tions, to the notice and acceptance of others. The facred miniftry is of divine inftitution, and is defigned to accomplish, even by weak inftruments, the most glorious purposes. It pleafes God by this his appointed ordinance to awaken the careless, to inftruct the ignorant, to fubdue the rebellious to obedience, to produce and increafe in his people repentance, faith, hope, love, and joy, through the influence of his Spirit. Let us learn to venerate the function, which He hath fo highly honoured, and expect from it the most solid advantages, while we read, that an Angel referred the Centurion to St. Peter, to be taught the way of falvation. Cornelius inftantly complied with the heavenly mandate. Having called fome of his pious attendants, (for fuch he had engaged in his fervice) he related the extraordinary vifion, and fent them to invite the Apoftie to his houfe. So prejudiced was Peter against the uncircumcifed Gentiles, that he would have revolted at the proposal, had not the Lord prepared his mind, and overcome his objections in fuch a manner, as to furnish a fufficient vindication of his conduct even before others. He faw in a trance a miraculous and emblematical reprefentation, by which he learnt, that the ceremonial distinctions of clean and unclean were defigned to be abolished, and that he ought not to retain any exceptions against thofe, whom God was pleafed to receive and fanctify. This occurred juft before the meffengers arrived; and he was then directed by an immediate impulfe of the Spirit, to accompany them without hesitation. In the mean time, fuch was the meek and teachable difpofition of the Centurion, and his earnest defire to know the way of God more perfectly, that he waited with much anxiety for the coming of his illuftrious teacher. He had alfo collected his relatives and intimate acquaintance, (with whom, it fhould feem, he improved his influence for the best purposes) that they might share the bleffing of Peter's inftructions. This circumftance reminds us of what we owe to our near connections in life. We profefs affection, and a readinefs to ferve them: but how fhould our friendfhip appear? Should we not be moft folicitous to promote their fpiritual and everlasting welfare ? For that end, we fhould endeavour to bring them under the miniftry of the Gospel, if we know its value, and expect any advantage from it for ourselves. But, while we feel no fuch concern, and fay as Cain, "Am I my brother's keeper ?" we prove that we are deftitute of true benevolence, and ignorant of the unfpeakable worth of falvation. Upon the Apoftle's entering the houfe, Cornelius. met him, and by the lowest proftration teftified his reverence for the perfon, who came with an exprefs commiffion to declare the counsel of God. Peter, however, refused the homage, as unsuitable to a mere human being, and then enquired for what purposes they had requefted his attendance. The Centurion, in reply, related with great fimplicity the directions he had received from heaven, adding, "Now therefore are we all here prefent before God, to hear all things that are commanded thee of God." How folemn the occafion! And how amiable the difpofition of the pious foldier! He confidered himself in the presence of God, and felt an earnest defire to know and do his will, while he ftood as an humble scholar to listen to the inftructions of the infpired preacher. How much more promifing would appearances be among ourselves, if all our congregations, aflembled for public worship, poffeffed the fame temper, when the minifters of Chrift ftand forth to declare the truth! Is it not allowed to be our bounden duty, to yield an unfeigned regard and unreferved fubjection to the revealed word of God, however oppofite it may be to our former notions? Bu; ah! with what contemptuous indifference do many fit in our churches! churches! With what pride and petulance do fome cavil at every doctrine, which fuits not their preconceived fyftems! With what a rebellious obftinacy do others reject thofe holy precepts, which require their carnal affections to be fubdued! Few, therefore, are truly folicitous, like Cornelius, to learn and obey the whole will of God." St. Peter addreffed his attentive audience with folemnity and earneftnefs. He obferved, the prefent occafion had convinced him, that the bleffings of the Gospel were not defigned to be limited to any people; that according to this gracious difpenfation, as none could obtain favour for any external diftinctions or advantages, fo none would be excluded from mercy for the want of them; and that, without exception of any rank or nation, the Lord receives all thofe, who poffefs a reverential regard to his majesty, and an unfeigned