tian life the one the beginning of piety in the soul, the other of its manifestation before men, or of a profession of religion. No man can tell how much he endangers his eternal interest by being ashamed of Christ before men. See Mark viii. 38. Shall

be saved.' Saved from sin, Matt. i. 21, and from eternal death, John v. 24; iii. 36, and raised to eternal life in heaven, John v. 28; xvii. 2, 24. Shall be damned.' Shall be condemned. That is, condemned by God, and cast off from his presence, 2 Thess. i. 6-9. They will be adjudged to be guilty by God in the day of judgment, Rom. ii. 12, 16. Matt. xxv. 41; they will deserve to die for ever, Rom. ii. 6, 8; and they will be cast out into a place of woe to all eternity, Matt. xxv. 46.-God has a right to appoint his own terms of mercy. Man has no claim on him for heaven. The sinner rejects the terms of salvation knowingly, deliberately, and perseveringly. He shows by this that he has no love for God, and his law. He rejects God, and he must go into eternity without a Father and without a God. He has no source of comfort in himself, and must die for ever. There is no other being but God that can make man happy in eternity; and without his favour, the sinner must be wretched.

17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;

And these signs.' These miracles. These evidences that they are sent from God. 'Them that believe.' The apostles and those in the primitive age who were endowed with like power. 'In my name.' By my authority, and using the power that I would in such cases, if bodily present. He did it in his own name. He did it as possessing original, underived authority. See the account of his stilling the sea, Matt. viii. 26, &c.; of his healing the sick, Matt. ix. 5, 6; of his raising Lazarus, John xi. The prophets spoke in the name of the Lord. The apostles did likewise, Acts iii. 6, &c. There was, therefore, an important difference between Jesus and all the other messengers that God has sent into the world. He acted in his own name; they in the name of another. He wielded his own power; they were the instrument by which God put forth the omnipotence of his arm to save. He was, therefore, God; they were men, of like passions as other men, Acts xiv. 15. 'Shall they cast out devils.' See note on Matt. iv. 24. Compare Acts xvi. 16-18. 'Shall speak with new tongues.' Shall speak other languages than their native language. This was remarkably fulfilled on the day of Pentecost, Acts i. 4-11. It existed also in other places. See 1 Cor. xii. 10.

18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

They shall take up serpents. This was literally fulfilled when Paul snook the viper from his hand. See Acts xxviii. 5, 6. 'Any deadly_thing.' Any poison, causing death. 'Shall not hurt them.' There is a similar promise in Isa. xliii. 2. They shall lay hands on the sick,' &c. See instances of this in the Acts of the Apostles, ch. iii. 6, 7; v. 15, &c.

19 So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.

'He was received up into heaven.' In a cloud from the mount of Olives. See Acts i. 9. The right hand of God.' This phrase is taken from the manner of speaking among men, and means that hewas exalted to honour and power in the heavens. It was esteemed the place of the highest honour to be seated at the right hand of a prince. So, to be seated at the right hand of God, means that Jesus is exalted to the highest honour of the universe. Compare Eph. i. 20-22.

20 And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.

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"They went forth.' The apostles. Every where.' In all parts of the world. See the account in the Acts and the Epistles. The Lord working with them.' By miracles, by removing obstacles, by supporting them, and by giving the gospel success, and making it effectual to saving men. Confirming the word." Showing it to be the word of God, or a revelation from heaven. By signs following. By attending miracles. By raising the dead, healing the sick, &c., as signs that God was with them, and had sent them forth to preach. Amen,' Truly, verily, so be it.