the A.D. 30. transaction Christians:-I. Their employment-prayer. The first true sign of spiritual life, prayer is also the true means of maintaining it. itself."-Hackett. II. Their perseverance in this exercise-they continued steadfastly in prayers. III. The fruit of prayer. It is by men on their knees that the door of heaven is opened. Prayer is the key. The Spirit yields to prayer.e c Ac. xv. 12; Mk. xvi. 17. "Men can be of some visible About firmly bound to-- Drawings of the Holy Spirit.-Dr. Payson once, in the progress gether in no reli- of a revival at Portland, gave notice that he would be glad to see gion, whether true or false, any young person who did not intend to seek religion. unless they be thirty or forty came. As they were about to leave, he addressed combined by them thus :-"Suppose you should see coming down from heaven the common tie a very fine thread, so fine as to be almost invisible, and it should signs and sacra- come, and gently attach itself to you. You knew, we suppose, it ments of their came from God. Should you dare to put out your hand, and profession." thrust it away?" He dwelt for a few moments on the idea, and Augustine. then added, "Now, such a thread has come from God to you this afternoon. You do not feel, you say, any interest in religion; but, by your coming here this afternoon, God has fastened one little thread upon you all. It is very weak and frail, and you can easily brush it away. But you will not do so? No, welcome it! and it will enlarge and strengthen itself, until it becomes a golden thread to bind you for ever to a God of love." d Dr. Thomas. e Dr. Guthrie. the Chris hood a Alford. 44, 45. all.. believed, of those who remained in Jerus. many tian brother- would return home aft. the feast.a together, in one place, in one spirit. common, each placed his property in a common fund for the benefit of all. sold.. goods, a voluntary act, the love of Christ constraining them. them, i.e., the proceeds of the sale. as.. need, parted with it as occa. required.d b Ac. iv. 32. c Ac. iv. 34, 35, d Hackett. of the commu Christian communion distinguished from unchristian.-I. Its "It is probable source not an external law or bare power, but the free impulse of that this arose love. II. Its object not general equality, but general welfare. III. fr. a continua- The way to effect this object not a community of goods, but a comtion and application to the now munity of hearts.-The first Christian Church an abiding pattern increased num- for every other.-I. In the fellowship of faith. II. In the exercise of ber of disciples love. III. In the enjoyment of general esteem.-The first Christian nity in which Church.-I. The faith which it testified. II. The deeds which it our Lord and His performed. III. The love which it evidenced. IV. The means of Apostles had grace which it employed. V. The blessedness which it enjoyed." lived."-Alford. Doing good.-A poor, but truly pious widow, placed in charge "Were the ex-of a lighthouse on the southern coast, had resolved to devote the ample binding, who should be receipts of one day in the year, during the visiting season, to the rich to give? missionary cause. On one of these days, a lady in widow's weeds, who should be and a little girl in deep mourning, came to see the lighthouse. poor to receive? Sympathy in misfortune, she supposed, led to conversation, and beginnings of before the unknown visitor took her departure, they had most the Church these probably mingled their tears together. The lady left behind her beneficences a sovereign. The unusually large gratuity immediately caused a wh. afterwards conflict in the breast of the poor woman, as to whether she was in the larger absolutely bound to appropriate the whole to the missionary box elbowrooms or not. At length she compromised by putting in half-a-crown. thereof, would But conscience would not let her rest. She went to bed, but could muchconfusion." not sleep. She rose, took back the half-crown, put in the sove-Bp. Hall. reign, returned to bed, and slept comfortably. A few days afterwards, to her great surprise, she received a double letter, franked; and on opening it, she was not more astonished than delighted to find £20 from the widow lady, and £5 from the little girl in deep In the strait were requisite ; have e Gerok. f Binder. g Florey. caused mourning. And who were that lady and that little girl? No other than Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent, and our present rightful and beloved Sovereign, Queen Victoria. A.D. 30. Whitecross. c Ac. v. 14; 1 Co. iii. 7; Is. lv. 10, 11; Ep. ii. 8. It is one thing to desire Our 46, 47. daily.. Temple, to worship God, and speak of the Church Jesus. bread, in the Lord's Supper. house, at home, privately. increased daily Dif. parties in dif. houses. meat, common meals. singleness," simplicity, child-like affection for ea. other and the Lord. With-a Lu. xxii. 19. out duplicity. favour.. people, by their manner of life 6 Ro. xiv. 17. winning esteem of outsiders. added, was adding, the process of conversion and Church extension constantly going on. The Church.-I. What is meant by the Church?"