through that blessed Saviour, who appeared to him in the way, in such transcendent brightness; and while, with the eye of faith, we behold the glorious effulgence, let us prostrate every will and affection of our souls, and say, "Lord! what wilt thou have me to do?" He will assuredly reply, "Arise, and it shall be told thee what thou must do." Pour into our hearts, O Lord, this grateful knowledge, that we "having in remembrance the wonderful conversion of thy Apostle, may shew forth our thankfulness unto thee for the same, by following the holy doctrine which he taught, through Jesus Christ our Lord!" Amen.

1 Collect for St. Paul's day.

2

LECTURE XI.

ACTS IX. 32, &c. x.

St. Peter's miracles-Vision-Conversion of Cornelius-Lydda -Joppa-Cæsarea. A.D. 38-41.

THE tranquillity of the Church of Christ, at this period of its history, afforded an opportunity for those trees of righteousness to flourish, which were of the Lord's planting'. Its ministers were zealous and industrious, and the Spirit of God, in a sensible manner, accompanied their preaching. The pure and unadulterated doctrines of the Gospel began to prevail on every side by their means; they pursued the advantage, nor ceased from the spiritual contest, till, in a sounder sense than was said of a great monarch of old, they had no more worlds to conquer.

A few years before this time, we left the Apostle Peter at Jerusalem, having returned thither after the transactions with John and Philip at Samaria, The enmity of the Jewish rulers against the Christians having subsided for the present, he sets forward again to visit the Churches which had been established, in various parts of the country, by the

1 Isaiah lxi. 3.

disciples who had been dispersed by the persecutions in Jerusalem. This was a circuit which must have given great comfort to his mind. No impediments from without, were in his way. Calmness and serenity every where prevailed. The congregations of Christians whom he visited were justly denominated saints; they were separated from a wicked world for holy purposes, they were sanctified by the waters of baptism and spiritual regeneration, they were holy, as He that called them was holy. These little flocks may well make us ashamed, who are in very different outward situations. We are, blessed be God! under no dread of severe persecutions for religion's sake; we reside under the happiest auspices in Church and State; and yet, we have not only no ambition to be accounted saints, in the true and pure acceptation of the word, but are neither afraid, nor ashamed, to be called sinners. Let us shrink from the observation; and endeavour to recover our former place in the history of the Churches, by imitating these primitive patterns in Judea, Galilee, and Samaria, by stirring up the gift that is in us; by walking more circumspectly in the fear of the Lord, and regaining, through Him who is the Head of all Churches, the salutary and reviving comfort of the Holy Ghost.

In the course of this journey St. Peter came to Lydda; and, as his object was a speedy and a sure conviction of the truth of Christianity, he effected, by a word, the restoration of a poor cripple, who for eight years had been bed-rid with the palsy.

"Eneas, Jesus Christ maketh thee whole." I bring comfort to thee in his name who came purposely to heal the spiritual diseases of the world; in testimony of whose power and presence, I say unto thee," Arise, and make thy bed." During many tedious years, others have spread thy couch for thee, now spread it for thyself. The miracle was immediate, the consequence extensive. All that dwelt in Lydda, and in the fruitful and delightful valley of Saron, (or Sharon) saw him (and it may be imagined heard him too) and turned to the Lord!

At the distance of six miles was Joppa, a seaport town, which had just been deprived of a valuable inhabitant. Tabitha (better known perhaps by her Greek name Dorcas) was dead. We have an interesting picture of her friends in the hour of their lamentation, honourable to the deceased, and creditable to themselves. They are represented as recounting her good deeds with many expressions of tenderness, and shewing the charitable effects of her industry, the coats and garments she had wrought for the poor. Not content with fruitless tears, they dispatch two messengers to Joppa, and earnestly entreat a visit from Peter; an account of whose miracle had reached them. He came. God gave a blessing to his prayers; and she, who was already dressed for her funeral solemnity, is presented alive to her anxious and afflicted friends. Have we ever been recalled from the last extremity of sickness, to a state of health and strength? Have we ever received a friend, a brother, a child,

an husband, or a wife, after so near an approach to the chamber of death? If we have, we may judge, from their feelings who waited for the approach of Dorcas, or from our own on similar occasions, what ought to be our thankfulness, what ought to be our conduct! But above all, if we ourselves, or our friends, have been rescued at the same time from the death of sin to a life of righteousness, our tribute of gratitude to Him who hath thus "brought us out of darkness to his marvellous light'," ought to be as boundless, as extensive, as his mercy.

But the miracles of St. Peter did not end with their immediate accomplishment: in Joppa, as in Lydda, many, in consequence of them, believed in the Lord. Admiration, love, gratitude, and every amiable passion, were excited by them. Inquiry was made into their nature; by whom, and in whose name, they were performed. The great Author of our religion was magnified, and his Church multiplied greatly. The increase of the Christian congregation at Joppa, occasioned St. Peter to take up his residence among them for many days.

After an interval of three years, in which we may imagine large additions were made to the Church in different quarters, a circumstance of considerable importance took place by the means of Peter, which greatly enlarged the sphere of the Apostle's preaching; and in which we, who are not