world, and the enclosure of God's peculiar people; who were exempt from the gross and superstitious errors of the heathen, and from the narrow-minded prejudices of the Jews.

What a reproach is the character of Cornelius to many professors of the Gospel! Uninstructed in the way of salvation, yet believing in the existence and providence of one true God, he feared him, and gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway. Perhaps he trusted too much in his alms and his prayers: but uninformed as he was in the necessity and nature of justification by Jesus Christ, his sincerity of intention was so far available, as to render him a fit object for a call to faith and grace. Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God. Thus were strikingly exemplified those sayings of our Saviour, no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.*---And, if any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God.

Let me direct your attention to one feature in the commendation bestowed upon the good centurion, one ingredient in that piety, which called down so signal a blessing upon him and + John vii. 17.

* John vi. 65.

his; he feared God WITH ALL HIS HOUSE. 0 that careless Christians would learn to read their own condemnation in the practice of this devout Gentile! More especially, let masters and heads of families consider, if the pious centurion was able to bring his household to the true God; if holy Joshua could pledge himself, as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord,* what excuse is there for them, if religion, with all the additional motives, and aids, and comforts of the Christian revelation, be not made by them a matter of domestic interest and care?

When the Apostles and brethren in Judea heard that the Gentiles had received the word of God, some of them found fault with Peter, for having eaten with those who were uncircumcised: but upon his relating to them the divine communication which he had received, and the descent of the Spirit upon the new converts, they at once dismissed their prejudices, with the sincerity of devout and humble seekers after truth; and, divesting themselves of all national jealousy, they rejoiced, in the true spirit of evangelical charity, at this enlargement of the divine mercy; and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life. + Acts x. 1.

* Josh. xxiv. 15.

It is deserving of remark, that when certain, who had been converted by the preaching of some brethren, not Apostles, believed and turned unto the Lord, and manifested forth the effects of his grace, the Apostles thought it necessary to confirm them in the faith which they had embraced, by special instruction from themselves; and the exhortation which Barnabas gave to them was this; that with purpose of heart they should cleave unto the Lord.* It can never be too strongly impressed upon all who would receive, or think that they have received, the Gospel, that the root of true effectual faith is in the heart; that there must be a determination of purpose, a singleness of intention, a directness of view, a bending of the heart to God, a longing for his grace, and for a closer acquaintance with his will and his love: for all this, at least, is comprehended in the expression of cleaving unto the Lord with purpose of heart.

The blessing of God attended the preaching of Barnabas; for, says St. Luke, he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith: and much people was added to the Lord. Having brought Saul from Tarsus to Antioch, they continued their labours there for a year, and taught

much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.* It is extremely probable, both from the nature of the case, and from the expression of King Agrippa to Paul, almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian, as well as that of St. Peter, If any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; that this name was given to the believers by the enemies of the Gospel, perhaps by the haughty Romans, as a term of reproach or contempt. But now, while the name of Jew denotes an unhappy race of outcasts and wanderers; while that of Greek bespeaks an oppressed, and persecuted, and, unhappily, a superstitious and immoral people; while the once proud name of Roman is confined, as a national appellation, to the people of a ruined and defenceless city; that of Christian is a high and holy distinction, not depending upon casual locality, nor upon the will of men, a name, in which the civilized world rejoices and exults; and which, in every nation, and in every condition of life, may be made, by the grace of God, a title to the inheritance of the saints in light.

It will be impossible for me, in the present course of Lectures, to touch upon all those

* Acts xxvi. 28.

+ 1 Pet. iv. 16.

points in the Acts of the Apostles, which present to the Christian reader materials for instruction and improvement. I intend to devote my next and concluding Lecture to a summary review of the subjects which have been separately considered. In the mean time, let us pray to the great Author of light and truth, that by these, and by all the different methods of setting forth his Word, his great purposes in the Gospel may be advanced. May we be excited, by a near and careful consideration of the doctrines and example of those holy men, who planted that Gospel in the world, to be followers of them, as they also were of Christ;* and may we obtain a portion of the same Spirit which descended abundantly into their hearts, to make us worthy of that holy name, by which we are distinguished as the redeemed of the Lord.

H

* 1 Cor. xi. 1.