change his skin, or the leopard his spots? Then may ye also do good, who are accustomed to do evil."

It is highly probable that the eunuch was not only a resident, but a native of the country, for he is termed by the historian, "a man of Ethiopia." His station in society was high and distinguished: nay, he was invested with great authority in the court itself, for he held the responsible post of treasurer to Queen Candace.

Nor is this a solitary instance in the records of God's word of the confidence which the piety of a true worshipper of Jehovah has inspired in the breast of an idolater. Joseph entered Egypt as "a bond slave. But behold, his Master perceived, ere long, that the Lord was with him, and that the Lord made all that he did to prosper in his hands. And Joseph found grace in his sight, and he served him and he made him overseer over his house; and all that he had he put into his hand. So also was it with those dis

tinguished servants of God, David and Daniel-David in the land of the Philistines, and Daniel in the court of Babylon.

How this eunuch became acquainted with the worship of the true God we have no certain means of ascertaining: but it is evident that he was a sincere and conscientious proselyte to the Jewish faith. No sinister motive could exist to lead him to the profession of a religion strange to his sovereign and his country. Nor could any other motive than a good one induce him to undertake a long and wearisome journey to Jerusalem to worship the God of the Jews. He was doubtless a devout and conscientious character, a firm believer in the truth of Scripture, and a sincere inquirer after divine knowledge.

And should we not learn, brethren, from this, to bless God for our more convenient opportunities of public worship, and our more frequent means of grace, and

to take care lest our slothful and irregular attendance upon them prove our snare and our ruin. How few are there who are willing to make self-denying exertions to go up to the house of their God. If the distance be somewhat fatiguing, or the weather a little unfavourable, oh how contentedly will many remain at home, hushing every whisper of the inward

monitor with some vain excuse! The Ethiopian eunuch travelled many hundred miles that he might see the fair beauty of the Lord, and inquire in his temple. But there are professing Christians who scruple not to excuse their non-attendance, though they have hardly as many hundred yards to go.

But, some will be ready to ask, May we not worship God as acceptably at home in our private closets? Undoubtedly, if not you, in your wilfulness, but He in his Providence, detain you there. Otherwise -so to apologize for our indolence, our heartlessness, our repugnance to self-dis

cipline and self-denial, what is it better than to mock God? And supposing that we could, under all circumstances, obtain as much instruction, edification, and enjoyment by perusing the scriptures at home, as by hearing them read and expounded by God's appointed ministers in the assembly of the saints, would that circumstance justify our justify our non-attendance? What is it to gain instruction, or comfort, or edification to ourselves alone, that we meet together in the sanctuary? Is there no communion of saints to be maintained? Have our brethren and fellow disciples no voice in the matter? Above all, are we to leave out of the question, the honour of our God, the praise and glory of our Redeemer ? When the hour for general worship arrives-when the church-going bell is heard to echo the call, “O come, let us sing unto the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the Rock of our salvation. O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the Lord our Maker"-how

cold must be the heart, how selfish and unsocial the feelings of him, who can contentedly refuse the summons, and satisfy the sabbath evening demands by drawing near to his own comfortable fire-side, and there quietly "sacrificing unto God that which costs him nothing."

you, my

Are any of beloved brethren, thus tempted to forsake, in some degree, the assembling of yourselves together, and to make vain and frivolous excuses for your partial neglect? Anticipate, I beseech you, the period when no excuses will be needed. When sickness, or infirmities, or age shall incapacitate you, and when your opportunities of regular attendance shall have ceased. Yes, remember now your Creator-honour him now in his outward courts, and among his assembled people, in the days of your sprightly youth, or vigorous manhood, or green old age, before the evil days of pain and infirmity arrive, when you shall say, "I have no pleasure in them."

But the piety of this distinguished