of taking his departure for Jerusalem, "the Holy Ghost witnessing in every city that bonds and imprisonment " awaited him," still he felt no concern for his own safety. No: he anticipated without terror his probable reception there. With a noble disregard of all personal considerations, he exclaims "but "none of these things move me, neither "count I my life dear, so that I may "finish my course with joy, and the "ministry which I have received of the "Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God."+

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If none of these things moved him, then whence arose the sorrow he so keenly felt? It arose from no selfish cause; it sprung from a consideration far superior to that tender feeling, that they should meet no more, though that too

* Acts, xx.

† We make no apology for the repeated references to this portion of this most interesting chapter.

he

he would deeply regret; it was occasioned by reflection on the future condition of the church, and a prophetic view of that corruption of doctrine to which he foresaw his beloved converts would be soon exposed.

which we allude.

There is something singularly beautiful in the dignity, simplicity, and godly sincerity of this apostolic charge, to With humble confidence, he refers his audience to their own knowledge of his whole conduct. He assures them, that neither any fears of the insidious Jews, always on the watch to circumvent him, nor the hostility of the idolatrous Gentiles, always ready to oppose him, had ever driven him to withhold any important truth, any salutary admonition. He slightly touches on the two fundamental truths on which all his instructions had been built, faith and repentance then he reminds them, that not satisfied with the public exercise of

his function, he had practised that subsidiary and valuable method of instruction- private visits at the houses of individuals a method equally practicable in all ages of the church; equally desirable to all who wish to gain a real acquaintance, in the intervals of public service, with the necessities, the infirmities, and the sins of their respective hearers. This would enable him to perform his stated ministrations with tenfold effect. It would initiate him into the endless variety of characters of which every audience is composed; it would enable the teacher to be more personal in his exhortations, more pointed in his reproofs, more specific in his instruction, than he could be when he addressed them in the great assembly. It would also qualify him for more extensive usefulness in those public addresses by the materials which he was thus collecting. It would be among the means also to win their affection and increase their attachment, when they saw

that

that his zeal for their spiritual advancement was large and cordial; that he did not content himself with the stipulated scantling of bare-weight duty; that he. did not deal out his instruction with a legal scrupulosity, but was willing to spend, and desirous to be spent, for them.

With what a holy satisfaction did the conscience of the apostle further testify that no desire of pleasing, no fear of offending, had prevented him from delivering wholesome truths, because they might be unpalatable! What an awful intimation to every ambassador of Christ, that this indefatigable apostle, at the moment of final separation, could call on all present to testify that whatever might have been the negligence of the hearer, the preacher" was pure from the blood "of all men;" that he had never been guilty of that false tenderness, of not declaring to them the whole counsel of God! He appeals to his disinterested

ness,

How

ness, that, so far from being influenced by any lucrative motive, he had laboured with his own hands, not only to support himself, but to assist the poor. touching, no doubt, to his hearers, was the intimation, that the same hands which had been raised for them in prayer, had been employed for their support!

This modest allusion to his own liberality, and to the personal labour which had enabled him to exercise it, was a proper parting lesson. It reminded his auditors that no part of his religion was merely theoretical. He had, doubtless, frequently insisted on the principle; he here shews them its practical effect; in this, as in other instances, pressing home every truth he taught by every virtue he exercised.

He concludes with a powerful application to his associates in the ministry,

to