panions went out to an oratory on the side of the river Gangites, and met with a few pious Jewish women and proselytes "which resorted thither." This humble spot was the scene of Paul's first preaching in Europe; but the divine blessing was vouchsafed, and the heart of Lydia was opened as she listened "unto the things which were spoken of Paul." It was 66 a man of Macedonia" that invited the apostle across into Europe; but his first convert was a woman of Thyatira in Asia. The dispossession of a female slave, "who had a spirit of divination," happened soon after; her rapacious and disappointed masters -a copartnery trading in fraud, misery, and souls-finding that the hope of their gain was gone, dragged Paul and Silas into the forum, before the magistrates, who on hearing the charge, and without any judicial investigation, ordered the servants of God to be scourged, and then imprisoned. But their courage failed them not. On losing a battle in that neighbourhood, the vanquished warriors dared not to survive their defeat. The intriguing Cassius, "the last of the Romans," hid himself in his tent, and in his panic ordered his freedman to strike. Brutus fell upon his sword, and his sullen and desperate spirit released itself by this self-inflicted wound. But Paul and Silas, unjustly condemned at the bidding of a mob, "thrust into the inner prison, and their feet made fast in the stocks," fixed in that tormenting position, and their backs covered with "wounds and bruises, and putrifying sores which had not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment"-these victims of wanton outrage did not bewail their fate, nor curse their oppressors, nor arraign a mysterious providence, nor resolve to quit a service which brought them into such troubles, and desert a Master who had not thrown around them the shield of His protection, nor conclude that the vision at Troas had been a cunning and malignant lure to draw them on to Philippi, and to these indignities of stripes and a dungeon. No; "at midnight Paul and Silas, rejoicing that they were "counted worthy to suffer shame for His name," prayed and sang praises unto God, and the prisoners heard them." The prison was shaken and their "bands were loosed;" the jailor and all his house believed in God, and "he and all his were baptized."-Eadie. ALL THINGS WORKING FOR GOOD. "All things work together for good, to them that love God; to them who are the called, according to His purpose.' Rom. viii. 28. The Greek word work together' is a physical expression. Several poisonous ingredients put together, being tempered by the skill of the apothecary, make a sovereign medicine, and work together for the good of the patient. "1. The evil of affliction works for good. Afflictions are as needful as ordinances. No vessel of gold can be made without fire. Water in the glass looks clear; but set it on the fire and the scum boils up. In prosperity a man seems humble and thankful; the water looks clear; but set this man a little on the fire of affliction, and the scum boils up; much impatience appears, and much unbelief. Correction is a setting the heart right and straight; as we sometimes hold a crooked stick over the fire to straighten it. God's rod is a pencil to draw Christ's image more lively upon us. What though we have more of the rough file, if we have less rust? "2. The evil of temptation works for good. A deer, being shot with a dart, runs faster to the water; and when Satan shoots his fiery darts at the soul, it runs faster to the throne of grace. God can make cross winds to blow his saints nearer heaven. “3. The evil of desertion works for good. There is a two-fold desertion—1, when God suspends the influence of His Spirit, and withholds the lively actings of His grace; 2, in regard of comfort, when He withdraws the sweet manifestations of His favor. “Here there are four consolations which may give some light. 1. None but the godly are capable of desertion. The wicked know not what God's love means, nor what it is to want it. 2. There may be the seed of grace, where there is not the flower of joy. The earth may want a crop of corn, and yet have a mine of gold within. Vessels at sea, richly fraught with jewels and spices, may be in the dark and tossed in the storm. 3. These desertions are but for a time. Christ may go into the withdrawing-room, and leave the soul awhile, but He will come again. 4. These desertions cure sinful drowsiness; make the saints prize the light of God's countenance more than ever; embitter sin to us; set the soul a-weeping for the loss of God (when the sun is gone, the dew falls; and though it's sad to want God's presence, yet it's good to lament His absence); moreover, desertion sets the soul aseeking after God, and puts the christian upon enquiry what it is that hath made the Lord withdraw. A stone in the pipe hinders the current of water; so sin hinders the sweet discoveries of God's love. Desertion gives us a sight of what Christ suffered for us; prepares us for future comfort; and will make heaven the sweeter to us."—Watson. THE BURNING BUSH. We are told that as Moses was engaged feeding the flock of his father-in-law, a remarkable sight appeared to him. He saw a bush burning, and that bush was not consumed. It has been frequently thought that this burning bush was a type of the Lord Jesus Christ. It has been said that in that bush burning, and remaining unconsumed in the midst of the fire, we have the figure of Him who endured the fire of His Father's wrath and judgment against sin, who afterwards rose from the grave and ascended into heaven, unscarred by all, and who now sitteth at the right hand of God, the Saviour of His people. Now although this is a truth, yet I believe this narrative reads a great lesson concerning the people of Israel, and concerning the church of God in all ages, rather than a lesson concerning the incarnation and life and death of the Lord Jesus Christ. And it seems to me there cannot be a more lively emblem of the church of God than this. Here was a bramble bush. What more significant type could there be of the utter worthlessness of the individual believer, or of the church collectively? Again, what more likely to be consumed than a bramble bush? Here is also a lively figure of the preservation of the individual believer, as well as the preservation of the whole church. It has no worth in itself, and the individual believer has nothing in himself but what is wretched, and vile, and miserable; all he has that is good, he derives from the Lord Jesus. "I know," said one who entered fully into this experience, "I know that in me (that is in my flesh) dwelleth no good thing." See the aptness of this bramble bush to be consumed. Every believer knows he is fuel for every temptation that comes across his path. Now, while on the one hand we have the figure of the church's weakness, and the church's worthlessness in itself, on the other hand we have the reason of the church's preservaiion: this bush was not consumed, because the Lord was in it. "Fear Lot," says the Lord to His people, " for I am with thee." One is reminded of that little type of the church in the New Testament, when the little band of disciples were on the sea, tossed by the storm, but the Lord was with them, and therefore they were safe. What a blessed truth is this! The more we learn that we cannot keep ourselves-no, not even for one moment-the more we get away from our own prayers, our own faith, from anything, in short, of our own, the more we look at Him who is the responsible One for His people-the Shepherd of the sheep; He who by His blessed Spirit dwells in His Church, and who has condescended to say of His people individually "I and my Father will come unto him, and make our abode with him :" the more, I say, we know this, the more shall we know what a solid ground our souls rest upon. CHRISTMAS DAY. Ye who hail with joy this morn, On His shoulder kingly sway: For His yoke is easy, light; Call thou "Wonderful" His name. "Counsellor" is He indeed : Psalm lxxxi. 5. Buy of Him the best attire, And the gold that's tried by fire. "Everlasting Father," He Gives thee light His child to be; "Prince of Peace," to crown the whole, Christians, chant the joyful lay, Luke xv. 5. |