Saul, and the disciples took him by night, and let him down by the wall in a basket, and he escaped out of their hands. And when he was come to Jerusalem, he essayed to join himself to the disciples. He was doubtless considered a disciple, whilst at Damascus, but probably there was no regularly organized Church there as yet. Coming therefore to Jerusalem where the Apostles, Peter, and James, presided over the infant Church, he attempted to become a regular member of that body. They were now more dear to him than his persecuting associates had ever been. For persecutors, however closely they be in league with each other when they wish to make common cause against the Lord and against his Christ, know nothing of that delightful, hallowing, soul-cementing influence, which is fragrant as the sacred oil on Aaron's beard, and refreshing as the dew which fell on Hermon's thirsty hill. Their friendship," if friendship it may be called, is the friendship of Pilate and Herod; and their concord,' is the concord of devils' as Milton saith, 'Devils with devils damn'd, firm concord hold.' Such friendship, and such concord, when it fails of executing the object of its zeal, often recoils upon itself; and as it cannot live but by 'scattering firebrands, arrows, and death; it often throws these dreadful engines among the ranks of its own party.

Unlike this, in every sense of the word, is the union of those hearts which are renewed, and sanctified by grace. It is a union in which the happy subjects thereof are

'Partakers of the Saviour's grace; the same in mind and heart; Nor joy, nor grief, nor time, nor place, nor life nor death, can part. Such was the union of the first followers of the Lamb

They all were of one heart and soul.
For only love inspir'd the whole.'

Their desires and designs, their hopes and joys, their motives and their conduct, were the same. Purity of intention, singleness of heart, childlike simplicity, and godly sincerity; intense love to God, and fervent love to man, were the ruling principles of their life. The love which actuated them,' did not behave it self unseemly; it sought not her own, was not easily provoked, thought no evil; it bore all things, believed all things, hoped all things, and endured all things: and the wisdom that guided them, was from above, and it was pure, peaceable, gentle, easy to be entreated; full of mercy and good fruits; without partiality and without hypocrisy.' In this golden age there was neither unrigh teousness, nor wickedness, nor covetousness, nor maliciousness, nor envy, nor deceit nor malignity nor murder. No speaking evil

one of another, nor so much as thinking evil, without the most palpable evidence. There was a mutual forbearance of the members of this community towards each other, and each one esteemed another better than himself. In short, it was the most harmless, the most peaceable, the most holy, and the most happy community that has ever been seen upon earth. It was no wonder therefore that Saul, having been renewed in the spirit of his mind, was anxious to join himself to the infant Church. His conduct in this, was worthy the imitation of all those, who through the preaching of the Gospel, have had the eyes of their understanding enlightened, and who have been turned from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, who have tasted that the Lord is gracious, and have obtained the knowledge of Salvation by the remission of sins. Nay, not only of these, but of all those who have desire to flee from the wrath to come, and to be saved from their sins,' provided they believe in the doctrines of the Church to which they wish to be united, and are determined by the grace of God to manifest their desire of salvation by doing no harm, by doing all the good in their power, and by using the means of grace, and attending on all the ordinances of God.' A Solitary religion is not the religion of the Bible. It is not good, in this sense, for man to be alone. He was formed for society, and is capable of benefitting society as well as of being benefitted by it. Therefore let every one who believes in the Christian religion, and is desirous of obtaining the salvation of his immortal soul, join himself to the Church of the living God.'

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V. But in the case of the converted Saul, in respect to his joining the church, there was a serious obstacle in the way, namely the fears and the unbelief of the disciples.

''They were all afraid of him, for they did not believe that he was a disciple.' Their conduct in this was very natural, and to a certain extent praiseworthy. They hesitated, as to receiving him into the Church, and well they might. Their hesitancy was dictated by wisdom and prudence. They knew his former manner of life, and as yet, (he having brought no letters of commendation with him, certifying that he was a disciple, and that he had just cause for removing from Damascus) had no certain evidence that he was a true disciple of the crucified Jesus. They were afraid of him, and well they might. They knew that he had been a furious persecutor; and probably some of them bore the marks in their bodies, of that cruelty and rage for which he was so famous in the days of his enmity against Christ. They did not believe that he was truly converted to that faith which once he labored to destroy, for such a supposition would be an impeachment of the correctness of his former proceeding. They were therefore willing to allow that he

was an honest enemy before, and that his friendship now, was but feigned and hypocritical. Deliberation in this case was their wisdom. Rashness would have been folly; and their conduct, the circumstances taken into the account, is worthy of imitation, rather than of censure. Professed christians are often too anxious to drag persons into the church; and by every allurement and device that can be sanctioned, and, it is to be feared, by some, that cannot be justified, to induce them to cast in their lot with them, whether they have been converted or not, whether they have a desire of salvation or not, whether they believe the doctrines of the Church or not. The result of such measures proves that their adoption is not the dictate of sound christian policy. Members obtained in haste, are often in haste to depart, or if they tarry are more troublesome than profitable, and in the end, a reproach, rather than an ornament to the Church of Christ.

Having noticed the history of Saul, of his conversion and of the results, we will now address a few words to the unconverted.

