much reason to blush and be ashamed, when we compare ourselves with this prince of preachers; and have infinite need to address you, my Christian friends, the request of this glorious man of God, Brethren, pray for us.

II. We are next called to witness Paul's extreme devotedness to the cause in which he was engaged. He was bound in the spirit to go to Jerusalem. The Holy Ghost put forth a constraining influence upon him to go to that city. He had often heard, and well knew, the voice; had often felt, and well understood, the impression which signified his duty to go to the metropolis of persecution. Of the general nature of the impulse he was well assured. He knew that it came from God, and could not lead him astray. This was sufficient to mark out the course of his obedience. What was to befall him at Jerusalem he could not tell; he only knew that no rest awaited him there. The Holy Ghost witnessed, that in every city, bonds and afflictions abode him. Go where he would, he was sure that his fidelity would be put to the severest test-sure that whoever found the Christian cause a cause of ease and comfort, it was to be no ease nor comfort to him. Well, how does the prospect affect him? He was not such a fanatic as to court pain when he might

have avoided it. The school of Beccaria and Voltaire, which teach that the severity of punishment multiplies the offense, was not then known; or, had it been known, would hardly have caught the ear of Paul. He did not dream of fitting himself for the duties of an apostle, by proclaiming war upon the principles of common-sense, and the common feelings of human nature. He knew, and never shrinked from the original condition of his Master's service. Whosoever denieth not himself, and taketh not up his cross, and followeth not after me, cannot be my disciple. Show me the cross, exclaimed this magnanimous man; spread out before me all the selfdenials I may be called to endure: be they what they may, I must be a disciple! He did not doubt that his Lord would make up all to him in due season: for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward. None of these things move me; neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.

One of the idlest of human efforts is, the attempt to frighten a man who has deliberately resolved to sacrifice his life, or to succeed in his undertaking. You have lost your hold of him. When you have threatened him with

death, you have done your worst, and have no terrors left. It is then that the great Commander steps on the scene, and says, Fear not them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do: but I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear; fear him who, after he hath killed, hath power to destroy both soul and body in hell: yea, I say unto you, fear him. Paul entered thoroughly into this feeling: and therefore all appeals to human power and human pains,--to the axe, the gibbet, or the stake, were without effect upon him; for he endured as seeing him who is invisible. And so, my friends, will it be with us, in proportion as our converse is with eternal realities. Reckon not, when the great trial comes, upon the strength, and courage, and nerves, which have commanded human applause, and secured human expectation. "I cannot argue for Christ," said a female martyr, "but I can burn for him." Her faith was of the same sort with the apostle's; and therefore she did not even count her life dear unto herself, that she might' finish her course with joy. My brethren, how could you, the best, the most resolute of you all, abide this test of the apostolic or female martyr? I do not say, that in a life of ease and comfort, which God has vouchsafed to you, you are called to exercise the grace of

martyrdom but I do say, that if, upon your deliberate choice, your preference lean to anything else than our Lord Jesus Christ, you have nothing to expect but that he will cast you out of his kingdom. The apostle was always practical; i. e. he never preached Christian duties, or painted Christian trials, without a reference to the possibility of his being called to the performance of the one, or to the endurance of the other. He now felt all the considerations from both press hard upon him. One of his sweet enjoyments arose from the presence and sympathy of his fellow-Christians. He found that this was to be interrupted--to be closed: and that drew from him, in the

III. Place, his presentiment of the present being the last opportunity of converse with his Ephesian friends. And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, shall see my face no more!

There is a relation, and a tenderness of relation, produced between a people and the instrument of their spiritual blessings, which nothing on earth can equal: something which identifies him with all their affections, and which they cannot easily transfer: something which creates a soothing pillow for him in every bosom; and for which every exchange

is little better than a pillow of thorns. On this subject it is impossible for me to enlarge: could I summon up apathy enough, your own feelings would not endure it. Let me, therefore, rather invite you away from this touching theme to Paul's appeal to the consciences of his hearers. Thus runs its terrible but affectionate language: Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men: for I have not shunned to declare unto you the whole counsel of God. There is a most awful trust committed by the Lord Jesus to his ministering servants. It is nothing less than the blood of men. O that they felt this trust more than they sometimes do! You would not see the pulpit converted into a stage for the display of human ingenuity, or perverted to the display of human vanity. These things are lighter than a feather, and lose all their importance in the eyes of a man who remembers that he has an account to settle with God for blood; and that he knows not the moment when his account may be demanded. It is observable, and ought to sink deep into your hearts, and especially into the heart of every preacher of the gospel, that Paul accounted himself pure from the blood of men, because he had not concealed from them any part of God's truth. He knew not that policy by