had risen from the grave. And as in the fact they could not be deceived, so we may be sure that they were not deceivers, because all that they could gain was to be cast into bonds, or to be sentenced, as many were, to death. The resurrection from the dead is therefore certain. It is sure to take place, whether we wish for it or not. Christ has risen, and we must rise. We must rise, and stand before his judgment seat. For thus has He declared of Himself: "I am He that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death." Rev. 1. 18.

For

"On the morrow" the apostles were examined by the rulers. They spent therefore the whole night in the prison house; by which means it was perhaps thought that they would be daunted, and so more easily be persuaded to preach Christ no more. certainly if they had any doubt themselves about the truth of what they had to preach, they were less likely to be positive" on the morrow," after lying all night "in hold." But on the morrow when they are inquired of, "By what power, or by what name, have ye done this?" they plainly and courageously declare "by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole." "This," adds St. Peter, "this is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner." That is to say, in Jesus Christ was fulfilled this prophecy of David, in Him, and in his being rejected by the Jews." Neither is there salvation," he concludes, "in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved."

Here is a truth of most deep importance, set down in words of most plain application. Only by Christ can we be saved; only through the atonement of his blood, only by our faith in his name, that is to say, in Himself. None other name is given unto man. No other name, or thing, or being is there, in the whole coinpass of every thing that is, no other in which we may safely trust; not in our own works, not in our own faith, not in our own prayers, not in all the prayers, and all the faith, and all the works of all that ever prayed, believed, and wrought; but only in Jesus Christ, and Him crucified, in Him and in his dying for us on the cross. Through Him we may be saved; delivered from wrath, delivered from sin; made safe from sinning for the present, safe from condemnation in the end.

May God give us a saving faith in the merits of his Son our Lord! May God make us not ashamed of our Saviour's cross; not grieved at the thought of his being our Judge also! When we are tied with the chain of our sins, may God by his great mercy loose us; and when we are put in hold in the prison house of the grave, may He set us free for ever; for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord!

Peter and John threatened by the rulers.

13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.

14 And beholding the man which was healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it.

15 But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves,

16 Saying, What shall we do to these men? for that indeed a notable miracle hath been done by them is manifest to all them that dwell in Jerusalem; and we cannot deny it.

17 But that it spread no further among the people, let us straitly threaten them, that they

speak henceforth to no man in this name.

18 And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.

19 But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye.

20 For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.

21 So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding nothing how they might punish them, because of the people: for all men glorified God for that which was done.

22 For the man was above forty years old, on whom this miracle of healing was shewed.

LECTURE 367.

Christian confidence.

The rulers of the Jews marvelled at the boldness of St. Peter and St. John, because they "perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men." It was evident from their speech and manner that they had no advantages of human learning, no subtlety of worldly wisdom. This would indeed have made their courage past belief, if it were not that they had support from Heaven. And how but by such support can we account for the fact that they were not only bold, but also successful? How can we account for this whole history of the Acts of the apostles, of their preaching and prevailing against all kinds of opposition, except by the working of Almighty God? What they did was his doing, not theirs. His blessing it was that made their preaching prosper; his power that healed by their hands the sick.

The success of their apostleship in the conversion of the world may be to us at present the more striking of these two kinds of evidence. The miracles to those who witnessed them must have

yielded proof still more forcible. And this we are told was the case with the rulers: "beholding the man which was healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it." And why should they have wished to deny it? Why would any of mankind now prefer to prove if possible that the Gospel is not from God? Because the Gospel condemns things which they love to do. Because it orders them to do what they had rather not. Because it constrains them to feel what they are reluctant to admit, that they are in point of knowledge but little children, in point of goodness only abject sinners, in the sight of Almighty God. And so also the Jewish rulers had evil motives in their hearts for refusing to believe, even when at the time they owned to each other that a notable miracle had been done. And they refused to receive for their own eternal benefit that counsel of God for their salvation, of which they felt the proof to be so strong, that they feared it would spread abroad largely amongst the people.

