THE SINNER CONVERTED. 511 NOVEMBER 9. The Sinner Converted. "He rejoiced, believing in God."—Acts, xvi. 34. LET us think of the jailer's faith-and the jailer's joy. The jailer's faith. He believed in God. He did not wait till he should prepare himself, and make himself a better man, but he did at once what he was required to do. He did not ask explanations and expect philosophical definitions of faith; he did not start doubts and difficulties about election and freedom of will, but he did what he was bidden, and committed his troubled anxious soul into the hands of the Saviour. Mark the object of his faith. It was fixed "in God." This is doubtless another name No for the same person on whom he was required to believe. Jesus is called "God," because he is a divine person. mere man can save the sinner's soul from death. No rock but the Rock of ages can furnish a satisfactory foundation for the sinner's faith. No arm but an almighty arm can bring him salvation. "Thus saith the Lord, Cursed be the man that trusteth in man." "Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord." He believed, because believing in God our Saviour is essential to salvation. He at once credited the testimony of the apostles, and embraced the Saviour made known to him in that testimony. Who but a divine person could bear the burden of his guilt? Who but a divine person could control the troubled waves in his soul, and say, "Peace, be still?" The jailer's joy." He rejoiced." "Joy is a fruit that will not grow In nature's barren soil; All we can boast, till Christ we know, Is vanity and toil." He rejoiced on account of what he had escaped. When 512 THE SINNER CONVERTED. He has peace with God, with He has salvation, a great, He has God for his Father, we escape some great calamity, some impending danger, we must rejoice. So the jailer, having escaped sin, wrath, and hell, was full of gladness. Once there was but a step between him and all these; now he is away from them, for ever away. A few moments before, an ignominious death stared him in the face; but now all his prisoners are safe, his life is safe, and his soul is safe too. "There is no condemnation to them who are in Christ Jesus." He rejoiced on account of what he possessed. Now he possesses pardon, full, free, irrevocable. His sins were innumerable and overwhelming, but now they are cast into the depths of the sea. conscience, and with all men. a present, a certain blessing. Christ for his Saviour, the Holy Spirit for his sanctifier, the word of God for his guide, and the friends of Jesus for his companions. That man is counted happy who can say of a fine estate, "This is mine;" but how much happier is the Christian who can say, "Christ is mine, and heaven is mine." He rejoiced on account of what he anticipated. Smiling hope filled his soul, and he went on his way rejoicing. He hoped for heaven, where no sin could alarm him, where there were no more temptations to sin, and where there were none of the consequences of sin. He hoped to have the love of Christ reigning henceforth in his family, and to have them all at last in a palace instead of a prison. NOVEMBER 10. The Sinner Reformed. "And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes. and when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them."-Acts, xvi. 33, 34. GENUINE religion not only changes the views, and feelings, THE SINNER REFORMED. 513 and affections; but it influences the conversation and the conduct. It not only produces love to God, but kindness and hospitality to man. It does not rest contented with receiving good; but it proves its genuineness by doing good. The religious man having freely received good, as freely tries to do good to others. To know the truths of religion is good; but to obey them is better. Thus the converted jailer acted, and acted because he felt; and so immediately practical was his religion, that he conferred not with flesh and blood. He soothed the sufferings of Paul and Silas.-They had, only the evening before, been cruelly beaten with many stripes. Without trial, without justice, the magistrates had inflicted severe punishment; and wounded, and bleeding, they had delivered them to the jailer, and charged him to keep them straitly. Having received such a charge, he had cruelly thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks; but now he is a changed man, and the tiger is no longer fierce. He strikes off their fetters, he washes their stripes, he soothes their sufferings, and he heals their wounds. What a change! The heart that was hard and cruel is now tender and sympathizing. Infidelity never did anything like this. It never dived into dungeons; it never ministered to the wounded; it never made a lion a lamb, a vulture a dove, nor a persecutor a humane man; and it never made a cruel man cease his cruelty, and perform acts of kindness. He invited them into his house.- -"When he had brought them into his house." A few hours before, without positive orders, and governed by a cruel and barbarous disposition, he thought the inner prison, the darkest dungeon, and the cold irons good enough for the servants of Christ; but now he sets them at liberty, feels for their sufferings, and invites them into his house to enjoy the society and kindness of his family. The servants of Christ 514 THE SINNER REFORMED. are thus honoured for their Master's sake; and all who are taught in the word should thus communicate to their teachers what good things they have: "If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things?" He set meat before them.-Hospitality is a virtue explicitly enjoined in the New Testament; and all Christians who are able should practise it, and practise it according to their ability. The jailer had received their spiritual things; now he ministers to them of his carnal things. The labourers were worthy of their meat, and he kindly and freely bestows it. Thus religion has a hand to give, as well as to receive. How poor and defective must religion be when the heart receives all, and the hand gives little or nothing for the support of Christ's servants! Unless religion opens the sluices of benevolence, it is a shadow without the substance, a name without the reality, and profession without practice. NOVEMBER 11. The Call of Christ. "The Master is come, and calleth for thee."-John, xi. 28. THESE words were addressed by Martha to Mary, but they are equally applicable to every sinner. They announce the visit of Christ-and the call of Christ. e." He came The visit of Christ.-"The Master is come.' to Martha and Mary in person and in friendship, and he still comes to us, though in another way. He comes in the proclamation of the gospel. He is lifted up in the gospel as well as on the cross, "that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." is set forth crucified in the midst of every Christian assembly, and he is there present according to his promise He THE CALL OF CHRIST. 515 Reader, you now enjoy a visit from Christ. Is it to be a profitable one or not? He comes in the dispensations of his providence. By sickness he came to Manasseh and David; by adversity he came to the prodigal son. By the death of a child, by the loss of a dear friend, by trials and calamities, he comes to you, that you may turn to him and live. He comes by the voice of conscience. Conscience is the secret monitor of heaven in the human breast. It spoke in Joseph's brethren when distress came upon them; it spoke in Herod, when he thought John had risen from the dead; and, reader, it may well speak in thee, that thy sin may find thee out. He comes by the Holy Spirit, to convince thee of sin, its dreadful nature and fearful consequences; to remove ignorance from thy mind; and to root unbelief out of thy heart. What a visit of love is this to thy soul! Will it not kindle a flame that shall burn for ever? The call of Christ.-" And calleth for thee." This call is universal. "Unto you, O men, I call, and my voice is to the sons of man." All ages, all countries, all ranks, and all characters are the subjects of this call. The old and the young, the rich and the poor, the learned and the ignorant, are without exception called by Christ. This salvation is as free as the air we breathe, the rain that waters the earth, or the light that flows from the sun. This call is particular. He calls, O reader, "for thee." You must not lose yourself in a crowd; you must not perplex yourself with difficulties; you must not erect barriers where Jesus has put none; you must not tarry till you are better. Thy name is "sinner," and the call is as much for you as if you were called by name. This call is earnest. He stands at the door of thy heart, and knocks for admittance. How long has he stood there? How often has he knocked there? So earnest is he, that he wept over Jerusalem, saying, "How often would I have |