our comfort under the pressure of unavoidable calamities, to reflect that God has some purpose to fulfil in us, either with respect to ourselves, or others, which we do not at first discover. Acquiesce then implicitly with the Almighty will; and repeat the language of Eli, "It is the Lord; let him do what seemeth him good1."

When the term of the Apostle's purification was almost ended, a tumult was excited by certain Asiatic Jews who had probably known him at Ephesus, and were now arrived at Jerusalem to celebrate the feast of Pentecost. The charges exhibited against him were very different from those which James and the elders expected. He was not accused of conforming, but of acting contrary to the Jewish law; and particularly of the heinous offence, in their sight, of bringing a Grecian into a forbidden court of the temple. The very courtesy of St. Paul would have prevented an infringement of a custom so well known, and so long established. The fact is, the accusation was not true; for though Trophimus, the Ephesian, was with him in the city, it does not appear that he had accompanied him to the temple. If that had really been the case, Trophimus, and not Paul, should have been the object of their resentment. But personal enmity was the foundation of their conduct. Impelled by this blind, this cruel guide, which turns wisdom from the helm, and hurls reason from her throne, these men

11 Sam. iii. 18.

such important events in the infancy of the Christian Church, can be ascribed only to that supreme and providential care, which, in every age, has guarded, improved, and enlarged the fold of Christ; which has blessed it from time to time with faithful and true pastors; and which, by the promised and constant influence of the divine Spirit of truth, will continue to preserve it for a further increase of glory.

END OF SECTION THE THIRD.

SECTION IV.

LECTURE XXII.

ACTS XXI. 16. XXII. 1—29.

St. Paul's Arrival at Jerusalem.-Apprehension in the Temple. -Defence from the Stairs of the Castle. Jerusalem, A.D.

60.

If we select from the history of all nations, one particularly distinguished by wonderful and supernatural events, governed, for a long series of years, by the immediate agency of Heaven, and continually the object of kind entreaties, and warm expostulations, from venerable, and divinely inspired prophets, and teachers-that nation is the nation of the Jews. If we select from that nation one city, the scene of these great and astonishing events, eminent above all others for the favour of God, the splendour of public worship, the highest motives of piety; and yet, in opposition to all warnings, to all

of Asia took the law into their own hands, and rudely seizing upon the venerable Apostle, they called upon the multitude for assistance, “crying out, Men of Israel, help: this is the man that teacheth all men every where (as we ourselves can witness who have heard him in our own country which is far distant from hence) against the people, and the law and this place," that your nation should be dispersed, the law of Moses which you so justly esteem, should be abolished, and that this very temple, this beautiful building hardly yet finished, which is peculiarly holy as the temple of the great Jehovah, shall be utterly ruined and destroyed; and besides, not contented with such defamation, he has proceeded wilfully to pollute this holy place, by introducing into it one forbidden by the law. Less than such an accusation as this would have been sufficient to excite a tumult, where the minds of the people were previously irritated against the Christians. They did not forget the holy ground on which they trod, even when they were endeavouring to execute their revenge. They "drew him out of the temple,” lest it should be defiled with his blood; and the gates were immediately shut against them. They were then in an outer court, at the corner of which Herod had built a fortress which overlooked the whole building, which he called after the name of a celebrated, but dissolute, Roman, well known in Egypt, and in the neighbouring countries, the tower, or fortress of Antonia. In this castle, a Roman garrison resided to keep the peace of the city; and when an account of this tu

mult was brought to the commanding officer, he summoned his garrison, rushed down the stairs among the people, and rescued the Apostle from their hands. "When they saw the chief captain and soldiers, they left beating of Paul." The providence of God was conspicuous. The tumult

ceased in a moment, as when the Son of God spake to the tumultuous waves, and "immediately there was a great calm." The chief captain then approached, and took Paul into custody, and, supposing him a notorious offender, bound him with two chains; that is, with one to each of his guards.

All the circumstances of the narrative in this place bear the greatest resemblance to the truth. The scene of these transactions, and the circumstances which attend them, are such as authentic history has described. They are so related by St. Luke, as to bring us to the very spot, and place a very lively impression of it before our eyes. The dialogue too proceeds in a very natural manner, and such as we may easily imagine to have occured. Lysias, the Roman tribune, enquires into the cause of the tumult, and how far the prisoner was concerned in it; and finding no satisfactory answer to his questions, he orders Paul to be carried up into the castle. The movement of Paul reexcites the clamour. The people still demand that he should suffer a capital punishment. "They followed after, crying, Away with him;" an expression too well understood in popular govern

ments.

As he was upon the stairs, just entering the