together: partly to support the pastors and teachers, and partly to assist the destitute persons of the flock. Sometimes, as on this occasion, there was a further call, for the relief of more distant brethren. These were of the same family, though settled elsewhere: still they were disciples of the same Lord, and had the same faith and hope as the Christians of Antioch. So that every man, according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judea.

Charity, however, like wisdom, "dwells with prudence." The fund which might have been useless, perhaps injurious, unless placed under discreet management, was entrusted to the care of the elders. Elders, it appears, had been ordained, as was indispensable, over the different churches throughout Judea. And the distribution of the relief fund was placed in their hands.

It is thus that God intends that Christians should minister to one another. He has placed them in different ranks, and with different opportunities, and has given them a bond of union. They are not connected by an uniform condition, which is contrary to the course of the world. But they are connected by a common interest, under which what is superfluous to some, makes up what is wanting to others. So "the rich and the poor meet together: the Lord is the maker of them all."

8 See Prov. viii. 12.

9 See Note, p. 144.

1 Prov. xxii. 2.

LECTURE XXXV.

THE APOSTLE JAMES IS PUT TO DEATH BY HEROD, AND PETER IMPRISONED.

A. D. 44.

ACTS xii. 1-5.

1. Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church.

2. And he killed James the brother of John with the sword.

never

The disposition to vex the church was wanting. There were times when "the churches had rest." But the malignity of the Jews towards those who acknowledged Jesus as the Messiah remained like a violent stream, sometimes pent up within its banks, but always ready at any opportunity to break out, and overwhelm the christian disciples who were quietly pursuing their own way. The present king or ruler, Herod Agrippa, grandson of him who had beheaded John the Baptist, was a willing instrument of persecution. And now he fulfils the Lord's prediction concerning James. The mother of James and John, (Matt. xx. 20,) had desired of the Lord for her two sons, that "they might sit, the one on his right hand, the other on his left, in his kingdom." This led

him to intimate that his kingdom was not such as they supposed, or mankind covet: that, as it regarded this world, its honours were dangers, its rewards sufferings. "Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They say unto him, We are able. And he said unto them, Ye shall indeed drink of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with.”

This was now accomplished in the case of James. The Father gave him a share of the bitter cup, of which Christ had drunk before. He was baptized with the baptism of blood and death. But there was another prophecy which should support him unto the end. "He that loveth his life shall lose it and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it."

Now, for the first time, as far as we are told, was a breach made in the number of the twelve: the number first chosen to "go into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature." When Judas" fell by transgression" from his office, Matthias was admitted in his stead. But the Head of the Church did not design that any should supply the place of James. The apostles' office was but for a time, till "the gospel of the kingdom should be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations."2 Elders, as we have seen, or 2 Ibid. xxiv. 14.

1 Matthew x. 39.

presbyters of congregations, and afterwards bishops of districts, carried on the government of the church.

3. And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.)

4. And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people.

3

The business of a ruler is to do justice and love mercy. Herod the king had no such principle of action. He desired power, and he desired popularity that he might maintain his power. And, therefore, when he saw that his cruelty to James pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. His grandfather had been a like character, regarding men, and not God. He "was exceeding sorry" to command that John the Baptist should be beheaded: "nevertheless for the oath's sake, and those that sat at meat with him," he consented to gratify Herodias. * Pilate was a like character. He, too, was earnestly desirous to release Jesus, and he would have released him, if the chief priests had not reminded him, that if he let that man go, he would not be "Cæsar's friend."

See Rom. xiii. 1-7.

4 Matt. xiv. 9.

This hint prevailed, and he delivered up Jesus to be crucified.

How different the conduct which is governed by the fear of God! The apostles had more cause than Herod to desire the favour of the Jewish authorities. Yet they, when they were commanded not to preach at all or teach in the name of Jesus, -they immediately replied, "We cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard." St. Paul truly says, "If I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ." No one can be the servant of Christ, who makes it his object to please men. He may obtain, and is not unlikely to obtain, the approbation of God and of men also. But he will never be approved of God if he seeks first to be approved of men.

5. Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for

him.

Herod had means in his power to guard Peter. He had a prison at his command in which to confine him he had soldiers under orders to watch him. Four quaternions, or sixteen men, had him in charge. A particular time was fixed, when Jerusalem was full, and the festival of the passover had excited the minds of the people, when he should be brought forth, and made the sport of their violence and malice.

Meanwhile the Christians were not idle. They,