far overcome by indignation against the sufferers, that he overlooked the offence against law: unless we will suppose his behaviour the effect of Roman policy, which sometimes permitted actions of this kind to go unpunished, to make the yoke appear lighter on their provincial subjects.

Before Paul left Greece, he had shorn his head at Cenchrea, the port of Corinth; for he had a vow."* This was the vow of the Nazarite, undertaken sometimes for life, sometimes for at certain number of days; during which he was to abstain from the produce of the vine, under every form, and not suffer a razor to come upon his head. At the end of the time he was to shave his -head at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation; that is, at the door of the temple of Jeru-' salem. Now in the present case this ceremony was performed in Greece, how then did it answer to the law? To solve this difficulty, it must be considered, that some duties were prescribed, which could not possibly be discharged by persons at a great distance from Judea; such as all the males appearing three times in a year before the Lord, and many others. In such cases they trusted in the mercy of God, that he would not be extreme to mark what was done amiss,” but would accept the willing mind in

* Some commentators will have this vow to be made by Aquila; but the context and thread of the whole discourse rather point out St. Paul.

place of the deed. What then should prevent the discharge of this vow with the same hope? Besides, if during the days of separation any pollution should happen to be contracted, the ceremony of shaving the head was to take place before they were completed, and every thing to begin anew. Now some accident of this sort might have befallen St. Paul; which being desirous of immediately removing (in compliance with the prejudices of his Jewish brethren) he may have gone through this form at present, reserving himself for the full performance of his vow at Jerusalem, whither he was now on his way. Or, without resorting to this supposition, however natural, the matter may be explained by a rule laid down in the Jewish books, that they who make the vow of the Nazarite out of the land of Israel, shall go into it to complete the vow: which St. Paul was soon enabled to accomplish by going up to the next Passover, called by way of eminence the Feast. There he might have perfected the whole by his offerings, and other usual rites, in the temple.

The history now relates his going to Ephesus with Priscilla and Aquila; whom he leaves there, and after reasoning some short time with the Jews in their synagogues, he sailed thence, landed at Cesarea, went up to Jerusalem, and saluted the church; then went down to Antioch, and having spent some time there, went over all the country

of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening the disciples. During his absence from Epliesus the historian introduces a new disciple there, called Apollos,

a Jew, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the Scriptures of the Old Testament. This man was initiated only by the baptism of John; yet, according to the measure of his knowledge, taught diligently, and preached boldly, the things of the Lord, or the Christian doctrine. How it happened that a person, instructed in the right way, should be so long time without the baptism of Christ, seems a little strange. However, it may be owing to his removal from Judea to his own country, before this baptism became general: and as the Gospel could not have been long published in writing, he may have remained ignorant of this and some other important doctrines of Christianity, although acquainted with and zealous for the rest. Certain it is, that something was wanting to perfect him in the faith; for we find Aquila and Priscilla "expounding to him the way of God more perfectly."-Neither was he singular in the want of Christ's baptism for in the next chapter we shall find several disciples in a similar condition. Indeed it seems probable enough, in addition to the reasons above assigned for Apollos, that many at this period thought the baptism of John, who was the forerunner of Christ and had baptized our Lord himself, sufficient ; not knowing the mighty bless

ing of the Holy Ghost to have been conferred in the baptism of Christ, which therefore made this an essential service for complete admission into his church. Apollos, being now fully instructed in the Gospel, passed over into Achaia, with letters from the brethren, exhorting the disciples to receive them kindly and affectionately; where he proved highly useful, helping and confirming

those who believed through grace ;"-that is, the grace of God enabled him to strengthen the disciples; or it had been the means of their conversion and belief; for the words will bear either interpretation equally well. He also publicly refuted the Jews, shewing from the Scriptures, in which he was excellently skilled, that Jesus was Christ.

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While he was thus employed, St. Paul returned to Ephesus where we shall for the present leave him, and in our next Lecture, after having noticed the most remarkable occurrences which took place during his stay in that city, we shall attend him on his second journey into Macedonia and Greece. You will recollect, that having in his first set out from Antioch, and visited some places in Asia where he had before been with Barnabas, he passed through Phrygia and Galatia to Troas; whence he sailed to Samothracia, and having gone next day to Neapolis he proceeded to Philippi in Macedonia; afterwards to Thessalonica, than to Berea, and next to Athens. After some time spent here

he went to Corinth, where he continued a year and six months. From the port of Corinth he crossed the sea to Ephesus in Asia, accompanied by Aquila and Priscilla, whom he left there soon after, and set out for Jerusalem by way of Cesarea; and from Jerusalem came to Antioch, where after he had spent some time, he went through Galatia and Phrygia, and at length returned to Ephesus.

I have drawn together into one short view the different points of this journey, which occupied a space of four years or somewhat less; that you may more easily and distinctly trace his progress and return. We shall soon follow him again in nearly the same course. It had not been very pleasing as to worldly comforts; but ample amends was made him in the consolation and joy, which he felt from extending the light and blessings of the Gospel. To use his own animated words,

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ ? shall tribulation or distress, or persecution or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or the sword? Nay in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us."