who has not attained it. This is expressly asserted by David2, and St. Johna.]

APPLICATION

[We all are willing to believe ourselves real Christians, and it is painful to rob any one of so comfortable a hope. Let us then, as Christians, unite our acknowledgments to God". Let us adore him for that grace, whereby he enables us to maintain, always, and in all things, a conscience void of offence. But if, in this appeal to him, we feel misgivings, or conscience suggest an opposite testimony, let us remember that admonition-.]

y Many things may conspire to rob a Christian of the comfort of such a conscience, (the corruptions of his heart, the temptations of Satan, and even bodily disorders, may cause him to despond for a season) but a just ground for such a conscience he cannot but possess. z Ps. lxvi. 18.

a 1 John iii. 8-10. If this were rigorously interpreted, it would contradict other passages of scripture, 1 Kings viii. 46. But to reconcile it with allowed sin is impossible.

b Rom. ix. 1, 2.

c 1 John iii. 20, 21.

MDCCCX.

PAUL'S DISCOURSE BEFORE FELIX.

Acts xxiv. 25. And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee.

MEN usually persist in sin without duly reflecting on its consequences. Hence the peace which they enjoy, notwithstanding they are exposed to the displeasure of the Almighty; yet the voice of warning and reproof will sometimes alarm them. Too often, however, the alarm is only of short duration. This was the case of Felix, when awakened by the preaching of Paul

I. The subjects of the Apostle's discourse

He was sent for to explain the principles he professed, but he was not satisfied with gratifying the curiosity of his hearers; he endeavoured to reach their consciences, and convince them of their sins. On this occasion he spoke of "righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come."

Hence we observe that,

1. The subjects are essential parts of the Gospel

[Many confine their ideas of the Gospel to the one subject of justification by "the faith of Christ." But the Apostle when dilating on " the faith of Christ," introduced the subjects mentioned in my text. The knowledge of these is in fact necessary to a just comprehension of that. We must see our desert and danger as transgressors of the law, before we can ever duly appreciate the Gospel.]

2. They are of deep and vital interest to every child of man

[Doubtless they were of peculiar importance to such abandoned characters as Felix and Drusilla: but they are necessary to be impressed on us also. Under the term "righteousness we must comprehend all the duties which we owe to our neighbour; and under that of "temperance," all that relates to the government of our own appetites and passions. Though we be not guilty of adultery, and avarice, and oppression in their grosser forms, we may find much under these heads for humiliation before God. At the day of judgment we must answer for every secret violation of God's holy law. The prospect of that awful account may well endear to us the Gospel of Christ.]

3. They commend themselves to our reason no less than to our faith

[St. Paul "reasoned" with his Royal auditors on these subjects. To bring home to the heart of a heathen the salvation of Christ, much previous knowledge was requisite; but to bring him to a sense of his guilt and danger, nothing was necessary but an immediate appeal to his reason and conscience; and, when addressing persons who are ignorant of revelation, we shall do well to adopt the Apostle's plan.]

What degree of success attended his efforts will appear from,

II. The effects it produced

On Drusilla's mind it seems to have produced no effect

[She, as a Jewess, must have often heard these subjects treated; but, having sinned against light and knowledge, she was unaffected by all she heard: and thus are many hardened even by the Gospel itself.]

a Felix had induced Drusilla to forsake her own husband, and to marry him: he was moreover remarkably avaricious and oppressive.

But Felix "trembled"

[A curious and uncommon sight! The judge "trembling" at the reasonings of his prisoner! But well might he tremble at the review of his past life and at the prospect of a future retribution. And who has not reason to tremble, if he have not fled to Christ for refuge and found acceptance with God through him? Take the holy law of God, my brethren, and try yourselves by it. Surely there will not be one who will not cry out, as Felix should have done, "What shall I do to be saved?"]

He forbore however to improve the occasion as he ought

[He promised himself a more convenient season for attending to the concerns of his soul. But what season could be more suitable, than when the Spirit of God was striving with him, and his conscience was awake, and an inspired instructor was at hand to lead him to a Saviour? Could he have better hopes of success, when he had seared his conscience, quenched the Spirit, confirmed his evil habits, and delivered himself up to the chains of Satan? The hoped-for day, alas! never arrived. He still for two years longer continued his avaricious and oppressive habits". O that he had known the day of his visitation, and improved his day of grace!]

