226

TUMULT AT EPHESUS.

[LECT.

convinced the Jews out of the Scriptures that Jesus was the Christ, the scene of Paul's labours was confined to Ephesus. For the space of three months he disputed in the synagogues, offering the kingdom of heaven, first to the Jews, as was his custom; but when they hardened their hearts and spake evil of the Gospel, the apostle betook himself to one of the schools of philosophy, at the head of which was one Tyrannus. There he continued to deliver his discourses for two years without interruption; and his ministry was sanctioned by miracles, which he was enabled to work for the confirmation of the truth. It is even said, that by this continued labour for so long a period, all they which dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks. The force of truth was irresistible, notwithstanding the opposition of the Jews, and the word of God mightily grew and prevailed. From the farewell sermon of St. Paul at Miletus, we learn that his ministry lasted altogether for three years; its success was witnessed by the image-maker, Demetrius, who declared that not alone at Ephesus, but almost throughout all Asia, he had persuaded and turned away much people from the gods made with hands: the uproar that was raised in consequence of the appeal of Demetrius to his townsmen, drove the apostle from Asia. Again he took refuge in

IV.]

ST. PAUL AT MILETUS.

227

Greece, from the fury of the Jews, and there remained three months. All this took place before he was able to fulfil the intention expressed in the words I have prefixed to this Lecture. It was then his purpose to pass through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem, and finally to visit Rome. We have, therefore, still to trace the apostle's labours through these successive scenes, with which the sacred narrative ends.

The great object of St. Paul now was to be at Jerusalem, for the festival of Pentecost, knowing that he would then have an opportunity of preaching to the Jews assembled from all countries; but he did not wish to leave the scene of his labours, until he had, in his own person, commended the Churches to the grace of God. The sacred historian gives us a most accurate geographical account of the apostle's voyage among the islands of the Egean Sea, which may be traced in the xxth chapter of the Acts. They finally arrived at Miletus, and Paul having but a short time to spend in Asia, sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the Church, and made them the address which has ever since been the model of a faithful minister's duty to the flock committed to his charge. There is, perhaps, no scene more interesting than that of a faithful labourer in the vineyard of Christ appealing to the souls committed to his care, for a testimony of his diligence and anxiety for their

228 HIS FAREWELL, A PROOF OF INTEGRITY, [LECT.

eternal welfare: happy the minister who can say with Paul, "I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God." The sentiments and the language employed in the farewell address at Miletus, can never fail to make the deepest impression upon the minister and the congregation, who have been bound together by the ties of mutual affection, which the inculcation of the truth creates. But when the affecting words were uttered, "I know that all ye among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, shall see my face no more," how can we pretend to paint the tenderness and the feeling of sorrow which broke out in that pious assembly? The recital is simple, but it contains a world of sympathy, such as no sentiment of any other kind can excite or produce: "they all wept sore, and fell on Paul's neck, and kissed him, sorrowing most of all for the words which he spake, that they should see his face no more, and they accompanied him to the ship." There we shall leave them standing upon the shore, and watching with tearful eyes the vessel on the waves which conveyed far from their coasts their spiritual father and their friend. We, my brethren, can have no such pretensions, either on my part as the minister, or on yours, as the flock which it is my lot to tend, even if I could be supposed to be addressing you for the last time. Can I bid you remember, that I have

IV.] AND A MODEL FOR SPIRITUAL PASTORS. 229

not ceased to warn you day and night with tears? How I am put to confusion! or can ye say, that as faithful children ye have walked in the truth? But this I will call to your remembrance, that I have not shunned to declare to you the only way of salvation through a crucified Saviour, the grace of God which alone bringeth peace, and the enmity against God which reigns in our fallen nature. And when we are far asunder, brethren, as we shall soon be (and many of you shall probably see my face no more), still I may so far say, remember that I warned you earnestly, at least in the public assembly, that unless ye a life by faith in the Son of God, having embraced the offer of mercy through the blood of the covenant, and become his children by adoption; unless ye perfect holiness in the fear of the Lord, coming out from the corrupt maxims and practices of this evil world; remember, that I have ever said, ye will have no peace with God; and let this be my witness, when you and I shall appear before the tribunal of Christ, to answer for the talents committed to our care.

live

The visit of Paul to Jerusalem, and the things which befel him there, brings the sacred narrative to the 60 this and the remaining part year of it we shall reserve for the next two Sundays,

there is a subject which it is of material import

230

THE EPISTLE TO THE GALATIANS.

[LECT.

ance to examine at this stage of the apostolic labours.

The Epistle which is next in chronological order after those to the Thessalonians, is that to the Galatians; it is usually thought to have been written in the year 58, and consequently could not have been sent from Rome, as the postcript declares. It was, in all probability, written some time during the three years Paul passed at Ephesus; but it is the occasion on which it was written, that especially demands our attention. You will recollect the first attempt that was made to intermix the leaven of the Pharisees with the Christian faith, and the consequent decision of the apostolic council at Jerusalem. In the Churches of Galatia this perversion appeared in a much more full and dangerous form: "I marvel" saith Paul, "that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another Gospel." And so nearly had this heresy prevailed, and so completely were many of those professing Christians overcome by its deception, that he stands in doubt of them, whether his labours had not been in vain. The doctrine which the first teachers of Christianity every where taught was justification, as including a title to final salvation by faith alone. Now there came amongst those Galatians