hand of God even in fuch events. "He ftilleth the noife of the feas, and," what is equally untractable, "the tumult of the people *." His avowed enemies come forward to promote his purposes, when he is pleafed to make ufe of them: and, accordingly, he frequently influences thofe, who bear no good will to Zion, to plead the cause of his fervants. Let our

dependence, then, be fixed upon Him, and not upon an arm of flesh.

With a reference, probably, to this uproar, the Apoftle faid, "I have fought with beafts at Ephefust;" and again, "We were preffed out of mea. fure, above ftrength, infomuch that we defpaired even of life but we had the fentence of death in ourfelves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raifeth the dead ‡." Ah! why do we fhrink from danger, while we are engaged in the work of fuch a Mafter? Let us contemplate the illuftrious pattern before us, and be animated, by the view of his patience, faith, and courage, to endure to the end.

It became expedient for Paul to quit his A.D. fituation at Ephefus, and therefore, having ta60. ken an affectionate leave of the difciples there, he directed his course to Macedonia §. Ever intent upon his work, he preached and exhorted from place to place, and thus paffed on to the fouthern parts of Greece. In the midft of various diftreffes, inward as well as outward, he profecuted his journey to Corinth and, having spent three months in that neighbourhood, when he was prevented by a defign upon his life from embarking to Syria, he returned through Macedonia, and failed from Philippi to Troas. There he remained feven days, and on the first day of the week delivered with peculiar energy an addrefs to the difciples, who were affembled for the celebra

*Pfal. lxv. 7. †1 Cor. xv. 32. ‡ 2 Cor. i. 8, 9. § A&s xx. 1, &c.

་་་

he was

"he con

tion of the Lord's fupper. It should feem, that, as he was "ready to depart on the morrow,' induced, under the thoughts of leaving them, to protract the service to an uncommon length: tinued his fpeech until midnight." The more deeply our hearts are affected with divine things, and the ftronger are our impreffions of the love of Chrift, we shall be more eagerly defirous both to declare and hear the glorious truths of the Gospel. The men of the world may wonder and revile: but, while they devote days and weeks to the purfuit of vain pleafures, let us not think a few hours too much to be employed in fpiritual exercises.

The Chriftians at Troas met in an upper room,, where they had many lights: their religious affemblies, therefore, were not held in the dark, as fome have maliciously infinuated. On the occafion now mentioned, a young man, inattentive probably to the Apoftle's exhortations, was overpowered with fleep,. and, falling to the ground from the window in which he fat, was taken up dead. This circumftance produced confufion and diftrefs in the congregation, till St. Paul, having embraced the body with faith and prayer, restored it to life. We lament, that there are among ourfelves fuch numerous inftances of drowsy worshippers, perfons pretending, at least, to join in the divine ordinances, but fo liftless and stupid, that much of the fhort time allotted to the fervice feems to be flumbered away. Some may plead their infirmities or the prolixity of the preacher; but the practice is not to be juftified. It betrays a want of true spiritual vigour, and a fad neglect, if not contempt, of God, which must be highly offenfive to him. Who would not be afraid of falling down dead in fuch a ftate, where no revival can be expected, as in the cafe of Eutychus? Who does not tremble at the thought of being thus fummoned to the tribunal of Heaven?

The

The Apoftle refumed his difcourfe, and was hot willing to part from his dear friends till break of day. They spent the whole night in fweet communion with God and with each other. How rare an example of zeal and love! At length he left the place, and, for one stage at leaft, chofe to travel on foot. He affected no pomp, and probably, in profecuting his journey by himself, wifhed to fecure fome time for retirement. At Affos he joined his companions, with whom he took fhip, and, having touched at feveral different towns near the fea coaft, came to Miletus. He haftened to Jerufalem, and therefore, that he might not be detained by the tender importunities of his Chriftian brethren at Ephefus, he paffed by that city. But he fent for the elders of their church to Miletus, and addreffed himself to them in a folemn and pathetic manner, giving them his last charge, and fuggefting fuitable inftructions for the execution of their important office.