-1. The place where the disciples met to worship; 2. The assembly met together for worship; 3. The whole body of saints in a country; neighbour's 4. The collective body of all Christians. II. What are the pro- teem; another to perties of this Church ?-1. It is one; 2. It is holy. III. Such rejoice at his as shall be saved are brought into this Church by God.a-Primitive profit. It is lawful to desire our Christians.-See-I. Their constancy-they continued. II. Their neighbour's fervour-daily. III. Their unity-with one accord. IV. Their good opinion, so audacity-in the Temple. V. Their charity-in breaking bread far as may enafrom house to house. VI. Their familiarity-did eat their meat. ble us to do them VII. Their alacrity-with gladness. VIII. Their sincerity-with singleness of heart.e es good; because we thus desire it only for their from the charms Neglect of Christians.-See yonder poor wretches whose ship service, and the greater glory of has gone down at sea; they have constructed a poor tottering our God, with a raft, and have been swimming on it for days; their supply of sincere and total bread and water has been exhausted, and they are famishing; disengagement they have bound a handkerchief to a pole, and hoisted it, and a of vanity and vessel is within sight. The captain of the ship takes his telescope, pride."-Gregory. looks at the object, and knows that it is a shipwrecked crew. 66 Among the "Oh!" says he to his men, "we are in a hurry with our cargo: ancients, the sawe cannot stop to look after an unknown object. It may be crament of Bapsomebody perishing, and it may not be; but, however, it is not our business:" and he keeps on his course. His neglect has the murdered those who died on the raft. Yours is much the same of the Lord's case, only it is worse, because you deal with immortal souls, and body, life."—Augustine." he only deals with bodies, which he suffers to die. O my brother! I do implore you, before the Lord, never let this sin lay at your door again; but, if there be one who is impressed and needs a e E. Leigh. word of comfort, fly on the wings of mercy to such a soul, and ƒ Spurgeon. help to cheer him as God enables you. tism was termed salvation ; but sacrament d Beveridge. CHAPTER THE THIRD. xx. 3; xxi. 2-21; 1-3. Peter.. John, oft. mentioned together. went the BeautiTemple, they long adhered to Jewish places and modes of ful Gate worship, and still longer to Jewish customs and traditions. a Jo. xviii. 16, ninth, ab. 3 p.m., time of eve. sacrifice. certain man, Ac. iii. 3, 4, 11; well known. carried, the poorest not without friends. whom iv. 19; viii. 14. laid, all they could do. To bring the morally lame where 6 This gate was they may get strength is all that many can do. gate. . Temple, prob. on E. side, where he might be seen by true worshippers moved to mercy. towards Olivet. Beautiful, so called fr. material and workmanship. [i. 33], poor as well as lame. them.. Temple, and who, seek- was made chiefly alms It was 50 cubs. high; 40 broad of A.D. 30. Corinthian brass, and over laid with gold ACTS. [Cap. iii. 4-6. ing mercy fr. God, might be expected to be merciful themselves. seeing.. John, and regarding them as ordinary worshippers. asked, aft. his usual fashion. The miracle at the Beautiful Gate.-We may look upon this and silver plates. miracle as a fact of history. It has nothing parabolic or mythical It was an inner I. The authors of the miracle. II. The season,gate leading fr. about it. the court of the" at the hour of prayer," etc. III. The subject. IV. The scene. Gentiles into the V..The method: 1. His attention was arrested; 2. His faith was raelites. See Jos. challenged; 3. Peter took him by the hand and lifted him up. Wars, v. 5. 3; VI. The indubitableness of the miracle: 1. The effect upon the man; 2. Upon the people.-The hour of prayer.-I. Regard the hour of prayer as private. II. Regard it as social. III. Regard it as public.-Rev. H. T. Bevis. court of the Is Ant. xv. 11. 3. most to prepare for Christ into the "Peter and John. -A mighty pair, magnum par; Peter, who most Beggars laid at the gate.-A missionary lady, writing from loved Christ, and Damascus to the Christian Instructor, gives the following illusJohn, whom Christ tration of the continuance of an ancient practice in the East:loved; the two "A singular and interesting custom prevails here during the were sent to-hours of public prayers on Sabbath_mornings, and on frequent gether by Christ stated seasons during the week. It is that of the poor and His last Passover diseased, lame and blind, being gathered about the church doors (Lu. xxiii. 8); to solicit alms. They present a very strange appearance, sitting who followed together along the walls, or standing in groups with the hand hall of the High-extended for charities, and remind one of the account given in priest, when He Acts iii. 2, of the laying of the lame man at the gate of the was appre- Temple which is called Beautiful.' The feeble and blind are often bound (Jo. xviii. led to these public places, and the lame sometimes literally car15); who went ried' on the shoulders of some good Samaritan friend. A most together to the pitiable-looking man is thus often laid near the door of our schoolsepulchre of house, where his voice may be heard the entire day, imploring 3); whom after- blessings upon the passers, in the hope of receiving a pittance wards the other from some of the many who throng the street. My sympathies Apostles sent to are always excited for his helplessness and deformity, as well as for his moral pollution. Bartimæus-like, blind persons are often seen by the wayside begging, and in some instances occupying the same place from year to year." hended and Christ (Jo. xx. Samaria." - Bp. c Dr. Thomas. the lame man healed Ma. x. 9. 