Saul did this, whilst breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, he set out for Damascus, a city where great numbers of Jews were resident, and many had been converted to the faith. These were now threatened with a heavy storm; when it pleased God in a most unexpected manner to disperse the cloud, and give them joy for heaviness.

:

3. And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven : 4. And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?

5. And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.

6. And he, trembling and astonished, said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise,

and

go into the city, must do.

and it shall be told thee what thou

7. And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man.

kicking against the This was a conflict

Saul had been as an animal unsubdued to the yoke, and contending against his master: pricks, or goad, which urged him. in which he must fail at last. Yet the voice which warned him to desist, was rather a gentle than an angry voice; not so much of just indignation, as of kind remonstrance. Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? Why persecutest thou Him, who came to bless thee: came that thou "mightest have life, and have it more abun

A proverbial expression. The unbroken bullock kicks against the driver's goad.

dantly ?" Instead of contending against that which thou canst never overcome, "take my yoke upon thee, and learn of me: for I am meek and lowly of heart; and thou shalt find rest unto thy soul."

8. And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus.

9. And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink.

Such was the effect of what had taken place, both upon his body and his mind. His outward sight was closed. But his inward sight had received new strength and vigour. We are told, afterwards, how he was employed. "Behold, he prayeth." He was engaged, then, these three days, in turning the eyes of his mind towards himself, with "mourning, and fasting, and prayer." The Spirit was "reproving him of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment;" and laying the foundation of a life to be hereafter spent in faith, and not in unbelief; in the true service of God, and in zeal "according to knowledge."

A

The event shows, that what had happened to him was nothing in the common course of nature. storm, or a stroke of lightning, might take away the senses for a time: might benumb the vital powers. But when the man recovered, he would be the same man think, and judge, and act, as he had acted and judged before. Saul, when his bodily strength was restored, was no longer the same man. A change was effected in his heart, which can be effected by God

7 Acts ix. 11.

alone. He was still zealous; but his zeal was not to destroy men's lives, but to save them. He was still sincere and active, but not presumptuous or rash: he humbly asks, Lord, what wouldest thou have me to do? What is thy will, in the employment of my talents, means, and opportunities?

Thus it is, according to the parable:8 "When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace." Satan, unknown to Saul, was in fact the master whom he was serving: was, as a strong man, forcing him to use his powers to destroy the Christian faith. And his goods were in peace. Saul, then, had no compunctious feelings: never perceived that he was the slave of Satan, and the adversary of God. But now it had happened, according to the conclusion of the parable:-" When a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he taketh from him all the armour wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils." Saul had been wrested out of the power of Satan; and the conqueror would turn to his own use "the spoils :" would engage in his service the faculties which Saul so eminently possessed; and employ the vigorous understanding, the acquired knowledge, the active zeal, and the unwearied energy of this new disciple, to "bear his name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel."

It is not our business to inquire why the Lord saw fit to make Saul a chosen vessel for his service, and to bring him into his service by extraordinary means. "His ways are far above out of our sight." But though we cannot always perceive his reasons, we are

8 Luke xi. 21.

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quite sure that he has reasons.

Ignorant or perverse

men may act without reason; but it is impossible that God should do so. "Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?"

In the usual course of God's dealings with man, his grace does not enlighten those who are acting as Saul was acting giving way to perverseness, obstinacy, and malicious passions. His ordinary and sure mode of dealing is: "They that seek me, shall find me." "The meek will he guide in judgment."

But in every age he has been known to snatch some from the midst of sin, as "brands from the burning;" thus showing, that none need despair; that repentance is open to the worst; that "the blood of Christ cleanseth from all sin;" and that the power of the Holy Spirit is such as to soften the most stony heart. Paul himself was of opinion that this was the purpose of God's mercy to him, saying to Timothy, "Howbeit, for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show forth all long-suffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe in him to life everlasting."9

And wherever the gospel has been preached, this example of the favour of God shown to one who had before been "a blasphemer, a persecutor, and injurious," has proved a comfort to the repentant sinner. It is calculated to give encouragement to any one who may remember former wickedness with anguish of soul. He has here an instance of one like himself, to whom "Christ Jesus did show forth his long-suffering" that is, whom he received and pardoned. The

1 Tim. i. 16.

same merciful Lord has still the same will and the same power to save all who come to him in the spirit of Saul, humbly inquiring, "Lord, what wouldest thou have me to do?" He "will in no wise cast them out." He "will show them of his covenant." He "will guide them with his counsel;" he will hereafter "receive them in glory."

XXIII.

CONSTITUTION OF THE CHURCHES.

ACTS xiv. 23.

23. When they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed.

THEY who were performing this office were Paul and Barnabas, who had made a circuit through the different towns where congregations of Christians had been established, confirming the souls of the disciples, exhorting and instructing them. At the same time, they ordained certain members of the Church who were most fitted to become overseers of the flock, and take account of the souls of their brethren.

When nation rises against nation, and a country is overrun and conquered by a successful enemy, the victorious commander passes through it, inspects the