reasoning is truly admirable. Here is no sophistry, no false subtilty, no high colouring in order, to deceive, no perversion of the judgment through the passions or imagination: it is simple, just, strong, and conclusive; the irresistible power of truth, and divine grace. It accordingly produced a most forcible effect and momentary conviction upon Agrippa; who said, "almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian. And Paul said, I would to God, that not only thou, but also all that hear me this day, were both almost, and altogether such as I am, except these bonds." Nothing can exceed this reply in true eloquence, I mean the eloquence of the heart. Without the least appearance of art or design the Apostle has contrived in these few words, to leave an impression on the mind of his hearers highly advantageous both to himself and his cause. His prime and deep concern is for the welfare of their souls, which he makes the object of his fervent prayers to Almighty God: at the same time he manages the subject with so refined a benevolence, so delicate an attention to every circumstance involving their happiness, that it was impossible to hear him without love and admiration. Except these bonds," is an expression of such peculiar felicity, such exquisite moral taste, so kind and affectionate, generous and humane, as to stand almost unrivalled: nor can we easily con

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ceive a finer specimen of christian charity and good will towards men. A defence, so conducted and concluded, could not fail of receiving a fa vourable judgment; "this man doeth nothing worthy of death or of bonds :" and he "might have been set at liberty, if he had not appealed unto Cæsar."

In the two concluding chapters of the Acts are recorded the voyage of St. Paul to Rome, and his shipwreck on the Island of Melita, or Malta; either that which lies over against Africa, or another of the same name in the Adriatic sea. As there is very little matter for observation in these chapters, I will not go through them in detail, but content myself with selecting a few particulars which may require explanation, or admit reflection.

In the 9th verse of the 27th chapter we read, that sailing was now dangerous, because the fast was already past." The fast here spoken of was held on the great day of expiation or atonement, on the tenth day of the month Tisri ; which answers to the latter part of September. At this scason storms began to prevail, being about the time of equinox, and the approach of winter. And Paul, foreseeing great danger, admonished them against continuing the voyage; but the centurion, it seems, wanted faith in his prediction, and so yielded to the master and owner of the ship.

A tempest having arisen, as Paul had foretold, and the company being in great terror and distress, after he had gently reproved them for rejecting his advice, he comforts them with an assurance of safety to their lives, though with loss of the ship, And when they had toiled and suffered a considerable length of time, (as you may see related down to the 33d verse) he then addresses them in the following words, "This day is the fourteenth day, that ye have tarried and continued fasting, having caten nothing :" which words need not be understood, as implying a total abstinence from food, but such a disinclination for it occasioned by their fears and dangers, as to prevent their usual manner of living, and to deprive them of all its comfort and enjoyment.

The 28th chapter mentions their hospitable reception on the island of Melita. Here it was, that a viper came out of the heat where a fire was lighted; and fastened on Paul's hand. Which the Barbarians observing, "said among themselves, no doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he hath escaped the sea, yet vengeance suffereth not to live." It was an opinion entertained by many Heathens, that divine justice overtook such crimes as escaped the judgment of human tribunals, and was generally executed in a way bearing some relation to the offence. The poisonous animal therefare fastening on the hand of St. Paul might have

suggested the notion, that this hand had been the instrument of some horrid crime, probably of murder. But so soon as they saw him shake off the beast, without suffering the least harm, " they changed their minds and said that he was a God."

There are two important pieces of instruction to be derived from the incident before us. One is, the

great aptness of ignorant persons to form hasty opinions, and to pass quickly from one extreme to another; of which I have taken notice in a former lecture. The other is, a disposition to ascribe all the events of life to the particular judgments of God; an error of a very dangerous nature, often injurious to divine goodness as well as to human characters. That the Gentiles, who had no certain nor even probable knowledge of a future life, should fall into this mistake, is not to be wondered at; for they saw no other certain means of recompence for the righteous or sinner beyond the present time. But to us another scene is opened, for which is reserved the perfect accomplishment of God's administration towards mankind. Till that period shall arrive, we must suspend our opinions.

One event often happeneth to the righteous and wicked; and God suffereth the tares and wheat to grow up together, lest in our attempting to pluck away the former, we should root out the latter also. In the time of harvest he will carefully

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separate them; and while he gathers the wheat in

to his garner, he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire." Every attempt to explain the measures of his government, without a view to that state of retribution, is utterly vain and hopeless. The Jews asked our Lord of a blind man,

whether did this man sin, or his parents, that he was born blind? Jesus answered, neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents, but that the works of God may be made manifest in him." So, in the present instance, St. Paul ought not, upon the ground of a false imagination, to have been pronounced a murderer; for he soon appears to be a monument of divine grace and mercy towards those poor unenlightened creatures, to restore them from darkness and superstition, to the knowledge of Christ and the Gospel.

Let us therefore be extremely careful, how we indulge an idle and presuming curiosity; or how we resolve the prosperity and misfortunes of other men (especially events of the latter kind) into judgments of God. For such conclusions are so far from being universally or even generally true, that nothing more clearly indicates his love, than occasional chastisements. So the Scripture declares, and confirms by many examples. Before

I was afflicted, says the Psalmist, I went wrong; but now have I kept thy commandments." And St. Paul says, "whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.'

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