4-6. fastening.. him, intently, with concentrated pity. look. . us, this, that he might mark their words. he.. heed, a Wordsworth; cf. looked eagerly, hopefully. something, some gift. silver.. none, a proof of his compliance with Christ's command.a such .. have, better for such a man than money. in.. name, by thou virtue of His authority. Note, Christ wrought mirs. in His own seest misery in name." thy brother's b Lu. v. 24. "When face, let him see The cure of the lame man, an image of our conversion.-I. As he mercy in thine was lame from his mother's womb, so are we from birth the eye; the more servants of sin. II. As they carried him to the gate of the the oil of mercy Temple to receive alms, so were we carried to baptism in order to is poured on him by thy pity, the receive heavenly gifts. III. As he was healed by Christ by means more the oil in of the words of Peter, so also is our conversion a work of God thy cruse shall effected by the words of the prophets and Apostles. IV. As he thy piety." after his cure walked and praised God, so there follows after conQuarles. version a true Christian walk, and a joyful praise of God.c be increased by "What attention we pay, and how prompt is our obedience, when some temporal Apostolic poverty.-Who knows not the bare feet and patched cloaks of the famous philosophers amongst the heathen? Plutarch wonders at Cato, that being now old, and having passed both a consulship and triumph, he never wore any garment that exceeded the worth of a hundred pence. It was the wish of the learned A.D. 30. can advantage want of direct Christ Jesus, 88 He commands us!" Quesnel. d Bp. Hall. for firmity; be wanting in nothing, that the reason the equity of the case call for."Dr. Whichcote. of the thing and Erasmus, after he refused offers of great preferments, that he might so order his expenses that he might make all even at his death, so as when he died he might be out of every man's debt, and might have only so much money left as might serve to bring him honestly to his grave. And it was little otherwise, it seems, with the painful and eminent Master Calvin, who, after all his power and prevalence in his place, was found at his death to be worth some fifty pounds sterling,—a sum which many a master gives his groom for a few years' service. Yea, in the very chair of Rome, where a man would least look to meet with moderation, we find Clement IV., when he would place out his two daughters, c Spiegelhauer. gave to the one thirty pounds in a nunnery, to the other three hundred on her marriage; and Alexander V., who was chosen "Make allowPope in the Council of Pisa, was wont to say he was a rich bishop, ance for ignoa poor cardinal, and a beggarly pope. The extreme lowliness of rance and inCelestin V., who from an anchoret's cell was fetched into the cognitancy, for chair, and gave the name to that order, was too much noted to harder circumnecessity, hold long; he that would only ride upon an ass, whilst his suc- stances, for miscessors mount on shoulders, soon walks on foot to his desert, and apprehensions and mistakes, thence to his prison. This man was of the diet of a brother of for frailty and inhis, Pope Adrian, who caused it to be written on his grave that nothing fell out to him in all his life more unhappily than that he was advanced to rule. These are, I confess, mere heteroclites of the Papacy; the common rule is otherwise. To let pass the report which the Archbishop of Lyons made in the Council of Basil, of those many millions which, in the time of Pope Martin, came to the court of Rome out of France alone; and the yearly sums registered in our acts, which out of this island flew thither, above the king's revenues; we know in our time what millions of gold Sextus V., who changed a neatherd's cloak for a Franciscan's cowl (and, therefore, by virtue of his order, might touch no silver), raked together in five years' space. The story is famous of the discourse betwixt Pope Innocent IV. and Thomas Aquinas. When that great clerk came to Rome, and looked somewhat amazedly upon the mass of plate and treasure which he there saw, "Lo," said the Pope, "you see, Thomas, we cannot say as St. Peter did of old, Silver and gold have I none.' "No," said Aquinas, "neither can you command, as he did, the lame man to arise and walk." There was not more difference in the wealth of the time than in the virtue. It was an heroical word of St. Paul, “As having all things, yet possessing nothing;" and a resolution no less, that rather than he would be put down by the brag of the false teachers among the Corinthians, he would lay his fingers to the stitching of skins for tent-making.d 7, 8. took.. hand, encouraging him; helping thus his physical and moral weakness; to aid his faith. entered tude Temple, the place to wh. all should first go whom God has blessed. walking.. leaping, trying his new found powers; a new, strange, and blessed experience. praising God, whom, and not Peter, he recognised as source of cure. The cripple healed.