Let his example serve as a CAUTION to us

[All of us have known, in some measure, the motions of God's Spirit. All of us have felt, at times, some general apprehensions respecting the account which we must give at the day of judgment. But how many have silenced their convictions, in hopes of finding some more convenient season for attending to them! And how many have died before the hoped-for opportunity arrived! Let us beware of this device of Satan, whereby he upholds his kingdom in the world. Let us remember, that the same temptations will recur, and the same motives influence us at future periods. Let us attend to that salutary advice of the Apostle and let us seek, without delay, that godly sorrow which worketh repentance unto salvation.]

b ver. 26, 27.

d

He does not tempt any to resolve that they will never repent: but takes the more plausible method of insinuating that they will have a more convenient season for repenting.

d Heb. iii. 13, 15.

e 2 Cor. vii. 10.

MDCCCXI.

PAUL'S COMMISSION.

Acts xxvi. 17, 18. Unto whom now I send thee, to open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.

NEVER was there a more glorious triumph of Divine grace than in the conversion of St. Paul. How active and inveterate an enemy he was to Christ, previous to his conversion, is well known

Had he only been arrested in his career, and humbled, it would have been a signal victory: but to change the whole current of his affections, and to turn against Satan those weapons, which through the instrumentality of this fiery bigot, he had been using to destroy the Church, this was indeed to "beat the sword into a plough-share, and the spear into a pruning-hook," and to display, in the brightest colours, the power and grace of Christ. We do not wonder, that when the Christians, whom he had so cruelly persecuted, heard of "his preaching the faith which he had just before laboured to destroy," " they glorified God in

him."

The call of this man to the apostleship, and the particular commission given him, are the points contained in our text. But as St. Paul's ministry differs from ours only in the extent of his commission, and not in the subject of his ministrations, we shall wave any particular notice of him, and state to you the immediate and ultimate, objects of our laboursI. The immediate objects of our labours—

That there is some considerable difference between the Gentiles and ourselves, we willingly concede. The darkness among them was more entire, their superstitions more absurd, their impieties more gross. But when we have made all due allowance on these heads, we must still say, that the points of resemblance

between us are general, while the points of difference are only few and particular.

What, we would ask, is our state with respect to knowledge and practice?

[From education we have obtained some general notions of Christianity. But what views have we of the extreme depravity of our nature, and the total alienation of our hearts from God? What insight have we into the way of salvation, as honouring all the perfections of the Deity, and as rendering Christ the hope, the joy, the glory of the universe? Is the beauty of holiness, or the nature and excellence of the spiritual life clearly discerned amongst us? Are the devices of Satan known? and are we so exercised in the use of the Christian armour, as to be able to "fight a good fight," and "war a good warfare?"

Is not our practice too as defective as our knowledge? Satan is "the God of this world," "the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience." And by what do we discover his agency? is it not by the wickedness to which he instigates the world? See then, whether he do not exercise his power over us. Do not envy, wrath, malice, revenge, too often dwell in our hearts? Are not pride, ambition, covetousness, and earthly-mindedness, the principles which actuate us in almost all our pursuits? Do we not harbour in our bosom sensuality, uncleanness, lasciviousness, and a whole host of evil passions! What greater proof can we have, that we are yet "in the snare of the devil, and led captive by him at his will?"]

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To rectify the state of our hearers with respect to these things, is the immediate object of our labours[We wish to open the eyes of men, and to turn them from darkness unto light." It is with this view that we set forth the "unparalleled deceitfulness, and desperate wickedness of the heart:" it is with this view that we exhibit Christ in all his fulness, suitableness, and sufficiency: in short, it is with this view that we study, and labour, and pray and it is the hope of being useful in enlightening your minds, that makes our crosses easy, and our burthens light.

We know, that if light once come into your minds, we may hope to see you cast off the yoke of Satan, and become "the freemen of the Lord." While you continue in darkness, we are aware that you must of necessity remain under the power of the evil one: but when you have learned what provision is made for you in the Gospel, and how effectual the operations of the Holy Spirit shall be for your restoration to