on an ordinary subject; and to be strengthened with all might, would seem an attribute impossible to mortality. But holy Paul had himself felt the excellency of that power; he knew that it is derived, and that the fountain of derivation is the glorious power of God.

In delineating the mighty operations of Divine love on the human mind, the seeming hyperboles are soberly true. Where the theme is illimitable, language will burst its bounds. He preaches riches which are unsearchable-exhorts to know the love which surpasses knowledge -promises peace which passes understanding we must look at the things which are not seen-against hope we must believe in hope while sorrowful we must be always rejoicing—as having nothing we must reckon that we possess all thingsdying and behold we live- though unknown we are well known. In short, he reconciles contradictions, unites opposites.

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sites. Antipathies by nature become affinities by grace. The love of God in Christ is the point where he makes contraries centre, and impossibilities meet.

His spirit seems most intimately to identify itself with the church of Ephesus. What an improbable union! The late idolatrous worshippers of Diana, and the late persecutor of the saints of Jesus, have now but one heart and one soul! These recent enemies to Christ, and to each other, now meet in one common point of attraction. With what holy triumph does he dilate on their common faith that love of God in Christ Jesus which is their common centre and bond of union!

Still, as we have such frequent occasion to observe, he does not sacrifice practical duty to the indulgence of his rapture. Still he does not allow even these Ephesians to rest satisfied with the grace

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grace they have received. It is not enough that they have been favoured with a vocation, they must "walk worthy "of it." "The perfecting of the "saints" must be carried on; "they "must reach to the measure of the stature "of " of the fulness of Christ." No such perfection had been attained as would allow them to rest in their present position. Even on this highly favoured church, progress is enjoined, pressed, reiterated. No elevation of devout feeling sets him above attention to moral goodness.

Nothing can be more beautiful than the abrupt apostrophes of praise and gratitude into which, in the midst of sorrow, of exhortation, of reproof, he unexpectedly breaks out. The love of his Redeemer so fills his soul, that it requires an effort to restrain its outward expres sion. Even when engaged in the transaction of business, and directing the

con.

concerns of others, which, by an ordinary mind, would have been pleaded as a valid reason for suspending spiritual ideas, and dismissing spiritual feelings, they yet mix themselves, as it were involuntarily, with his secular cares; there is not only a satisfaction, but a joyfulness, in these escapes of affection which seem to spring from his soul, in proportion to the depression of his circumstances, to the danger which surrounded, to the deaths which threatened him.

When Paul and Silas were imprisoned at Philippi, it is recorded that they prayed at midnight. This would naturally be expected from such men, under such circumstances; but it is added, "they sang praises unto God." Thus they not only justified, but glorified Him, under this suffering, as well as degrad ation. For it must not be forgotten, that this imprisonment was not merely a measure for securing their persons,

they were stripped bare many stripes were laid upon them, and the iron entered into their soul. Yet they sang praises unto God!

What a triumph is here of the element of spirit over the force and violence of outward circumstances!

"Th' oppressor holds

;

His body bound, but knows not what a range
His spirit takes, unconscious of a chain
And that to bind him is a vain attempt,
Whom God delights in, and in whom he dwells."

In the Epistle to the Ephesians, to which we have just referred, we are presented with a fresh instance how much his devotion rose under the same circumstances of distress. It was written from a prison, and is almost one entire effusion of love and praise. It is an overflowing expression of affectionate gratitude, that has no parallel. It seems to be enriched with an additional infusion

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