-I. A Divine attestation to the Messiahship of Jesus: 1. For this end it was wrought; 2. In this light it was regarded. II. A characteristic emblem of His salvation: 1. Its operation on the soul; 2. Its effects upon the heart and life.d Eternal praise.-Suppose some one entering heaven were say to the redeemed, "Suspend your songs for a moment! 6 to "The universal command of the Gospel, that comprises all our duties, is to walk as Christ walk ed."-Dr. Bates. the lame man's grati a Mk. xvi. 17, 18. b Is. xxxv. 6. "He would exert his new acquired again; first in powers again and one attitude, then in another; sometimes to try whether he was Ye really healed and A.D. 30. not under the of a have been praising Christ, lo! these six thousand years: many of you have, without cessation, praised Him now these many pleasing delusion centuries! Stop your song a moment: pause, and give your dream; songs to some one else for an instant." Oh! can you conceive sometimes from the scorn with which the myriad eyes of the redeemed would a transport of smite the tempter? Stop from praising Him! No, never. light, and to ex-Time may stop; for it shall be no more: the world may stop; press the sallies for its revolutions must cease: the universe may stop its cycles of joy that sprung and the movings of its worlds; but for us to stop our songs— never, never!"-Spurgeon. conscious de up in his heart." -J. Hervey. the people's wonder a Jo. x. 23. b Lightfoot. on Solomon's porch, E. side of Temple, in the court of the Heathen. Prob. so called bec. it oc cupied the site of a porch wh. had been connec. with first Temple. See also Jos. Ant. XX. 9. 7. "They who have witnessed our frailties, should also attest our conversion and unless accom sense 66 9-11. all.. saw, etc., this thing was not done in a corner. knew, the same man, but how changed. ran . . Solomon's," popularly the term the entire court of the Gentiles." = As the lame man held Peter and John.-The blessed bond of attachment between the awakened children of God, and their spiritual fathers:-I. To the strengthening of the children in Christ. II. To the encouragement of their spiritual fathers. III. To the edification of the Church. IV. To the honour of the Lord.c God's wonderful works.-Let us consider: I. The subject itself: 1. The field of creation; 2. The field of Providence; 3. The field of grace. II. The way in which the subject was announced. This speaking in many tongues we may consider: 1. To be nothing less than a real miracle; 2. Its truth is also very evident; 3. As expressly predicted; 4. As necessary; 5. As continued for years; 6. The want of this gift of tongues in the work of evangelising the world must now be supplied by human learning. III. How this subject was heard. Some heard: 1. With wonder; 2. In mockery; 3. And believed.d gratitude. Our Gratitude. An Englishman, a native of Yorkshire, going to gratitude is false reside at Kingston, in Jamaica, was reduced from a state of and of no avail, affluence to very great distress; so much so, that in the time of panied with new-sickness he was destitute of home, money, medicine, food, and ness of life; and friends. Just in this time of need, an old negro Christian offered this cannot en- his assistance; which being gladly accepted, this "neighbour to dure long, if our thankful him" bought medicine, and administered it himself; furnished of the grace to nourishment; sat up three nights; and, in short, acted the part wh. we owe our of doctor, nurse, and host. Through the blessing of God, the old clines."-Quesnel. negro's efforts were rendered successful in the recovery of the sick man who then inquired what expenses he had been at, and promised remuneration as soon as possible. The generous old Christian replied, "Massa, you no owe me nothing; me owe you much still." "How do you make that out?" said the restored man. 'Why, massa, me neber able to pay you; because you taught me to read de Word of God!" This reply so affected the man, that he resolved, from that time, to seek the Lord. deliverance c Gerok. d Rev. W. Jay. the cure attributed to Christ de a Jo. xv. 5; 2 Co. iii. 5; Is. lxiv. 6. b Hackett. "Here are doctors who have no wish to produce a fine effect, whose only fear is, lest 12, 13. and . . saw, saw that the people were likely to attribute too much to the instruments. earnestly, not unmixed with admiration. power, inherent, or self-acquired. holiness, piety, as the reason of power being conferred upon them. glorified, in thus-as in other ways-honouring His Son; Mirs. wrought by Christ, or by others in His name, Divine testimonies to His Sonship. denied, though God had honoured, and still honours. determined.. go [i. 367 marg.] The miracle at the Beautiful Gate, considered as a text.-I. Peter traces the miracle to its true Author. II. He connects it |