The rulers feared, because they felt that they were wrong. They feared, because of the miracle. They feared, because of the people. They feared, because the miracle was so evident and so strange as to be likely to weigh greatly with all who heard of it. And accordingly they determined to threaten, what all the while they had no intention to perform. They hoped to influence the apostles by the same feeling of alarm which they felt to be so powerful in themselves. Thus to threaten is the common policy of worldly wisdom, and springs from two of the worst of failings, deceit and cowardice. Let us make it therefore our unalterable rule of practice, never in any way or at any time to threaten any thing which we do not at the time of threatening intend to do. Whether it be with children or with men that we are concerned, let us be assured that such plain dealing is both best for them, and best also for ourselves in the end. That which it is not well to do, it can never be well to threaten. That which we do not really mean, it must be always sin to say.

Whilst the rulers are afraid, the apostles are all courage. They reply in sincerity, as in God's presence, that they could not help bearing testimony to what they had seen and heard; and they put it to the rulers to decide whether they ought not to obey God rather than men. These are the true sources of holy confidence, a resolution to act according to God's will, and a conviction, after due pains taken to inquire, that we are in reality so acting. For what need we fear speaking, when we are persuaded that we speak the truth? Nay, how can we help speaking it, if it be a truth which we are commanded to profess? And what need we fear doing, when we believe that we are doing the will of God? Nay, how can we help doing it, what power shall hinder us, what threats deter, if it be both plainly God's will that we should do it, and plainly his promise that in doing it we shall enjoy his help, and attain unto the inheritance of his glory?

The prayer and conduct of the disciples.

23 And being let go, they went to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said unto them. 24 And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is:

25 Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things?

26 The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ.

27 For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together,

28 For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done.

29 And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word,

30 By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus.

31 And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.

32 And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.

33 And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all. 34 Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold,

35 And laid them down at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.

36 And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus,

37 Having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles' feet.

LECTURE 368.

The fruits of the Spirit.

In the imprisonment of the two apostles there had been fulfilled that which Jesus had forewarned them of, the being brought before rulers for his name's sake. See Luke 21. 12. On their deliverance "they went to their own company." And in the voice of praise, which all then uttered with one accord, they observed how thus also was fulfilled another and more ancient prophecy,

which God had spoken by the mouth of his servant David. For herein it was seen how utterly in vain the rulers had set themselves against Christ, in the persons of his ministers. And herein it was made manifest, that however perversely men may exercise the will given them by God, they cannot go beyond, or overturn what He for our good hath counselled, and what He will constrain even the most unwilling of us all, to help to bring to pass. How suitable at such a moment was the prayer which followed! how fit to compose their troubled thoughts, and to secure both for themselves and for their brethren the help they would now so greatly need! How profitable is it to us, as an example of how we ought in all our need to pray to God, and in all our deliverances to give Him thanks!

Thus therefore let us apply unto ourselves the two chief things which followed on this prayer of the disciples, and on their being filled with the Holy Ghost. First it is said, "they spake the word of God with boldness." Then it is added, they "were of one heart and one soul," and " they had all things in common." And these things are thus repeated, first, that "with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus;" and secondly, that the "possessors of lands or houses sold them," for distribution of the price amongst the rest.

And to make this

matter, strange as it must seem, more certain, there is added the name, the office, and the country, of one disciple who thus sold his land, and who was afterwards well known as the companion of St. Paul. Let us then seek for these proofs of our being filled with the Spirit. Let us speak the word with boldness. Let us never be afraid to own our convictions of the truth. Let us be glad of an opportunity to testify with all meekness, but at the same time with all courage, to testify the things which we believe, before those who are in error or in doubt. And secondly, let us labour after unity; let us strive to be of one heart and of one soul. Let us prove our affection for each other by the readiness with which we give up of what is ours for the use of those who are in greater need. Nothing is more helpful to us, if we would have weight in bearing testimony to our Lord, than to sit loose to the world and to such possessions as we have in it. "The love of money," St. Paul tells us, "is the root of all evil." 1 Tim. 6. 10. And in this practice of the primitive disciples, that they had all things in common, we see how thoroughly they laid the axe to the root of the tree. See Matth. 3. 10. Though we sell not all we have, let us use it, spend it, give it, as if it were not ours, but lent unto us by God for his service; not for the gratifying of our own vanity or sense, but for the honouring of his name by the benefiting of each other. Oh may God, who has given us all we have, incline us thus to give all to Him! Oh may we never either acquire or possess, never either spend or give, what we cannot lay as at the apostles' feet, an offering of devotion to our Lord!