THE PHILIPPIAN JAILER AND HIS FAMILY. ACTS XVI. Can that be he who scowled of late, He raised those sufferers from the ground, And washed and soothed each festering wound; Then, as he meekly bent to hear His guests of heavenly mercy tell, Down his rough cheek the unbidden tear, HANKINSON. THE whole account of the proceedings connected with the establishment of the first Christian church at Philippi is one of deep interest. It displays the energy of Paul in his character and preaching; the awful depravity of the heart of man, in his opposition to the gospel; the power of the Holy Spirit in his gracious influence on the soul; and the sustaining and elevating character of the religion of Jesus. All these will be traced in the narrative before us. Philippi, first of all called Dathos, and afterwards Crenides, was originally within the limits of ancient Thrace; but being conquered by Philip, the father of Alexander the Great, he named it after himself; by him also it was repaired, fortified, and greatly extended. It was one of the principal cities of prima Macedonia, and according to the unerring testimony of coins yet in existence, had a Roman colony within its bounds, favored with high privileges. It was the scene of several important battles, especially of the decisive one between Antony and Brutus. The gospel was first preached in this city by the apostle Paul, about the year 52. It is now magnificent in its ruins, as we learn from two American missionaries, who visited it in 1834, by whom we are told that it is now called Filibah. We have already seen that the first labors of Paul and his companion, Silas, led to the conversion of Lydia and her family. Very shortly after this we find these holy men in prison. It appears that a poor young woman under satanic influence, considerably annoyed these servants of God; and that her conduct tended to the prevention of the progress of Divine truth; so that pity for her, and zeal for truth induced Paul to exert his miraculous power by expelling the evil spirit from her. This gave great offence to her masters, who realized much gain by her having been wont to impose upon the common people, pretending to tell their fortunes. As the law provided no redress for their pecuniary losses, they professed great zeal for the public welfare, and excited the popular prejudice against Paul and Silas, as Jews; these citizens easily obtained their wishes; -and the magistrates committed the two preachers disturbers of the public peace, they were called-to prison. Look at these innocent and benevolent men with their clothes rent by the very magistrates, beaten with many stripes, and committed to the hands of a cruel jailer, who appears even to have exceeded his commission, thrusting them into the innermost, and most unhealthy part of the prison, and making their feet fast in a painful posture in a wooden machine. They were probably compelled to lie on their backs, with their wounds undressed, unable to obtain a moment's change of position. Never did men appear to be placed in a more hopeless condition, having no one apparent source of comfort. But the soul of the good man cannot be bound. His heart, in the hour of trial and of suffering rises to God, who can comfort him in all his tribulation, and fill him with holy joy and delight. These christian men could not sleep; but as God was with Joseph in prison, with Daniel in the lion's den, and had recently been with Peter in the jail of Herod, even so, could He convert the dungeon where Paul and Silas were confined into the very vestibule of heaven. They had in themselves, altogether independent of external circumstances, sources of happiness. Their consciences had been brought into a state of peace with God and man by the application of the blood of Jesus; and they knew that their friendship with God would be eternal; why then should they yield to despondency? True, trials were before them, and they knew not but that death might befall them; but they could pray for the sustaining grace of God, and that he would make all tend to the furtherance of his gospel. True, it was midnight, and all was gloom and darkness around them, but they "prayed and sang praises unto God," on whose promises they trust for support and deliverance, and who, they are sure, will sanctify all to the highest and noblest purposes. It was a scene of true moral sublimity; the prisoners heard them. and were, no doubt, favorably impressed with their religion, and somewhat prepared for the exposition of its principles and duties to which they soon after listened. Men are often least secure when they indulge most confidence. What could have seemed more certain than that the prison at Philippi was now impenetrable, except by the keys of its jailer? That important functionary, having made all fast, retires to his couch; midnight throws its silence over the earth; and save the voices of the imprisoned servants of Christ, engaged in holy melody, not a sound is heard. But the God of heaven now interposes, a rum |