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clarations, that he ftill wifhed to encourage others in the faith, and exulted in his own profpects of heaven. How animated are his expreffions! "I am not afhamed; for I know whom I have believed, and am perfuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day*.” "I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my courfe, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteoufnefs, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, fhall give me at that day and not to me only, but unto all them alfo that love his appearing †.' The knowledge and the love of Chrift will enable us likewise to speak the fame language, and infpire us with confidence and joy, though we fhould fee death approaching in the most tremendous forms. Ah! how few have felt the full influence of the Gofpel, or attained its exalted privileges! This may teach us to account for our floth and cowardice. While we are ftrangers to the grace of Jefus, it is no wonder that we decline every arduous fervice, and tremble at the intimations of our diffolution.

A. D.

67.

St. Paul clofed his life in the most honourable manner, and fealed with his blood the doctrines, which he had long fo zealously maintained, He fuffered about the fame time as St. Peter, but not by crucifixion: being a Roman citizen he was beheaded. It is furprifing, not that he was cut off by the hand of violence at laft, but that fo firm an advocate for the Gofpel fhould be fpared fo long, in the midft of powerful and malignant op: pofers. How eminent does his character appear ! How valuable his labours!. How glorious his death! Do we not confider his crown of martyrdom, as an enviable distinction? Let us fight the good

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fight of faith; and we also fhall conquer, as he did, when taking leave of the world.

He was exalted above others by his wifdom, zeal, and fuccefs; by gifts, vifions, and revelations of the Lord. "He was caught up into paradife, and heard unfpeakable words." He was not a whit be

hind the very chiefeft Apoftles † :" nay, he "laboured more abundantly than they all t," and, probably, poffeffed peculiar powers and authority in his high function. But, notwithstanding his honourable privileges, his fufferings were extreme and even in these he seemed more efpecially to exult. Let us hear his own account: "We are troubled on every fide,-perplexed,-perfecuted,-cast down, always, bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jefus :" "in all things approving ourselves as the minifters of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in neceffities, in diftreffes, in ftripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings +." "Of the Jews five times received I forty ftripes fave one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I ftoned, thrice I fuffered fhipwreck; a night and a day I have been in the deep in journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the fea, in perils among false brethren; in wearinefs and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirft, in faftings often, in cold and nakednefs. Befides thofe things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches **."

He had one particular trial, of which a clear ac-' count is not given us. He calls it a thorn in the

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*

flesh;" which implies that it was fomething as painful to his mind, as any fharp or pointed inftrument, continually piercing him, would be to his body. Some fuppofe it to have been a deformed appearance, or difficulty of elocution, with which his enemies upbraided him, and he himself was diftreffed, as it rendered his preaching lefs acceptable. The objection was urged; "His bodily prefence is weak, and his fpeech contemptible +."

As this feemed likely to obftruct his usefulness, it excited the keener anguish. His fpiritual adverfary took the advantage, and made it the ground of a fevere temptation: it was, therefore, the meffenger of Satan to buffet him." Yet God permitted it for his good, and defigned it to prevent or counteract any bad effect, which his eminence in the Church might produce upon his mind; "left he fhould be exalted above measure through the abundance of his revelations." In this, however, as in other trials, he fought relief from heaven. He prayed with peculiar importunity, and obtained that remarkable affurance from the Saviour, "My grace is fufficient for thee: for my ftrength is made perfect in weaknefs." Then his fears were difperfed; and, perceiving a peculiar fuitablenefs and mercy in the appointment, he declared, "Moft gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Chrift may reft upon me." The example is highly inftructive: it fhews us the nature, neceffity, and falutary tendency of those calamities and temptations, by which advanced believers are frequently oppreffed; but it likewife teaches us, with what temper of mind we should fuffer, and what ftrong fupport and confolation we may expect, if we confide in the Redeemer.

After all, the most diftinguishing lineaments in the Apostle's character were an unfhaken and affec

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tionate

tionate attachment to his Lord, an extenfive and generous benevolence to men, and an ardent defire to fave their fouls, whatever dangers he himself might fuftain. The warmeft profeffions feemed too weak to exprefs the fervour of his heart. What words are thofe! "The love of Chrift conftraineth us *." "I will very gladly fpend and be spent for you, though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved t." "Yea, and if I be offered upon the fa crifice and fervice of your faith, I joy and rejoice: with you all."

We are aware, that even a diftant refemblance and imitation of the pattern here exhibited would now be laughed at, as the fure mark of madness and enthufiafm. But the fear of fuch reproach ought not to deter us: it will be an honourable badge, in which we may glory. Few, alas! are in danger of coming under that cenfure. Are we not very remote from that peculiar excellency of temper and conduct, for which the Apoftle has been fo justly celebrated ? And will it avail us any thing, to admire this bright example, or that of any other faint, if we perfift in thofe practices, which are totally diffimilar and oppofite? No: we fhall thereby betray, more evidently, our own bafenefs, and enfure our final condemnation. But, if with fincerity of heart we defire and endeavour to follow St. Paul, as he followed. Chrift, we may triumph in the hope of being where he is, and joining the glorious company of those, who are redeemed to God from the earth, and who fhall furround his throne for ever.

# 2 Cor. v. 14. † xii. 15.

Phil. ii. 17.

S 4

CORNELIUS

CORNELIUS.

CHAP. X.

Cornelius, a Roman Centurion-his devotion and liberality-encouraged by an Angel, and directed to fend for St. Peter-received the Apostle, defired his inftructions, and during his addrefs was endued with the Holy Ghoft-baptized-requefied Peter's continuance-probably retained his fituation in the army.

THE calling of the Gentiles and their admiffion

into the Chriftian Church is an event of great importance in ecclefiaftical hiftory; and a diftinct account is given us of the way, in which that gracious difpenfation was introduced. The Apoftles had been charged to teach all nations, and receive by baptism thofe, who fhould profefs the faith*; but fo partial were their views, fo bigotted their minds in favour of the Jews, that a particular revelation feemed neceffary to explain to them the extent of their commiffion, and difpofe them to accept the Gentiles as fellow heirs. At length, the divine will being manifested in such a manner as to exclude all doubt, the partition wall was broken down: those, who had been "aliens from the commonwealth of Ifrael," were taken into the Church of Chrift, and admitted to its full privileges.

Cornelius, a Roman Centurion, was felected from the Pagan world, as the first inftance of this diftinguifhed mercy, and, by the express appointment of Heaven, enrolled among the number of the faithful *.

*Matt. xxviii. 19. + A&ts x. I, &c.

We

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