"The life of the Centurion Cornelius is a flower plucked from the garden of Jehovah; I hope I have written it with that simplicity and candor, which is essential to history, if we wish it to resemble a mirror, in faithfully depicting incidents as they occur."

"CORNELIUS."

CHAPTER I.

THE CHARACTER OF CORNELIUS.

THE history of the Centurion Cornelius, which the Evangelist Luke has preserved in his Acts of the Apostles, is well worthy of our devout and attentive consideration; for it is a renewal of the holy feast of Pentecost among the heathen, and in a heathen house. In Cornelius we see a remarkable example of the power of the Holy Spirit, when He calls, enlightens, sanctifies, and blesses men; and we also behold the saving mercy of our great God and Redeemer, in letting himself down to those that seek him, so that they may feel after him and find him,' Acts xvii. 27. It would, indeed, be difficult to get another history in which the mysterious connection between the visible and the invisible world lies more clearly open to our view. What an inestimable blessing the word of God has bestowed on us in describing so circumstantially, the inmost character of this soldier, thirsting after truth, searching, longing for, and at last joyfully finding peace! Are not his wants our

wants? Do not our hearts, if we rightly understood them, sigh for the peace and the happiness which he sought for and found? Let us, therefore, turn our attention to this Simeon among the heathen, who earnestly sought for the consolation of Israel and the light of the Gentiles; and who was esteemed worthy to behold the Savior, and in him to find peace.

"We praise thee, O Lord our God, that Thou, in thy precious word, hast preserved to us the inmost history of thy chosen ones, and thy manifestations of grace unto them. This Thou hast done that we may have our hearts quickened, by looking on them, and learn how to direct our feet in the paths of peace. Enlighten our eyes, that we, by the guidance of thy Holy Spirit, may rightly apprehend thy grace and truth; and that, following the example of our Savior, we may more and more be partakers of thy light and peace. Amen."

"There was a certain man in Cæsarea, called Cornelius, a Centurion of the band called the Italian band, a devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway.”Acts x. 1, 2.

WITH these simple words the Evangelist opens the history of the mighty acts of God among the Gentiles; his subject hitherto has been the announcement of the gospel to the Jews and Samaritans only; but here he describes the dwelling place and rank, the person and character of the man in whom the Lord's mercy and truth were to be manifested.

"There was a certain man in Cæsarea." Cæsarea, or, in other words, Cæsar's town, was a city of considerable importance, on the Mediterranean Sea, which Herod had greatly embellished, and though it had formerly borne another name, called it Cæsarea, in honor of the Roman emperor.

It was at present the capital of Judea and the adjoining province of Syria, as well as the residence of the Roman governor. A garrison was stationed here, which consisted partly of native Syrians, and partly of Italian or Roman troops. Cornelius was Captain of an Italian company, a man remarkable, as being the first among the Gentiles who, by the preaching of the Apostle, was led to believe in the name of Jesus, and to make an open profession of the gospel.

Cornelius is, besides, the first mentioned among those who were afar off, but whom it was promised that God should call,' Acts ii. 39; and also the first among the millions of Gentiles, who were to be turned from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God. But he concerns us more nearly, in being our New Testament Abraham; for in him began God's work of mercy, whereby our Gentile forefathers were admitted into the flock of the Great Shepherd.

Cornelius was a Roman Captain. His rank and profession were not the most likely to lead him to the investigation and acknowledgement of the truth; on the contrary, it was more probable they would lead him away from it.

The gospel is not confined to any station or calling; all who have eyes to see, and ears to hear, may be beni