probably it was notorious that he possessed, and it would also become known that he had sold it, though as to the exact bargain that he made with the purchaser, that needed not be made public. Ananias thought he could comply with the custom, and so retain his character amongst the christians, without sacrificing the whole of the money which had been procured for his estate; and this he determined to do, proving thereby that his motive was to establish his character in the church, rather than to supply the wants of the poorer brethren.

Having settled with his wife Sapphira what lesser sum than the amount actually received they were to agree in stating to have had been given for the estate, Ananias went with this sum to the apostles; and requested them to place it to the general account for distribution, as the money procured by the sale of his land. Peter was inspired to know that he had retained part of the sum for his own use; he therefore asked Ananias boldly and plainly-how was it that Satan had such great power over him, that he was induced even to speak a falsehood to the Holy Ghost, of whose presence with the apostles and in the church he must have been well aware. How foolish too!-how uncalled for was his falsehood! for there was no rule that obliged him to sell the property-he need not have done so. And even after he had made up his mind to sell it for what price he liked, and had received the money, there was no rule which forced him to bring the money to the apostles for distribution amongst the brethren. Why then had he planned this device in his heart, to pretend to give the whole of the money and yet not really to give it. The most awful part of the matter was, that the falsehood was not only directed to the ears of man, but was told to the face of God himself who had so recently shewn himself in his church.

The words no sooner came to the ears of Ananias, than he fell down and expired. The report of this event made a great impression on all that heard it, and produced a holy alarm amongst the christians. The persons employed in the lower offices of the church immediately removed the corpse, and wrapping it in linen according to the custom, they buried it at once.

Sapphira was not aware of what had taken place, and it was three hours after the death of her husband when she went to the place where the apostles received the people. When she entered, Peter questioned her as to the sum of money for which the land had been sold; he mentioned the sum which had been stated by Ananias, and asked her whether that was the correct amount; she replied, that it was the right sum. Upon this Peter spoke to her as he had done before to her husband;-how was it that they had planned a falsehood together, as if trying whether the Holy Spirit could be deceived, and tempting Him to manifest His power in punishing! He then told her, that those who had been occupied in burying the corpse of her husband were close at hand, and that they should do the same office for her. Immediately Sapphira became a corpse also, and the persons who returned from burying Ananias, finding her body lifeless, removed it to the same place, and buried her by the side of her husband. The result of this awful judgment was that all the members of the church were under a solemn fear, and wherever the facts were known amongst the Jews or others, all felt a great alarm.

APPLICATION.

1. We are pained by perceiving in this portion the first symptoms of the working of those double motives, which have ever since injured the purity of the church of Christ, by leading persons to join her outward communion in order to obtain some worldly benefit, without having the only thing which can draw any heart into the fellowship of the true church, the Spirit of Christ himself. It is not at all unlikely, that Ananias and Sapphira were themselves deceived as to their own state, and acted upon the principles of worldly men, never having understood the spiritual principles which as real christians would have influenced them. Whatever were the motives which led them to join the church, they certainly were not prepared for that free surrender of their property, which the special circumstances of the time called upon the society they had joined to make: but not being honest enough to confess their mistake, and to bear the reproach of openly retiring from the erroneous position they had assumed, they were driven

into the other alternative of falsehood, and proved their ignorance of the first truths of christianity, by thinking to hide their love of money with a lie. There are many professing and respectable christians, who are deceiving themselves in the same way;-professing to be true members of Christ's church, while their motives are double or perhaps altogether worldly. No particular occasion may for a long time occur, in which their conduct may necessarily involve the distinct statement of a falsehood; but whenever such an occasion should arise, the want of that single-hearted spirituality which characterizes every true member of Christ, will make the alternative of falsehood not only possible but seem to be necessary, rather than to forego the worldly object which the christian feeling of society may require them to deny.

QUESTION.

How far am I ready to give up anything, and to bear any consequences, rather than to depart from truth in my words or actions?

