Rest in the Churches.-Miracles performed by Peter.-The Peter defends his Conduct with regard to the Gentiles.-The Gospel is preached at Antioch.-Peter's miraculous Deliverance Herod's vain Glory.-His Death.-Elymas the Sorcerer. -Paul and Barnabas are driven from Iconium.-They travel from Place to Place. At one time Paul is almost idolized as a God, and at attended with great Success.-He then proceeds to Corinth, where he proclaims to the Gentiles the glad Tidings of Salva- tion. He is strengthened and encouraged by a Vision from the Paul is accused before Gallio, but acquitted.-He goes from Place to Place encouraging the Disciples.-He preaches at Ephesus.-Aquila and Priscilla instruct Apollos more perfectly in the way of Truth.-Paul lays his Hands on the Disciples, and Paul goes to Macedonia.-He restores Eutychus to Life.-At Miletus he converses with the Elders and prays with them.-He is a few Hours at Coos, and a short Time at Rhodes.-He remains a Week at Tyre.-He is only one Day at Ptolemais.-At Cæsarea he stays at the House of Philip the Evangelist, whose Daughters prophesy.-Paul will not, however, be dissuaded from Paul goes to Jerusalem.-He is persecuted there, and as- saulted in the Temple.-Paul asks to speak, and is allowed by Claudius Lysias to do so.-More Dissensions amongst the Mul- titude.-A Conspiracy against Paul's Life, which is discovered Paul's Defence before King Agrippa. He speaks of his early Life, and of his miraculous Conversion.-Festus charges Paul commences his Voyage to Rome. They touch at Sidon. -At Myra they go on Board another Vessel. They are in great Danger under the Cretan Coast.-As they proceed, after some fair Weather, a violent Storm arises.-Being visited by the Angel of God, Paul foretells their Shipwreck. They are all Paul is kindly received by the Maltese.-A Viper fastens on his Hand, but to the great Astonishment of the Inhabitants does him no Injury.-Paul heals many Diseases there, and then goes INTRODUCTORY LETTER. Au Allegory. MY DEAR YOUNG FRIENDS, ONE fine summer's evening, opening a low gate, I found myself in a pleasant garden, which was sheltered from the cutting north wind by some cultivated hill-land. I had not advanced many steps before the gardener approached me, a venerablelooking old man. "Shall I show you my flowers?" he mildly said. My garden is a book which those who are wise will read." "Will you read it for me," I replied, ' and you shall find me an attentive listener." He smiled kindly on me, and led me to an arbour which commanded a view of the whole enclosure. "How beautiful are those flowers," I eagerly exclaimed, "on the eastern side of your garden!" A bright expression of intelligence passed over my friend's furrowed countenance, and, looking up to heaven, he said, "The morning sun shines on them; their first waking glance is on him; and he sends his messengers, the sunbeams, to them with gifts of strength, and beauty, and fragrance. "It is true, that many a cloud dims their heaven at mid-day, and the evening shadows rest on them; b but so invigorating has been the influence of this early sunshine, that they stand unmoved when other flowers wither and die: even when the night closes on them they are not bowed down, but patiently wait for the morning when the shadows shall flee away. "And now," continued the kind gardener, "let us open the book. "Remember thy Creator in the days of thy youth,' while the sun is not darkened-the morning sun. When he who is light shines on the soul of the child; when the Christian parent or kind instructor, sent as the messenger of God, tells the glad tidings of joy to the youthful heart; when, as the early breeze that accompanies the morning sunlight, the Holy Spirit breathes on that soul, enabling it, in the opening hours of life, to dedicate itself to its Redeemer, then is it blessed indeed. "The child on whom the Sun of Righteousness thus beams, instead of being driven, as it were, by the cares of life to seek his Saviour, now, whilst the evil days come not, gives his loving heart to that God who has done such great things for him; and in this surrender he is filled with peace, he is imbued with strength, he passes bravely, yea happily, through a world of trial; and, though weeping may endure for a night, great is the joy of the everlasting morning." |