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fruitless. But will you place these in the balance with the glory of God and your eternal welfare? O be wiser, and remember that weighty saying "What is a man profited, if he gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or, what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?"

Finally, let it be your constant study and prayer to be sincere and fruitful hearers. Endeavour, by a serious, diligent attention, to understand the word; by the exercise of precious faith cordially to receive it; by private meditation and prayer to retain it; and by daily observation to bring it into practice. I close with the words with which our Lord himself closed the parable-" And when he had said these things, he cried," probably with a louder voice than before and O that the cry may reach our inmoșt souls!" He that hath ears to hear, let him hear !”

SERMON LV.

THE CONVERSION OF LYDIA.

Acts xvi. 14. And a certain woman named Lydia, seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us; whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul.

HE Gospel of Jesus Christ is a blessing, the value

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of which can never be fully expressed. Blessed, truly blessed, is the people who know the joyful sound! Those who know it best will praise it most;-prize it above gold and silver; yea above their necessary food. Those also, who are appointed to preach it, will rejoice in every opportunity of publishing the glad tidings to their fellow men. Thus did the first preachers of it; thus did Paul and Silas in the case before us.

In the course of their travels they were peculiarly di rected to Macedonia; they were fully assured that the Lord had called them to preach the Gospel in that country. They obeyed the heavenly calling, and came to Philippi, the chief city of that district. The text relates the fir. fruits of their labours there. For some time, indeed, no opportunity seemed to offer itself for the commencement of their work. They were "in that city abiding certain VOL. II.

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days," praying, no doubt, and patiently waiting for the leadings of Divine Providence.

At length, on the Sabbath-day, they walked to a place near the city, on the banks of the river Strymon, where the few Jews, or other devout persons, who lived at Philippi, were used to meet for social prayer. They lived among heathens who knew not Jehovah, and who paid no regard to the Sabbath ;* but these persons, who knew and worshipped the true God, used to resort to this retired place, that they might offer up their joint prayers, and encourage each other to persevere in the religion of their pious ancestors. Probably they were too few, or too poor, to be able to support a synagogue, as in many other places; but what they could, they did: and it is highly commendable for all persons, when at a distance from their regular places of worship, to maintain, as well as they can, worship of their God, and the profession of their religion, even among heathens.

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In this place, the ministers of Christ found a few pious women. We read of no men there. Perhaps these were on journies of business in the country: or, their hearts were grown cold about the service of Jehovah, preferring the love of gain to the love of God. However, to these women St. Paul addressed himself, declaring the great truths of the Gospel, respecting the salvation of sinners by Jesus Christ. Let us, like him, seize every proper opportunity of diffusing the knowledge of a Saviour. The truth of the Gospel, is of infinite importance to all mankind. Ministers are to preach it wherever they can. Pious people should converse about it on all convenient occasions, invite their neighbours to hear it, and put religious tracts into their hands. Who can tell how happy the effects of such exertions may prove!

We are not informed what things they were which Paul spake to these women; but as it was his determination elsewhere, so no doubt here also, to know nothing among the people but Christ, and him crucified. Indeed, we are told in this chapter (ver. 10.) that it was "the Gospel

Philippi was a colony of Romans, probably formed of veteran soldiers, to whom land in its vicinity had been granted in reward for their military services.

which he was "called to preach" in this country; and no doubt it was the Gospel he did preach to the women-the good news of salvation by Jesus Christ. And afterwards, (ver. 17.) when St. Paul and his companion were better known in Philippi, this was the report of their character-"These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation." This is indeed the first and chief duty of a minister of Christ; and may the ministers of Christ never forget it is so! We are also informed (ver. xxxi. 32.) that they spake to the Jailer and his family "the word of the Lord," directing them to believe in Jesus Christ, that they might be saved. These are "the things of Christ," "the things of the Spirit," "the things which belong to our peace," the things which the faithful servants of Christ are bound to publish, and which they who are ordained to eternal life are enabled to hear and to believe.

