An example to carry all our straits and difficulties to the Lord. 'And now, Lord, behold their threatenings," said the Apostles, with reference to the violence with which they themselves were threatened if they prosecuted their work of teaching in the name of Christ, and preaching His having risen from the dead. They begged the Lord to have regard to the matter, and to regulate it according to His own will. And in the same way Hezekiah, when he was threatened, and received a taunting letter from an enemy to God's people, went to the throne of grace, and laid the whole matter before the Lord. And both he and the Apostles received an answer from the Lord-had the assurance that the Lord would take the whole affair into His own hands. Paul and Silas did the same in their straits and difficulties, and were favourably answered. And myriads of others of God's people have done the

same.

And these instances are an encouragement for us to pursue the same practice. I do not mean that we are not to pray till we are in straits and difficulties; but to pray always, and, in seasons of special trial and special affliction, to have seasons for special prayer, for special intercession with God. And that in accordance with the direction of the Lord Himself: Call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify Me.'

XIX.

"And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common. And with great power gave the Apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus and great grace was upon them all. Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, and laid them down at the Apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need. And Joses, who by the Apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus, having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the Apostles' feet."-Acts, iv. 32-37.

In these words, my brethren, we have, first,

A manifestation of uniformity in the influence of living faith I say living faith: for it should be borne in mind that there are two kinds of faith in the professing church: a faith which is dead, and a faith which is the opposite. The former is that of those who receive, as the Apostle Paul states, the gospel in word only-who believe it without its producing any corresponding effect or change on their hearts and lives: the latter is that of those who receive the gospel, as the same Apostle states, 'in power, in the Holy Spirit, and in much assurance:' who possess a faith which worketh by love, and a hope which purifieth both heart and life.

The persons referred to as believing appear to me to be individuals who had been induced to become disciples of Christ from the preaching referred to in the 31st verse. It is there stated that after the company-to which Peter and John had returned after being let go from the Jewish Council, and to which the two Apostles had reported what the chief priests, and elders, and scribes had said—had prayed, and the place had been shaken where they were assembled together, being all filled with the Holy Spirit, they were speaking, as it is said, the word of God with boldness. The effect of the continued speaking of these men to those who had probably followed with the two Apostles from the Jewish Council's Hall of Assembly to the place where the two Apostles' own company were assembled with those who were already, perhaps, waiting there, was, as it appears to me, that many, yea, a large company,

believed.

In the 32nd verse, those believing, and as I conceive on that occasion, are spoken of as a multitude :''The heart and the soul of the multitude that believed was one 'or was the same.' And this one heart,' or this 6 one soul," which there was to those who believed, appears to be illustrated in the words before us in their effect.

Through believing in, or on, Christ, love to God was produced; for wherever personal redemption is obtained in Christ, through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, there love, gratitude, is the result. Hence the language of St. John We love Him, because He first loved us.' And then when this love is felt, the individual, who is the subject of it, loves His brother also. And this also St.

:

John points out, and points out as following love to God, where he says: 'And this commandment have we from Him, that he who loveth God love his brother also.' And in the instance before us this love to man, as the consequence of love to God, was eminently exemplified. Immediately on embracing Christ, none of those who possessed the good things of this life in greater abundance than others who had embraced Christ with them-none of them said that what they possessed was for their own sole use, but cheerfully opened their houses and stores for the free use of those who had believed in Christ with themselves, and stood in need of help: 'Not one of those possessing anything said, that his own was for himself, but all things were common to them :' that is, all things which they possessed were common to those who had believed. A benevolence was excited in the breasts of those men towards all, even the least of, their brethren, on receiving Christ, having Him formed in their hearts the hope of glory and proving the truth of what St. Paul states in his epistle to the Galatians: Faith worketh by love.' A more beautiful illustration of the truth of this statement can scarcely exist than in the instance before us. And it was, in this instance, just the same as it had been on the day of Pentecost. Believers who were rich helped their fellow companions in the kingdom and patience of Jesus who were less rich and stood in need of the assistance which they were able to give them: the very effect that followed the reception of the gospel on the day of Pentecost.