fubmiffion to all his righteous commands. But, left their imperfect obedience should be confidered as the ground of their acceptance, he ftated, in a clear and decided manner, the appointed method of juftification through the Lord Jefus Chrift. The character of the Saviour, his perfon, work, and offices, his life, death, and refurrection, his coming to judgment, and the atteftation of all the prophetic writings to the free forgiveness of fins through faith in his name ;-thefe were the grand topics, on which the Apostle infifted. Thefe, alfo, are the fubjects, which, above all others, are neceffary to be understood and kept in our view; and to an honeft declaration of them, in every age of the Church, the divine benediction is promifed. Cornelius and his company liftened with fixed attention; and, while they gladly received the record, which God gave of his Son,the Holy Ghoft defcended, probably, with fome external manifeftations of his power, confirmed the truth of the word, and accompanied it with an efficacious influence to the hearers. They They were endued with fuch miraculous powers, as might qualify them to be witneffes and preachers of the Gofpel. They fpake in languages, which they had never learned, and with ardent gratitude proclaimed the fovereign and diftinguifhing mercy of the Lord. When He had thus evidently accepted them, his people could not refuse to admit them into their communion. They were all, therefore, taken into the fociety of believers, by the initiating rite of baptifm: they made an open profeffion of attachment to Chrift, and folemnly dedicated themselves to his fervice. Nothing more is related concerning them, but that they requested the continuance of Peter for a few days longer, being defirous to enjoy fome further benefit from his ministry, to be established, edified, and comforted in their holy faith. Thofe, who know the worth of the Gospel, will efteem and folicit the company and conversation of such, as are more advanced in grace, and able to communicate the moft falutary inftructions. But, when connections of this fort are difregarded, it is obvious, that the truth and ways of God are not properly esteemed. Probably, the Centurion retained his fituation in the Roman army: at least, he was not commanded to relinquish it; nor is the occupation of a foldier any where condemned in the fcriptures, as abfolutely finful in itself. It must have been unfavourable to pure religion, yet perhaps it furnished him with opportunities of doing extenfive good. The Apoftolical direction is, "Let every man, wherein he is called, therein abide with God *." It is poffible, that a good confcience may require us to abandon our poft but let us not quit it, merely to avoid difficulties. Rather, let us enquire, if, by a faithful and honourable difcharge of our duty, we may not glo * 1 Cor. vii. 24. rify We may rify God and benefit our fellow-creatures. expect peculiar support in the place, to which we are appointed; and, perhaps, we are not qualified for any other. Whatever we may be difpofed to think of the ftate of Cornelius towards God, before his extraordinary call, it is evident that the fcriptures defcribe this as a difpenfation of peculiar mercy, from which both he and others received fingular advantages. If he had previously obtained acceptance, he was then taught that he owed it entirely to the interpofition of the Lord Jefus Chrift: and, doubtlefs, the clear discovery of redemption tended to fill his foul with peace and joy, and excite him to higher degrees of holiness. Nothing, therefore, can be concluded from the cafe before us to the difparagement of the Gofpel: nay, rather, we may here perceive the bleffed fruits of the Saviour's mediation, and in this view fhould fay with the Apoftles, "Then hath God alfo to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life," and "purified their hearts by faith +." May we be encouraged to Teck for a participation of the fame grace! A public teftimony was now given, that in the Church of Chrift the diftinctions between Jew and Greek, bond and free, male and female, are done away, and that believers" are all one in Chrift Jefus." And "if we be Chrift's," it matters not from what parentage we are defcended, "we are Abraham's feed, and heirs according to the promise." The door of mercy continues open, and we are authorized to exhort all, without refpect of perfons, that they earnestly folicit an admiffion. The fame bleffing, which Peter proposed to Cornelius, is ftill offered to us, remiffion of fins through faith in the Son of God. It is generally allowed, that notorious offenders ftand in need of it; nor fhould we hesitate to *Acts xi. 18. † xv. 9. ‡ Gal. iii. 28, 29. tender |