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?" of the supernatural blindness which fell upon him, and his equally supernatural recovery; and, finally, of his entire devotedness to the service of that Saviour to whom he was then so bitterly opposed, but whom he now knew, and loved, and preached, and was content to die for.

All was mute silence throughout that vast assembly, while the apostle dwelt upon these remarkable particulars; but no sooner did he declare that the same Saviour who had called him to the knowledge of Himself, had commissioned him to preach to the Gentiles, than the rage and madness of the people