hearts in this warfare against all seductions of our friends, all intimidation of our enemies. We must be ready not to be bound only, not only to bear lesser evils with Christian fortitude and patience, but to die also, to suffer any extremity; even the loss of life itself, for the name, and in the cause, of Christ.

When the Apostle's friends beheld the nobleness and resolution of his mind, they acquiesced; and with that piety which the true Christian only can experience, they said, "The will of the Lord be done!"-The die was now cast. A very few miles of the journey remained. St. Luke, who still continued in the company, finishes his account of it in few words. "And after those days, we took up our carriages, and went up to Jerusalem."

The conclusion of this journey brings me to the conclusion of this section of my Lectures. I feel, and I doubt not, my Brethren, from your obliging attention and unremitted attendance, that you join with me in sentiment, that the narrative of the travels of St. Paul is both interesting, as a part of the history of a good man, and conducive to our everlasting salvation, as the recorded, and divinely attested, proceedings of an eminent Apostle of Christ. From a due consideration of his painful journeys and personal sufferings, his eloquent and persuasive discourses, his pathetic addresses and miracles wrought in attestation of the truth of the Gospel, let us draw a strong argument in confirmation of that faith which he taught. To be able to trace thus calmly, and appreciate truly, so many, and

such important events in the infancy of the Christian Church, can be ascribed only to that supreme and providential care, which, in every age, has guarded, improved, and enlarged the fold of Christ; which has blessed it from time to time with faithful and true pastors; and which, by the promised and constant influence of the divine Spirit of truth, will continue to preserve it for a further increase of glory.

END OF SECTION The third.

SECTION IV.

LECTURE XXII.

ACTS XXI. 16. XXII. 1-29.

St. Paul's Arrival at Jerusalem.-Apprehension in the Temple. -Defence from the Stairs of the Castle. Jerusalem, A.D. 60.

If we select from the history of all nations, one particularly distinguished by wonderful and supernatural events, governed, for a long series of years, by the immediate agency of Heaven, and continually the object of kind entreaties, and warm expostulations, from venerable, and divinely inspired prophets, and teachers-that nation is the nation of the Jews. If we select from that nation one city, the scene of these great and astonishing events, eminent above all others for the favour of God, the splendour of public worship, the highest motives of piety; and yet, in opposition to all warnings, to all

threatenings, throwing down the sacred altar of Jehovah, slaying her prophets with the sword, and finally rejecting the holy messenger of the new covenant-that city is the city of Jerusalem. If we go one step further, and observe the temporal result of this infatuated conduct, if we contemplate the fall of this once celebrated city, her sumptuous temple overturned to its very foundation, her gay palaces levelled with the dust, many thousands' of her people destroyed in one siege, the rest dispersed to the four corners of the globe, and their posterity remaining to this day a monument of divine displeasure; surely we must confess, that a succession of more extraordinary occurrences will not be found in the history of mankind.

How pathetically have the ancient prophets lamented over the sins of Jerusalem! “Who shall have pity upon thee, O Jerusalem? Or who shall bemoan thee? Or who shall go aside to ask, how thou dost ?" How deep and heartfelt too was the compassion of Jesus for this favoured, but devoted city! When he was rudely accosted by the Pharisees with this stern command," Get thee out, and depart hence, for Herod will kill thee;" he is not diverted either from the end, or place, of his mission; his mind rests upon Jerusalem, where the most revered of the prophets had suffered before him. “It cannot be," he says "that a prophet perish out of Jerusalem.” And reflecting on the magnitude of her approaching punishment, he ex

1 1,100,000. Jos.

↑ Jer. xv. 5.

claims, in language beautiful and impressive, " O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not!" Behold! I see it clearly as if the dreadful day were now before my eyes. "Behold!

your house is left unto you desolate '."

To this city, now within ten years of its destruction, we accompanied the venerable Paul at the conclusion of the last Lecture. It has pleased God, after some changes, to which I will not now refer 2, to bring us together again, that we may finish these interesting travels together. Unintimidated by those apprehensions so warmly expressed by his friends on his journey, the Apostle boldly entered Jerusalem; and though another city, and another period, were selected by Providence for the termination of his useful labours, this place, and this occasion, may be considered as the commencement of his martyrdom. In the course of nature, death constitutes but a single act. "It is appointed unto men once to die 3;" yet, morally speaking, the afflicted suffer many deaths. The appointment of Providence must be fulfilled both in their personal sufferings, and in the effect which their conduct may have upon others. Thus it happened to St. Paul in many periods of his varied life. “I protest by your rejoicing, he says, which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily"

1 Luke xiii. 31, &c.

2 The Author being removed to another benefice.
4 1 Cor. xv. 31.

3 Heb. ix. 27.