truth of what they taught and asserted, by laying down their lives in its defence.

This then was the provision, which was made by the Author of truth, for establishing the Gospel in the belief of after ages; first, an authentic narrative of the things which Jesus did and taught while he was upon earth, written by, or immediately derived from, those who saw him with their own eyes, and heard him with their own ears; and, secondly, some account of the proceedings of these witnesses; of the proofs which they gave of their sincerity; and of the effects which were produced upon their contemporaries, who were best able to judge of both. The former of these documents we possess in the Gospel History; the latter in the Acts of the Apostles; some of the most remarkable features of which I intend to make the subject of my present course of Lectures.

I need hardly inform you that this book was written by St. Luke, the companion of St. Paul; and addressed to the same Theophilus, for whose information, more especially, he had composed his Gospel. It was therefore natural that the transactions of St. Paul should occupy a prominent station in this history. But there is another reason why St. Luke devoted the greater part of

this book to the ministry of that great Apostle, and no inconsiderable portion also to the acts of St. Peter; while but little in comparison is said of the other Apostles; namely, that his object was, more particularly, to set forth that grand feature of the Gospel scheme, which was for a time mysterious, and ill understood, even to the Apostles themselves, the admission of the Gentiles into the new covenant. In this part of the Gospel dispensation we ourselves are more particularly concerned; and therefore the Acts of the Apostles, independently of the attestation which is borne to the truth of Christianity itself, can never be otherwise than a book of great interest and importance to us, as establishing and illustrating the comprehensive mercy of God, in the redemption, not only of his chosen people, but of all mankind.

Not that this is the only point of view in which this portion of the New Testament is to be regarded by us with devout attention and respect. It is most important, as exhibiting brief, but striking specimens of the method, in which the Apostles executed their high commission; the arguments which they used; the motives which they urged; the conformity which, as preachers of the Gospel, they required, first

from the Jews, and afterwards from the Gentiles. It is also important, as throwing light upon the Epistles written by those holy men to the primitive Churches; while, in return, the allusions, incidentally made in those Epistles to circumstances related in the History of the Acts, are strong confirmations of its authenticity and correctness.*

In the beginning of the narrative, St. Luke states a fact deserving of notice, that during the forty days which our Saviour passed upon earth, between his resurrection and ascension, he not only proved the reality of his resurrection by many infallible proofs, to those who were to be the witnesses of that wonderful fact; but spoke to them of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God; that is, he explained to them both the doctrines of the Gospel, and the methods by which they were to be propagated. He instructed them in that truth, which they were all along so reluctant to admit, that his kingdom was not of this world; that it was a spiritual kingdom, to be established in the hearts and consciences of men, not by the weapons of a carnal warfare, but by the gifts and powers of the Holy Ghost, which were mighty to the pulling

* For a full and striking development of this argument, the reader is referred to Dr. Paley's Hora Paulina.

*

down of strong holds.* And yet even these discourses of their Divine Master did not entirely eradicate from their minds the long cherished expectation, that he would yet, before his final departure from the world, restore to its ancient power and splendour the commonwealth of Israel. The very last question which they proposed to him, was this, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore the kingdom to Israel? Our Lord tells them in reply, that the particular time and manner, in which God would accomplish those prophecies which spoke of the universal prevalence and final triumph of the Messiah's kingdom, was a secret which he had reserved to himself; that in the mean time, they were to assert his spiritual supremacy, and to build up his kingdom on the foundations which he had laid; and that power should be given them for the effectual performance of that work, in the miraculous progress of which they were to discern a pledge of its final success and consummation.

Amongst the things pertaining to the kingdom of God, of which our blessed Lord discoursed with his Apostles, we may reasonably conclude, was a fuller development of many of those mysteries of the kingdom, of which, during his ministry, he

* 12 Cor. x. 4.

had spoken only in parables, or by implication. He himself had said to them, with reference to the high and spiritual nature of his doctrines, and the then partially enlightened minds of his disciples, I have yet many things to say unto you; but ye cannot bear them now.* Nor were even the last discourses of their Lord sufficient entirely to clear away all misapprehension and prejudice; but the direct and powerful influence of the Spirit was required: Howbeit when He, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth. Upon the fulfilment of this promise depended the credibility and authority of the Apostles, as the preachers of a new religion. It was therefore expedient that its accomplishment should be public, notorious, and unquestionable; and that it should take place at Jerusalem; in order that the Jews, as they had before had opportunities of witnessing the most remarkable proofs of the divine authority of Jesus Christ, might also be witnesses of one grand and indubitable attestation to the heavenly mission of his Apostles; that so their unbelief might be without excuse, and the justice of God, as well as his mercy, might be manifested, in the preaching of the Gospel to the Gentiles.

* John xvi. 12.