And 1st. To the persecutors of God's people. Thus saith the Lord that pleadeth the cause of his people:-I will contend with him that contendeth with thee;-He that toucheth you, toucheth the apple of mine eye-Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense saith the Lord.' Have you ever considered this, you that persecute the children of God, that He is the avenger of their wrongs. Have you not heard of the fearful judgements that have befallen the oppressors of God's people: of the terrible death of Herod, the murderer of the innocents, who intended to have murdered the 'desire of all nations;' and of Herod Agrippa the murderer of James the Apostle who was eaten of worms;'-and of Catullus governor of Lybia the cruel persecutor of the Jews, who though he was only turned of his office by the Romans, yet fell into a complicated and incurable disease being sorely tormented both in body and mind. He was so dreadfully terrified, that he continually cried out that, he was haunted by the ghost of those whom he had murdered; and not being able to contain himself, leaped out of his bed, as if he were tortured with fire, and put to the rack. His distemper increased until it put an end to his miserable existence, and thus he perished, a most signal instance of the divine displeasure.' Have you not heard of the awful end of Maximinus who put out the eyes of many thousands of Christians. Soon after the

commission of these inhuman cruelties, a disease arose among his own people, which greatly affected their eyes and took away their sight. He himself died miserably, and upon the rack; his eyes starting out of his head through the violence of his distemper.' Many other instances might be mentioned.* Persecution, how

* See Buck's Theological Dict. Art. 'Judgements of God.'

éver in these enlightened days, and in this happy country, does not assume so fearful an aspect, as in those days of ignorance and barbarism; and this is a circumstance which calls loudly for the unfeigned gratitude of the children of God. O that nien would praise the Lord for his goodness, for his wonderful works to the children of men. Let the Redeemed of the Lord say so, whom he hath redeemed fromt he hand of the enemy: and gathered them out of the lands, from the east, and from the west, and from the north and from the south.' But though no cruel Herod reigns, nor blood-thirsty Mary sits upon the throne, nor envious Voltaire cries out crush the wretch,' yet possibly there may be those, whose spirits are unreconciled to the reign of Christ, and who in secret bend their bow, make ready their arrow upon the string, that they may privily shoot at the upright in heart;' and to these it may not be amiss to say, 'Be wise now therefore O ye Princes; be instructed, ye judges of the earth:-kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little:-for the Lord shall reign upon the wicked, snares, fire and brimstone, and an horrible tempest; this shall be the portion of their cup. Repent ye therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out,' so shall 6 you escape the damnation of hell.'

2dly To every other class of sinners; to those who despise the gospel, and the riches of God's grace:-to the openly profane:to pleasure takers:-to the careless;-to procrastinators; to the self-righteous:--to formalists;-to hypocrites;-to them which cause division:-to the luke-warm:-to backsliders, and to those that are at ease in zion, to all of you, and to every one of you we say this day Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.'

3d. To the youth, we would also address a word of exhortation. Let not your hearts deceive you! You are not persecutors we grant; you do not despise the gospel, its ministers or its ordinances; you are not openly profane; neither are you hypocrites; nor are you apostates from the way of truth. No, you respect the truth, you revere the ordinances of the gospel, you love the ministers of the sanctuary; you are not haters of God nor his people. If you commit sin, it is not out of malice to the fountain of goodness; it is not out of enmity to the people of God, but to gratify yourselves, or to please others, or because it is the fashion of the day. But it is sin remember after all. Suffer the word of exhortation therefore I pray you and take heed lest you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.' You have strength so has the warlike horse. You have beauty, so has the 'flower of the field.' You are amiable, but you are by nature children of wrath even as others.' One hour's disease can deprive you of strength. One month's affliction and your beauty is gone. One fatal accident and your

loveliness is no more. Your strength perhaps is your boast; your beauty is your pride; the accomplishments of your person and the endowments of your mind are your idols! And are you idolaters? Is the God of Heaven as much out of your thoughts as he is out of your sight. Do you love and serve the creature more than the Creator? Oconsider this, you that forget God, lest he tear you in pieces and there be none to deliver. O make not HIM

your enemy, who has hitherto proved himself your best friend; rather 'acquaint now yourselves with him, and be at peace, thereby good shall come unto you. Receive, I pray you, the law from his mouth, and lay up his words in your heart. Then shall you have delight in the Almighty, and shall lift up your face unto God: you shall make your prayer unto him, and he will hear you.' 'Repent ye therefore and be converted! that your sins may be blotted out, and the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.'

4th. To the aged. There is but a step between you and death. You are now on the brink of the grave. You must shortly give an account unto Him who is ready to judge the quick and the dead. Look over your lives I pray you. Consider what God has done for you. Look at yonder Sun! How many times has he risen upon your tent? Look at the trees in your garden! how many times have they yielded their fruit to supply your wants! Look at the seas, the skies, the earth! Did they ever refuse to minister to your comfort? Now look at yourselves and see if you have answered the end of your creation and if you find you have not, Repent for death is near. Eternity is at hand! Lastly, to men of education, talent, and influence.

race.

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You are the men to whom God has given 'five talents.' You are the men to whom the multitude look up. It is you that give tone to public opinion. You are the Saviours or the destroyers of our To you the God of Heaven has intrusted an awful power, and an awful responsibility. Let your talents, and influence be imployed on the side of Christianity, and mercy and truth shall meet together; righteousness and peace shall embrace each other; truth shall spring up from the earth, and righteousness shall look down from the skies-God himself shall be our God-and glory shall dwell in our land.'-O ye men of the world! your education is of the most finished character; your talents of the highest order; your influence, like the influence of the sun, fills the circle where you move! Have you learned to live for eternity? Are your talents employed in promoting the glory of God, and the universal good of mankind? Is your influence exerted towards the removal of all possible evil, and the promotion of all possible good? If not, you have hitherto lived in vain; and except you also repent you must perish like the common herd; for, there is no respect of persons with God.' May God grant you his grace for Christ's sake-Amen.