the out-pouring of the Holy Ghost?"Woe unto thee, Chorazin, woe unto thee, Bethsaida; for if the mighty works which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, in sackcloth and ashes. But, I say unto you, it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you." "That servant which knew his Lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall much be required; and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more."

Let each one then, with deep solicitude, ask himself this serious question: Do I bear the character, and manifest the spirit of those primitive believers, to whom St. Paul wrote with such paternal affection ?

To ascertain this important point, still further inquire: Do I believe in Jesus with all my heart? Is my love to him supreme and fervent ? Am I reposing all my hopes of glory upon his atonement, righteousness, and intercession ? Do the fruits of the Spirit appear and abound within me? Am I delivered from the pollutions and vanities of the world? Is holiness the element in

which I desire to live? Do I crucify the flesh, with the affections and lusts, and, through the Spirit, mortify the deeds of the body?

If our hearts can give the faithful affirmative; if we can truly say, that we love Jesus, and long

to be for ever with him; and if our daily walk bears witness to the sincerity of this our profession then we may read these beautiful Epistles, as if they were addressed to ourselves, and take all the promises of forgiveness, reconciliation, strength, and consolation which are contained in them to our personal comfort; and in the fulness of faith, and hope, and charity, rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory.

The praising Christian is the happy Christian. God wills the happiness of his people, and is Himself the source of their happiness.

The heart of St. Paul was peculiarly suscep-
Divine grace shone

tible of grateful emotions.

forth with such a loveliness in all his actions, as renders the contemplation of his character and experience most interesting to the Christian mind.

Let us hear some of his sweet accents of praise, as expressed to the churches which he had been instrumental in forming, in the midst of idolatrous abominations.

To the Christians at Rome: "I thank my God, through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world ?”

To the Corinthians: "I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ."

To the Philippians: "I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, for your fellowship in the Gospel from the first day until now.

To the Colossians: "We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, since we

heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints."

To the Thessalonians: "We give thanks to God always for you all, remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in the Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father, knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God. We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth."

Having himself tasted the goodness of the Lord, the Apostle was delighted when he saw other poor sinners led by the Spirit, to the same fountain of grace and mercy.

What a happy feeling is holy gratitude, when it expands itself toward that Saviour whose bounty is ever affording fresh occasion for its rapturous

emotion.

Those cold hearted Christians lose much spiritual enjoyment, who would exclude the exercise of the affections from their system of religion.

As some persons, through the corruption of their hearts, "turn the grace of God into lasciviousness," and others, let their passions run mad into the wilds of enthusiasm; so many, to avoid these evils, as they think, oppose the glorious freeness of Gospel grace, and the lively exercise of sanctified affections. But, unless the affections of the heart be engaged, little progress will be made in the divine life, by the mere knowledge of the

head. With the heart man believeth unto righte ousness; Christ dwells in the heart by faith.

True faith is not a cold assent of the understanding; it is a divine grace wrought in the heart by the Holy Ghost, which exercises the highest powers, and the best affections of the soul. It unites the believer to Christ, works by love, and binds all the members of his mystical body together, by the indissoluble bond of charity.

Are we in possession of this Gospel grace? If not, are we seeking after it, with an earnestness which will ensure the blessing? Faithful is he who hath promised, who also will do it. Jesus, who bids us ask, will never fail to bestow the gift which his Spirit stirs us up to seek.

How encouraging are the words of David: "Lord, thou hast heard the desire of the poor; thou preparest their heart, and thine ear hearkeneth thereto."

CHAPTER VII.

THE PRAYERS OF ST. PAUL FOR THE CHRISTIAN

CONVERTS. HIS LABOUR TO PROMOTE THE STA-
BILITY OF BELIEVERS. THE LOVE OF CHRIST

HIS GOVERNING PRINCIPLE. HIS BENEVOLENT
EXERTIONS FOR THE POOR SAINTS IN JUDÆA.

THE heart of St. Paul glowed with holy love, and was ever sending forth its fervent aspirations to a throne of grace, in behalf of the objects of his affection.

He knew the value of prayer. To thanksgivings for the spiritual blessings imparted to the Gentile Christians, he added earnest supplications, that they might grow in grace and hold fast the beginning of their confidence, firm unto the end.

What a beautiful example of ministerial faithfulness is thus afforded by this tender-hearted shepherd, to all succeeding pastors in the Christian Church. How sublime and energetic, how full of life and unction, are the prayers which he poured out in behalf of those newly converted believers, to whom he wrote his Epistles.

He has left us a most invaluable specimen of that fervent prayer which availeth much. May