about the right way of bringing us to truth, it thinks a different way from this. Man tells us, we must be reasoned with; we must have it proved to us, that a doctrine is reasonable before we believe it; and that if it does not appear reasonable, we ought not to receive it at all. This is absurd and impossible: the gospel could never have been propagated in that manner: there was no time for it. Sergius Paulus, to whom our apostle addressed himself, was an heathen; and to convert him by reasoning, he must have proceeded methodically, and have brought him first to an understanding of the Old Testament; of the religion of the law, and the writings of the prophets he must have made a Jew of him first; then he must have argued from the agreement of the events of the gospel, with what had been foreshewed, and foretold in the scriptures before; and this course of instruction would have required a long time: and, what is worst of all, it might not have succeeded at last; for man is not in a condition to be taught this way till God works upon him by his grace, he can be nothing more than a natural man; and we are told the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness unto him: they seem seem to be all wrong: it is contrary to man's pride, and lust, and covetousness, to receive and follow a crucified Saviour. Nature and reason can never be brought to this, without being conquered by some power which the senses cannot resist; and when the word of God comes forward in this manner, then it is received. The proconsul was astonished when he saw what was done by the hand of the Lord; and then he believed what was said by his minister, and became a christian. This is God's way of converting the world to the truth; but man would have it all done by reasoning. When a man has received it, he may see that it is all reasonable, and be in love with the wisdom of it, and even give up his life for the truth of it; but for all this, he is not indebted to his own reason or nature, but to the power of God, by which his reason is taken captive. Upon the evidence of miracles, the world at first received the gospel ; and when parents have it and understand it, they will teach it diligently to their children, who receive it before they can reason upon it. Let them be neglected and left in ignorance till they are grown up, and then see whether their reason will ever take to it. I fear it will not; for the children of bad parents are generally generally bad themselves: not always; because the goodness of God can find other ways of bringing them to the truth, and putting them into the way of salvation: but the ordinary way, after the first establishment of the gospel by miracles, is by education and instruction; and woe to parents that neglect it! they will suffer in a twofold sense; in their own persons, and in the persons of their impenitent children.r We have now gone through the particulars of this wonderful narrative. We have seen how the power of the word of God wrought by his apostle. We have seen a wise man (for such without doubt the sorcerer thought himself) made blind; and a prudent man brought over to the gospel, which he wanted to know, from what he had heard. Before we leave the subject, I would point out some few things which are most worthy to be laid up in our minds. 1. The Apostle of the Gentiles makes a great appearance upon this occasion, and acts in that honourable character, under which he ought always to be remembered. We are told how God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul; and that wrought upon the sorcerer was a special miracle, great in itself, and instruc VOL. VII. H tive tive to those who consider it. The progress of the apostle through the isle of Cyprus shews us with what power the gospel made its way in the world. This island was an accursed place: it was one of the grand seats of hea thenish delusion, where Satan might be said to have established his throne; and yet, in this place, all the power of the enemy gives way to the gospel. The preachers begin at Salamis, and publish the word in the syna gogues of the Jews there: they begin, as it was their constant custom, with the Jews, and thence go through the isle, working and preaching as they go, though the particulars are not related; and coming at length to Paphos, that grand mart of idolatry, they find this Sergius Paulus, an heathen, desirous to hear, and disposed to receive the word of God. They come to him, and enter upon their employment: but here is a man in the way that would hinder them; this Elymas would turn away the deputy from the faith. He was a prudent man, and able to see and to judge: why could not he leave him to himself? But this. wicked men can never do; they can never let people alone; they expect that all men should be like themselves, and are as earnest for a lie, as an apostle is for the truth. The Devil is always. always activé and zealous; he never suffers the truth to prosper, if he can help it; and his children are like him: they are full of subtlety and art to do mischief: but let them be as cunning as they will, God and his truth are above them. When you see what this man does, you must expect that others will be doing the same to the end of the world; and you ought never to be staggered in your belief by the tempers and actions of the enemies of the truth. All men will not love truth; many are adverse to it, and to God for being the author of it; which is a most lamentable consideration. Even a miracle, which brings astonishment and conviction upon some, will have no effect upon others. They go on just as they did before: when this man is made blind, all he seeks is to be led by the hand, that he may find his way: he makes no reflexions, and receives no benefit. It was thus with the men of Sodom. When they had beset the house of righteous Lot, they carried on the assault after they were struck blind: they still "wearied themselves to find the door," and were as intent upon mischief as ever. The sufferer in the parable thought that a miracle would be the saving of his wicked brethren: but he judged falsely; for |