if it do not, the sooner it is swept away the better. I believe that the tie between the minister and his flock is a holy and a real one; it is formed most solemnly, and anything that interposes to destroy it is deeply to be deplored. I am one of those who think a limited patronage good,-a patronage modified by deference to the wish, and the desire, and the preference even of a Christian people. And I do not think that in a large parish popular election, as may be seen in this great city, has been a blessing; some of the most awful scenes witnessed at parish elections have not certainly tended to commend that system. But the Christian communicants in a congregation ought to be consulted; and while I would not listen to the absolute veto without rhyme or reason, yet, if I were a patron, I would attend to their feelings, to their preferences, and their desires and as patrons grow in common sense, and the Christian people in a sense of their own rights and privileges, no doubt this will be the case more and

more.

That the 53d chapter of Isaiah relates to, and predicts the Lord of glory, and what he did and endured for us, is plain from the sacred and inspired allusions to it, and its obvious solution at the cross and in the life of Christ Jesus. A prime minister was travelling, a man of Ethiopia, of great authority under Candace, the Queen of the Ethiopians, who had charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem to worship. Whilst this prime minister, this chief lord of the treasury of that queen, was travelling and sitting in his chariot, he read, what is a most beautiful and valuable precedent,-not a novel or a romance, or what would not in the least edify—

but Isaiah the prophet. He was a student of the Old Testament Scriptures, though not a Jew; a proselyte, though not of the seed of Abraham. The Spirit, we are told, said unto Philip, that is, the evangelist,—the Holy Spirit directed him," Go near, and join thyself to this chariot." Philip immediately did so, and heard him read the prophet Isaiah. And this man, of high dignity, and rank, and office, instead of supposing that Philip had used a freedom that was not becoming, was too happy to receive instruction where instruction was really needed. And therefore Philip says to him, not discourteously, but as became a minister of that Word which the prime minister read, "Understandest thou what thou readest ?" not as a libel on his intellect, but an inquiry to suggest profitable and practical conversation. The prime minister said, "How can I, except some man should guide me?" It is an unfulfilled prophecy; it is not so plain as history: it is unfulfilled as far as I know, and therefore I need somebody in this matter specially to help me. I want a commentator. "And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him." The place of Scripture which he the prime minister read, was that most interesting one-" He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth. In his humiliation his judgment was taken away; and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth." The prime minister answered Philip, and said, "I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man?" He was not very enlightened, though very high in office, and could not see, therefore, that there was here some one greater

than the prophet. "Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus." This shows us that Jesus is the personage who is spoken of in the 53d chapter of Isaiah. In that precious chapter are three great facts. First, sinners, lost, ruined, undone; so much so, that they rejected the remedy, despised Him that came to save them. Secondly, the great provision for sinners; One wounded for them, bearing their sins, carrying their sorrows, bruised for their iniquities, on whom was the chastisement of their peace, and by whose stripes they were healed. And you have, lastly, the Author of it; namely, God hath given him, God hath made known this Saviour; it pleased the Lord to bruise him, the Lord hath put him to grief. These three facts, therefore, are the most important for us to remember; namely, that we are the sinners that need the ransom ; that Christ is that ransom; that God in his sovereign love gave it, and to God must be given all the glory of it, from first to last.

These precious truths Philip preached to the eunuch. The hearer believed with all his heart; and after repeating a very short but very comprehensive creed,"I believe that Jesus (the Saviour of his people from their sins) Christ (the anointed Messiah of the seed of David) is not merely man, but also Son of God"— that very dignity for announcing which Jesus was threatened with stoning, and accused of blasphemy, he was baptized. The eunuch, inwardly enlightened, and openly accepting the profession of what he felt, "went on his way rejoicing." "The kingdom of God is righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost."

CHAPTER IX.

DIVISION OF THE CHAPTER-SAUL-THE PEOPLE OF THE WAY-LIGHT SHINES ON SAUL-VOICE ADDRESSING HIM-THE SHECHINAH-JESUS IN HIS PEOPLE-PAUL'S SUBMISSION-DAMASCUS-ANANIAS-OBEDIENCE-CHRIST IS GOD-PAUL'S NEW WORK-ACTS OF THE BOLLANDISTS-ENERGY-BARNABAS INTRODUCES PAUL TO THE CHURCH.

THE first thirty-one verses of the chapter I have read ought properly, as the continuous text implies, to have completed the chapter; and the section beginning at verse 32 ought properly to have been prefixed to the chapter that follows, namely, chapter x. In the first verse we have an account of that stupendous fact, the most startling and the most conclusive as an evidence of Christianity in all ages, the conversion of Saul the persecutor to Paul the apostle and the preacher of the truth. It appears that Saul, who so completely delighted in the very sight of blood, so enjoyed the martyrdom of Stephen and of the saints of God,-a persecutor from taste as well as from practice, -while he could not throw stones at Stephen, as we read in the previous chapter, yet that he might enjoy a share in the excellent work, as he would call it, held the clothes-that is, the upper or the loose clothes or garments-of them that threw the stones at Stephen, and destroyed that eminent and holy martyr. Well, "Saul," in full conformity with his own taste and predilection, "breathing out threatenings "-language extremely strong-" and slaughter against the disciples

of the Lord, went unto the high-priest, and desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem." He was a volunteer persecutor, a perfect enthusiast in his day; and clearly the grand original and model of Torquemada and of those who have engaged and delighted in scenes so cruel, in inflictions so unholy. The expression used in the second verse-" any of this way" -ought to be translated, "any of the way." It was evidently a peculiar phrase for Christianity; and it may allude to the fact, that Christ was preached fully and frequently by the apostles as "the way." And then he asks that if he should find any of the way

-the people that went to heaven by a way which no other people went by, the people that sought heaven by an exclusive way, not excluding any that would enter, but a way that few did enter, for few there were that found it-if he should find any of the people of the way, a well-known people, whether they were men or women, he should bring them bound to Jerusalem ; bound and prisoners, not for their crimes, but their conscientious adhesion to the truth. He got the letters that he wished for, and set out upon the errand that he so loved. He came. to Damascus; and, unexpectedly, "there shined round about him a light from heaven;" and the moment that that light fell upon him, its intolerable splendour struck him to the earth. And out of the midst of it he hears a voice, saying, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?" I have not the least doubt that this was that shechinah of which we read in Exodus, that shechinah which was in the pillar of cloud by day, and the pillar of fire by night; that ultimately rested