And I can fancy that many of those who believed on the occasion referred to, in the instance before us, and were helped, through the liberality of their richer brethren, were of those who had come up to Jerusalem from Jewish colonies in foreign countries to worship, and had not yet returned, being induced perhaps to stay in the city and neighbourhood by the exciting circumstances which were taking place. And the providence of God was remarkably displayed by this circumstance, inasmuch as the worshippers converted to the faith of Christ, while staying in Jerusalem, would return home in the fulness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ and preach Him to their brethren, and thereby extend a knowledge of Christ's salvation to many who would not, and could not, otherwise have heard of Him for years to come. And there can be no doubt-at

least, to my mind-that those who contributed of their abundance to supply the wants of others took this view of the case, and strove to make as many acquainted with the salvation of the gospel as they could, that the benefits of Christ's salvation should flow extensively, and as a mighty stream, through all quarters and places whither they might go.

And this is the spirit flowing from living faith in Christ, as well as a spirit of charity or benevolence. They desire that others, yea, all, should be saved, become interested in the blessings of the New Covenant. And this was prefigured by the words of Christ to Peter, 'When thou art converted strengthen thy brethren,' and also set forth in the prayer which He had previously directed them to put up to their heavenly Father: Pray ye the Lord of the harvest that He would send forth more labourers into His harvest.' And it is this principle which has led to the establishment of Bible Societies, and Missionary Societies, and caused the various other efforts which have been made to cause those sitting in darkness and in the shadow of death to become acquainted with Christ, and the way of salvation through Him. And the principle is growing, and it will and must grow till the kingdoms of this world become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, when He shall reign for ever and ever.

Those receiving the truth in the love of it are constrained from a sense of love to Christ-from His love to them and their love to Him in return-to seek the salvation of those for whom He has shed His blood, and to bring them into the bonds of God's covenant of grace and mercy. It is true that those efforts have not been made that should have been made; but there have been causes which have hindered the full development of christian love to a world lying in the arms of the wicked one- causes which have mainly arisen from the apostacy which has existed in the professing church itself, and which from its extensiveness. and power have put down, wherever it could, the efforts of those who have aimed at circulating the gospel in its simplicity and truthfulness. This combination of unfaithfulness with power has stopped the preaching of God's mercy and grace to those people which otherwise would have had Christ made known to them in the fulness of His redemption. The case of Italy now (December 1863) is an illustration of what I say. For centuries upon

centuries the apostacy, which I have alluded to, had hindered the free circulation of the gospel of Christ in that country. Whenever efforts were made to make known the gospel in its simplicity and truthfulness, those efforts were put a stop to by the ruling powers of the apostacy, and the agents sacrificed wherever it was possible, and that because, if they were permitted to act with impunity the soul-destroying system which the apostacy had set up would be broken down and destroyed, and the gains and power of the priesthood laid in the dust. A revolution in political circumstances having taken place, and the priestly domination which had so long existed to the dishonour of Christ, and the destruction of souls, lessened, immediately the servants of God-those to whom Christ and the doctrine of the Cross were dear-step in, preach Him, make known His gospel, and cause, as far as they can, a free circulation of the Holy Scriptures-those Scriptures which are able to make men wise unto salvation by faith which is in Christ-the same principle which existed in the Apostolical times, when those who had the means sought to help those who had them not, and that from love to God and man, and in the hope also of extending thereby the cause of Christ. And while christianity exists in the world-while there are those who receive the gospel, 'not in word only, but in power, and in the Holy Spirit, and in much assurance,' and while there are those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death-without God and without hope those who believe in Christ with all their heart will, more or less, according to the means which they possess, seek to do good to all men, to bring them into the fellowship of the gospel.

But faith, in the case of the believers before us, not only produced love, love to God and man, but it produced holiness, conformity to the divine will, obedience to the law of Christ. 'Great grace,' we are told in the 33rd verse, " was upon them all.'

And we cannot view such an expression as this in reference to these men without, at once, being assured that they were advancing in the divine life, making progress in christian holiness. Their faith would bring them into a state of sonship with God, inasmuch as those who receive Christ, believe in His name, receive power to become the sons of God, and being sons of God, or in a state of adoption with Him, they stand justified before Him,