2. Satan is the father of lies (John viii. 44), and we know that he can be transformed into an angel of light. (2 Cor. xi. 14.) He attempts to ensnare the very best of Christ's people, and succeeds with too many who bear the name of christians, by surrounding falsehood with the form of truth-by satisfying the conscience with a partial truth -by taking advantage of carelessness-and by forcing forward the current of custom. What wonder that, with an external enemy of this kind acting upon hearts that are declared in the word of God to be "deceitful above all things" (Jer. xvii. 9. Matt. xv. 19), truth, in its perfectness and purity, should be a rare qualification even in christians. There is no point on which we should be more anxiously watchful than on this, to set a guard always upon our lips that they may never speak what is untrue; to secure which, the only safe way is to have the spirit of truth in the heart, regulating the affections according to truth, and quickening the conscience to feel the least departure from it.

QUESTION.

What conscience do I make of keeping the strictness of

truth in all my words and in all my dealings? and what care do I take to be watchful on the point?

3. The falsehood of Ananias and Sapphira is rendered more distinct, by the combination and arrangement between them to support their lie. They "agreed together"-there was a companionship and encouragement of another in sin, which required art and cunning. The degree in which these were exercised is not the point, but rather the hardness of heart and bold decision of mind which is implied in such conduct. Besides Sapphira, as his wife, was under the controul of Ananias; which, without lessening her blame, renders him the more answerable for it. Aggravation of sin such as this is included in many acts of deceit, which require the co-operation of servants, as well as other members of a family; and the father of lies softens the notion of sin to the conscience, by suggesting the divided responsibility; making each party satisfied to cast all the blame on the companion, instead of each feeling a more burthened conscience from the fact of involving others in the offence.

QUESTION.

Are there any circumstances in which my family arrangements may involve others in untruth? or have I settled any plan with others, by which a false impression of my conduct is conveyed?

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4. The great point of the sinfulness and guilt of this and of every other falsehood, is that it is not unto men, but unto God." He, who is present every where and knows all things, cannot be deceived by any false statement of man. That an infidel should deride the notion of the omnipresence of God, is only consistent with those opinions which class him as a fool (Psa. xiv. 1), and a blasphemer: but one who professes not only to acknowledge God, but to believe in his Son Jesus Christ, cannot speak an untruth without lying to God, as well as to man ;-to that God whose power might be exercised against every liar, as it was in the case before us. It is fearful to reflect that the mercy of God which permits the impunity of a liar, is so often turned into an occasion of greater blasphemy, by

leading many to add falsehood to falsehood. But although those who speak falsehood, and thus "lie unto God," are still permitted to continue in this life, every repetition of untruth is a confirmation of the death of the soul; and many who have "a name to live while they are dead," will find out that the voice of that God to whom they have lied, will bring them into that companionship with the devil, who was a "liar from the beginning and abode not in the truth," which is the second death.

QUESTION.

Is my watchfulness against the least untruth founded upon the conviction that every lie is spoken to God rather than to men? and is it carried on in expectation of the day when his wrath will be revealed from heaven against all unrighteousness of men?

THE PRAYER.

Thou God of truth and life, who hast sent thy Son to be the way, the truth, and the life to thy people, send the Spirit of thy Son into my heart. Unite my heart to fear thy name, more than any consequences that may follow from a course of truth; and keep me from the self-deceit, by which my conscience may be brought to excuse a lie. Make me to be alarmed at the dangerous devices of Satan; open mine eyes to see them, and strengthen my heart to resist them. Give me the spirit of watchfulness, that I may ever be on my guard against the most insidious attempts which lead to falsehood. Give me grace to be watchful for others over whom I may have influence, as well as for myself; and make me to shun every combination by which untruth may be strengthened; specially preserve me from joining in any system of falsehood in my family, remembering that thou, Lord, of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, seest all things, and knowest the very secrets of the heart. O let me ever realize the power of thy presence, that I may be prepared to stand before thee hereafter, looking for thy mercy, for the sake of thy beloved Son our Saviour Jesus Christ. AMEN.