come on foot. Who most frequently excuse their non-attendance? The strong and healthful; not the indisposed and weak. Who sleep during the Service? Not the poor and laborious, who have seldom an hour of repose-but the lazy and genteel, who never know what fatigue means. It was a trial of principle in this man to open his house to Paul. It would create him inconvenience, and trouble, and expense; and it would draw upon him danger and reproach; as it was an open avowal of his adherence to the cause; and he knew that the sect was every where spoken against. How many professors of religion, yielding to their selfish and dastardly reasonings, would have refused. They would have said-But what will people think of me? What will my relations say? And may not my business suffer? We are never prepared for a course of godliness till we can give up every thing to God, especially our paltry reputation, and our worldly profit. Bunyan, with as much truth as genius, places all the pilgrims under the conduct of Mr. Great-Heart. It is to intimate that we shall need courage every step of the way to the shining city. Let us consult not with flesh and blood, but only with conviction; and go forth to the Saviour without the camp, bearing his reproach. We shall then, not only retain peace of mind, but please Him whose lovingkindness is better than life. Did Obededom repent of taking in the ark? The Lord blessed his house, and all that pertained to him. Who was ever a loser by any thing he did for the cause of God? Who can be a loser while He remains true who has said, Them that honour me I will honour. They shall prosper that love Zion? What Justus did in accommodating Paul, rewarded and dignified him; and it is now told for a memorial of him. How must it have delighted him to see the good that was done under his own roof! There is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth. But here a man of some rank and influence, Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believes-nor is this all. His house too is added to the Lord! Yea, and many of the Corinthians, hearing, believe and are baptized! Yet Paul baptized but few of them. And when he wrote his epistle to these people, he rejoiced in the fact. This has puzzled those who look upon the dispensation of the sacraments, as they are called, as by far the most honourable and sacred part of the ministerial function. And in all our churches persons are allowed to preach before they are authorized to administer. And many reasons have been alleged, to account, consistently with this-for Paul's conduct in thanking God, that in all the time he staid here, and notwithstanding the multitude of converts, he had only baptized Crispus and Gaius, and the household of Stephanus. But the reason he himself assigns overturns an unscriptural notion and practice-He had devolved upon others the baptism of the new converts, because, says he, Jesus Christ sent me not to baptize-which outward form could be dispensed by others of inferior station and talent; but-which is by far the most important and difficult part of my office-to preach the Gospel. JUNE 25.-" The ark of the Covenant of the Lord went before them in the three days' journey, to search out a resting-place for them." Numb. x. 33. THAT is, the Lord did this. But the Ark was the symbol of his presence, and the seat of his residence; from which, by the cloud, he regulated all their movements. Yet the expression is still metaphorical; and we must not suffer the condescension of his language to injure the glory of his perfections. He feels no perplexity. He never deliberates; never examines; never searches: for "there is nothing that is not manifest in his sight." But as men do this, and must do this, if they would avoid mistakes, and decide and act judiciously: the Lord thus intimates-that his wisdom was concerned in all their journeyings; and that his people may keep their minds in perfect peace, being stayed on him-for, as strangers and pilgrims on the earth, he careth for them-they are under his guidance-nothing befals them by chance. All their removals, and their rests ; all their situations, their trials, their comforts; are chosen for them by the only wise God their Saviour, who is always on the look-out for them-" For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him." He not only leads his people in the way that they should go, but is concerned to afford them repose, as well as direction. Thus, in his promise to Moses, he said, "My Presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest." Thus, in the review of his goodness, he says, by Jeremiah, "The people which were left of the sword found grace in the Wilderness, even Israel, when I went to cause him to rest." Thus here he searched out for them a restingplace-in their journey, and-after it. To the former, Moses refers, when he says, "The Lord your God went in the way before you, to search you out a place to pitch your tents in"-before they were required to lay them entirely aside. Thus, before they reached Canaan, he led them into many resting. places; in some of which they continued only days; in some, weeks; in some, months; and in a few, even years. It was a fine resting-place when they came to Elim, where were twelve wells of water, and threescore and ten palm-trees-But this was at the beginning of their journey, and designed to encourage them. They could not look for many 30 VOL. I. stations like this. Each, however, which they successfully occupied, was of the Lord's selecting. We may apply this to the temporal residences of Christians. How moveable have some of them been! But He has led them from one situation to another and it should be satisfying for them to think that he could find a better resting-place for them than they could have chosen for themselves, for he perfectly knows both the place and the persons. Sometimes the lines fall to them in agreeable scenes; and he kindly exceeds their hopes. In other cases, the abode is less inviting; and even trying. But they must acquiesce, without murmuring or complaining, in their Conductor's disposalconscious that they are not worthy of the least of all his mercies; and remembering that they are not yet come unto "the rest and inheritance which the Lord giveth them." In It will apply, also, to their spiritual peace and refreshment in their travels. "Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls." There are spiritual resting-places on this side heaven. their acquaintance with his Throne, his House, his Day, his Word, the Covenant of Peace-here he affords them the shadow of a great rock in a weary land. Here he maketh his flock to rest at noon. Here they lie down in green pastures, and are fed beside the still waters. But the principal resting-place he sought out for them was at their journey's end. It was Canaan"In the day I lifted up my hand unto them, to bring them forth of the land of Egypt, into a land that I had espied for them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all lands." Yet there is a better country. And this, Christian, He is looking out for you! Whatever you now enjoy, your repose is imperfect and interrupted. Something, aloud or in whisper, says-Arise, and depart hence; for this is not your rest. But there remaineth a rest for the people of God. A rest from all toil and temptation. From all sorrow and sin. A rest not only in God, but a rest with him. "O glorious hour! O bless'd abode ! JUNE 26.-" And upon this came his disciples, and marvelled that he talked with the woman: yet no man said, What seekest thou? or, Why talkest thou with her ?" John iv. 27. THAT is, immediately upon the conversation, and just as he had said to her, I that speak unto thee am the Messiah. Thus their return broke off the conference; and the woman was probably grieved to see the disciples so near at hand. Our most interesting interviews in this world, are often and soon interrupted. It is sweet to hold converse with our fellow-Christians and with ministers; and it is far sweeter still to hold communion with the Saviour. There are moments in the sanctuary and the closet, when we can say, "While such a scene of sacred joys But not only our sinful distractions, but our lawful connexions, and businesses, and cares, invade and dispe se our enjoyments; and make us long after |