We may observe that it is very pleasant to speak of spiritual things to devout persons, such as Lydia was. There are people of "the baser sort, who speak evil of the things they know not:" and who are so brutish as to refuse a patient hearing to the most interesting truths; but Lydia and her friends were worshippers of God; and being met together for prayer, they were ready to listen to what the apostle had to offer to their notice. We do not say, with the papists, that such a disposition "deserves grace:" that is a contradiction in terms, for grace is kindness undeserved. To grace, we must ascribe this very disposition; for, in general, persons turn their backs on all religious instruction; and sometimes manifest the malignity of their hearts by abusing the messengers of God and the friends of their souls. To the special grace of God it is also ascribed that Lydia did regard and receive the Gospel; so that it is not to be referred to her good disposition, naturally; but to the mercy and special influence of heaven ; "the Lord opened her heart." It is an excellent thing to have a teachable mind. Whoever possesses it may thankful, and expect a blessing from all the means of grace. Our Saviour himself says, (John vii. 17.) "If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether i be of God," or not: as if he had said-" Whoever w

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lay aside his prejudices, and make serious and impartial inquiries into the will of God, by hearing, reading, and meditation, with a sincere desire to learn and practice it, he will be sure to find enough in the Gospel to recommend it; and will feel such good effects of it in his own heart, by the influence of the holy Spirit, as shall oblige him to conclude, with complete satisfaction, that it is of God and not of men. It is a happy thing when people so read and hear the doctrines of the Gospel. They shall have the blessing that Lydia obtained.

In the further consideration of these words we shall observe, that,

1. There is in general, an awful, a criminal indisposition towards the things of God.

The affairs of this world, its profits and its pleasures, engage the ear and possess the heart. They are pursued with avidity; they are constant subjects of inquiry, in conversation and delight. But how are the great doctrines, privileges, and duties of the Gospel regarded? How are the interesting concerns of the immortal soul and the eternal world attended to? The Gospel presents to our view things the most wonderful, the most interesting, the most awful, and the most delightful. But how are they received? Just as they were in our Saviour's days. Of this generation we may say, as he did of that " It is like unto children setting in the markets, and calling to their fellows, and saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned unto you, and ye have not lamented." The most charming and affecting subjects of the Gospel excite no joy; the most dreadful representations of the word occasion no alarm; mankind are moved by neither; they equally disregard both. Let us inquire a little further into the unhappy causes of this fatal inattention to divine things.

Alas! for some persons, they are altogether become brutish in sin; for vice, where it has long reigned, brutalizes the soul, and leaves the man scarcely rational. Some are so deplorably immersed in sensuality, that it is almost impossible to gain their attention for a single moment to any thing serious and religious. The mention of any sacred truth excites only a smile of derision, and

they treat with contempt the most heavenly and holy matters. It is especially the case with those, who have accustomed themselves to foolish talking and jesting, and whose imagination is so defiled and debauched, that the most solemn and sacred things are turned into folly and laughter. This is a most unhappy state of mind, and which young people should take pains, before it be too late, to avoid. Such persons are indeed "sensual, not having the Spirit," and to them the wisdom of God itself is no better than foolishness.

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Prejudice against the truths, the ministers, and the professors of the Gospel, is another powerful cause of inattention to it. Prejudice of this kind jaundices the mind, and every doctrine of the word is seen through a false mediMuch of this prejudice may be traced to education, many children being taught to despise and revile every form of religion but that of their parents. Hence arises that dangerous bigotry, which will scarcely deign to allow the hearing of Gospel truth, unless it be presented precisely in a certain mode. Hence thousands are kept from ever employing the right of private judgment, or using the Scriptures as a touchstone, content to pin their faith on the sleeves of others. Some odious name is frequently attached to the faithful and laborious servants of Christ. The apostles themselves were said to "turn the world upside down," and their adherents were deemed a sect, every where spoken against." The immaculate Jesus himself was called "a deceiver, a Samaritan, a wine bibber, a friend of publicans and sinners." Thus, among ourselves, one opprobrious name is sufficient to counter-balance, in a prejudiced mind, all the wisdom and piety that can be collected in a sermon, in a book, or in a minister.

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Other persons are kept from duly attending to the truth by the love of the world, which prevails in their hearts. Like Pilate, they have no fault to find in the Gospel preacher; nay, they will bestow occasional commendation on him, and allow that he is good, and zealous, and useful among the common people; but the world so fills their hearts, that there is not a corner in them left for Christ and his word. Business occupies the greater part of such a person's time; and how are his leisure hours employed? He wants

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