He appealed to their knowledge and obfervation of his conduct, for a proof of his integrity, meeknefs, diligence, and zeal, in the exercife of his miniftry amongst them. He reminded them of the fidelity and earneft nefs with which he had preached, and of the grand fubjects on which he had infifted, repentance and faith. He informed them, that he was going, under a ftrong impulfe of the Spirit, to Jerufalem, and, though ignorant of the event, had received pofitive and repeated affurances, that bonds and afflictions awaited him there. Yet he declared," that, far from being ftaggered by the profpect, he valued not life itflf, provided he could finish his courfe with joy, and fulfil his miniftry in the Gospel.

He affirmed, that they were then looking upon him for the last time, and exhorted them to confider, that, as he had delivered to them the whole Chriftian fyftem without referve, he fhould ftand acquitted before God, whatever might become of the people

for

for whom he had laboured, and that they must anfwer for their own fouls. He charged them, therefore, to maintain a conftant care over themselves and' every part of the flock committed to them, remembering from whom they had received their appointment, and how dear to God was that Church, "which He had purchased with his own blood." He warned' them of falfe and deftructive teachers, who would' foon arife and excite difturbances, and preffed upon them the duty of unceafing vigilance. He then commended them all to God and to the word of his grace, expreffing the moft earneft defires for their advancement and final falvation, and propofed for their imitation his own example of diligence, difinterestednefs, felf-denial, and benevolent attention to the poor.

The feparation was truly affecting. Upon his bended knees he offered up his fervent fupplications for them, whilft they with many tears wept over him and embraced him. We wonder not at their diftrefs, as they were affured, that they fhould fee his face no more, no longer be favoured with his miniftration, his counfels, or prayers. They accompanied him to the ship, and then, as it were by violence, he was torn from them.

May we not afk, Is there any thing in this address like the language of an impoftor? Do we not perceive the cleareft marks of an upright man, and of a meffenger from Heaven? O that all the ambaffadors of Chrift may partake of his fpirit, be less attentive to the world, and more mindful of their office! O that, like him, they may feel a generous concern for the people of their charge, and be folicitous to feed them with wholefome doctrine! May Jefus, their exalted Lord, endue them with all neceflary wisdom, ftrength, and zeal, and profper their exertions for his own glory! May He teach and enable them to "take heed unto themselves and to

all

all the flock!" So will they "not fhun to declare all the counfel of God," and, when they close their fervices on earth, it will infpire them with gratitude and joy, to be affured that they are pure from the blood of all men."

Paul failed from Miletus, and, having paffed by feveral places, landed at Tyre, where he found fome dear followers of the Saviour, and continued with then feven days*. In that city certain perfons, under a prophetic impulfe, warned him of danger, and entreated him not to proceed to Jerufalem. But, being confident that duty called him, he did not fhrink from his purpofe. Having taken a folemn leave of his friends, with whom he was not ashamed to kneel down for prayer upon the fea fhore, he purfued his journey. He ftopped to pay his refpects to the Chriftians at Ptolemais, and then advanced to Cefarea, where he was guest to Philip the Deacon and Evangelift.

There he received more express information of the difficulties, which awaited him: Agabus foretold, that he fhould be bound, imprifoned, and delivered over to the Roman power. He was therefore moft earneftly defired by his companions in travel, as well as by the brethren at Cefarea, to give up his intentions of vifiting Jerufalem. But, as no dangers could intimidate his mind, he would not yield to their entreaties. Had he, then, no regard for his friends? Yes; and on that account he felt a fevere conflict. He was not afraid to meet perils and death; but he could not bear to fee thofe, whom he loved, overwhelmed with diftrefs. He cried out, "What mean ye to weep, and to break mine heart? for I am ready, not to be bound only, but alfo to die at Jerufalem for the name of the Lord Jefus." This fhews, that he poffeffed the tendereft affections, and that he de

* Acts xxi. Iy &£a

termined