and a shining light;—a city set on a hill, which could not be hid.

The sacred historian records several instances of his boldness in declaring the truth of the Gospel.

At JERUSALEM, as we have already seen, he spake boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus, and disputed against the Grecians.

At ANTIOCH, Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said: "It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you, but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles."

At ICONIUM they abode long time, speaking boldly in the Lord, who gave testimony unto the word of his grace, and granted signs and wonders to be done by their hands.

At EPHESUS, Paul went into the Synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God.

Lukewarmness and faint-heartedness are traitors in the camp of Israel, and do more to weaken the cause of truth than the fiercest opposition from its determined enemies.

Faith and love, patience and prayer, are mighty weapons in the hand of the Spirit. The weakest saint, when exercising these graces, shall come off more than conqueror over the powers darkness.

of

The reason why so many shrink from suffering for Christ's sake, arises from the coldness of

their love. Their faith, being weak, cannot bear them up against that stream of persecution which so powerfully sets in against them. Through fear, they yield to the attacks of the enemy, and thus bring distress into their consciences, as well as discredit on the Gospel. The realities of Eternity seem to be forgotten; or, at least, but faintly impressed upon their minds. Looking more at present inconveniences connected with a bold attachment to Christ, than at the glories to be revealed, they flag in their Christian course, and would for ever perish, if not restored through the power of the Holy Ghost.

The undaunted Apostle was a stranger to that fear of man which bringeth a snare, and causes multitudes to shrink from the cross. St. Paul being convinced of the truth of Christianity, through the immediate teaching of his divine Saviour, and the inward witness of the Spirit, feared not the face of man, nor the fury of the oppressor. Whether in Jerusalem, amidst the bigoted Jews, or at Athens, among the philosophers of the age, he gloried in the cross of Christ ; and drew all his peace and joy from a believing reliance on the power and grace of Jesus.

The poison of popularity, the prospect of some temporal advantage, a false shame, the love of ease, a dread of suffering, in a word, the love of the world, concentrating all these evils within itself, causes many a minister of the Gospel to betray his trust, and many a promising professor to droop and wither.

Faith in the atonement of Christ, is the

victory that overcometh the world. This divine principle made the faithful Apostle always to triumph in Christ.

Through the power of the cross, the world had lost its charms, and death its terrors. A heavenly light filled his mind, and an all constraining love his heart. He saw in Jesus, all that was precious, and he found in him all that he needed; hence he disregarded the frowns of men, and was willing to bear shame and reproach for Jesus' sake.

Being filled with the Spirit, he preached the word of life with the fullest confidence of success; well knowing, that through the combined power of Truth and Love, the stoutest hearts would be humbled, the hardest softened, and the most polluted rendered pure.

When Jesus was seated at the right-hand of the Father, in fufilment of his promise, he graciously poured out the Holy Ghost on his Apostles. With this divine unction, they went forth to proclaim the glad tidings of salvation; and nothing could exceed the fortitude which they displayed. Their courage astonished the Jewish Rulers; of whom it is recorded, that, "when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled, and took knowledge of them that they had been with Jesus."

To encourage his disciples before his departure, Jesus said: "Hitherto ye have asked nothing in my name; ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full."-Being now as sheep in the midst of wolves, they needed strength and

protection. With a believing reliance on this promise, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord: "Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is. Of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together, for to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done. And now Lord, behold their threatenings and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word. And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together: and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.

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It may well be said, that the prayer of faith moves the hand that moves the world.

Happy, thrice happy would it be for the Christian Church, if all her ministers were men of a kindred spirit, who, in the fulness of their faith and love, could sacrifice reputation, ease, wealth, yea, even life itself, for the Gospel's sake.-But alas! the spirit of the world has made sad inroads into the visible Church of Christ; for many are slumbering on the lap of ease, who should be watchmen on the walls, and champions in the camp, of

Zion.

Still, there are many blessed witnesses, who are valiant for the Truth, whose light shines in the midst of darkness, and whose labours are rendered effectual in spreading the knowledge of Christ. May their numbers be abundantly in

creased, till Zion shall become a praise in the earth.

To every such faithful labourer, St. Paul gives this most important charge: “Be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity. Give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them, that thy profiting may appear unto all. Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them; for in doing this, thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee."

How rousing was the Divine commission given by Jehovah to his servant Jeremiah: "Gird up thy loins, and arise, and speak to them all that I command thee: be not dismayed at their faces, lest I confound thee before them. They shall fight against thee; but they shall not prevail against thee, for I am with thee, saith the Lord, to deliver thee."

With equal force is the command to Ezekiel : "Son of man, be not afraid of them, neither be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns be with thee, and thou dost dwell among scorpions: be not afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their looks, though they be a rebellious house. Thou shalt speak my words unto them, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear; for they are most rebellious.”

The great Apostle of the Gentiles entered fully into the spirit of these Divine charges.

He was no timid, no time-serving shepherd of the flock. His character is beautifully described