doubtless, were the blessings of the covenant which a gracious God bestowed upon his Church during the whole of that extended period-many were the distinguished favors which he conferred upon it-and deep and heartfelt the joys which his spiritually-minded people experienced when, through the dim twilight of that intermediate dispensation, they caught glimpses of the glory to be revealed, and could rise on the wings of faith above the atmosphere of type and ceremony, and soar into the higher regions of reality and truth. But how few appear thus to have burst through the obstacles which surrounded them! how few had their eyes opened to see, as Abraham did, the day of Christ afar off, and gladden themselves with the sight! For the most part the nation was subjected to a system, the spiritual intent and purport of which they did not understand. And oh how intolerable a yoke must that system have proved to those who knew only the letter

I

which killeth, and perceived nothing of its spirit, which alone gave it life.

Blessed be God! that we live in a different age, and under a far higher dispensation. The darkness is past, and the true light now shineth. The law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. The veil has been drawn aside-and things glorious and pleasant to behold have been exposed to our admiring view. The shadow forecast from the substance has passed away, because the substance itself is brought near. The type is lost in the antitype. The sacrifices of the lamb, the bullock, and the goat, have all terminated in one great sacrifice upon the cross. The ablutions and puri

fications for ceremonial uncleanness are all merged in the "washing of water by the word and in the renewing of the Holy Ghost." Well might St. Paul say, when speaking upon this subject, "If the dispensation of condemnation, written and engraven in stones, was glorious-much

more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory." And well might he stimulate believers, (as he often does,) by a consideration of the exalted privilege of the gospel dispensation to walk worthy of its dignity and its claims. "Brethren! ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh." "Ye are no longer under the law but under grace. Shall we therefore sin because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid! How shall we that are dead to sin live any longer therein ?"

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LECTURE XII.

ACTS XV. 22-41.

Then pleased it the apostles and elders with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch, with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren:

And wrote letters by them after this manner, The apostles, and elders, and brethren send greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch, and Syria, and Cilicia.

Forasmuch as we have heard that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law; to whom we gave no such commandment:

It seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men unto you, with our beloved Barnabas and Paul:

Men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

We have sent therefore Judas, and Silas, who shall also tell you the same things by mouth.

For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things;

That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication; from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.

So when they were dismissed, they came to Antioch; and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the epistle.

Which when they had read, they rejoiced for the consolation.

And Judas and Silas being prophets also themselves, exhorted the brethren with many words, and confirmed them.

let

go

And after they had tarried there a space, they were in peace from the brethren unto the apostles. Notwithstanding it pleased Silas to abide there still. Paul also and Barnabas continued in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.

And some days after, Paul said unto Barnabas, Let us go again, and visit our brethren, in every city, where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they do.

And Barnabas determined to take with them John, whose surname was Mark.

But Paul thought not good to take him with them, who departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work.