upon no delay, but while the Spirit of God is willing to strive with you, to yield to his entreaties; to search the word of God in humility and sincerity for yourself, and to see, with the Bereans of old, "whether these things be so." Remember, Felix only delayed his search till a more "convenient season," and was lost; Sergius Paulus inquired honestly and faithfully, without the delay of a moment, and was saved. Do not, therefore, deceive yourself by the vain and common subterfuge-it is impossible, under my present circumstances, with my present hindrances, to take any decided thought upon serious religion, to make any important change in my manner of life and conversation. Be assured that this is merely self-deception; there are no circumstances, there are no hindrances, which can fall to the lot of any human being, that can justify such a conclusion. Can you be placed in a more difficult situation, in a more responsible office, in

a more dangerous rank, than Sergius Paulus, sitting as a Gentile magistrate upon a heathen tribunal, and yet becoming the first Christian convert? And how was this effected? "Not by power, not by might, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord." God's grace was sufficient for him. Here, then, his example speaks most encouragingly to you. The same grace is still as freely offered and as abundantly sufficient. Every step you take towards an increased decision of conduct, every effort you make towards greater spirituality of heart and mind, will be less difficult and more gratifying than the last; until at length, when wholly conquered by the love of God in Christ Jesus, and "every thought brought into captivity to the obedience of Christ," you will be constrained to acknowledge, O blessed Redeemer, "Thy yoke indeed is easy, and Thy burden is light;" Thy “ways are ways of pleasantness, and all Thy paths are peace.'

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LECTURE VI.

ACTS XIII. 39.

"BY HIM, ALL THAT BELIEVE, ARE JUSTIFIED FROM

ALL THINGS."

THE conversion of Sergius Paulus, the Roman proconsul, which occupied a prominent station in our last lecture, was an important event at the early period of the church of Christ in which it occurred; and the memory of it was perpetuated in a remarkable manner as regards the subject of our present history.

The evangelist says, "Then Saul, who is also called Paul;" previously to this incident he is never called by any other name than Saul in Holy Writ, and after it, that name is never mentioned, the ap

pellation of Paul having been bestowed upon him, as is supposed by the best commentators, after Sergius Paulus, as a lasting memorial of the conquest which his divine Master had thus achieved by his instrumentality. Surely, if the heroes of Pagan antiquity obtained their titles by their sword, and derived them, as it is well known they frequently did, from the names of the countries which they conquered, well might Saul thus receive the name of the first Gentile idolater who had ever been subdued by the sword of the Spirit, the doctrines of the cross. A name so acquired will be recognised, and honoured, and rejoiced in, when every other title of distinction has been long forgotten; while the true and humble follower of the Lord Jesus Christ will even now confess, I had rather be the honoured instrument of converting one immortal soul to the knowledge of the Redeemer, of plucking one brand from the everlasting burning,

than inherit the titles, or acquire the fame, of all the conquerors of the world.

Barnabas and Paul having left Cyprus, came, we are told, to Perga in Pamphylia, where the following incident is thus briefly related:" John departing from them, returned to Jerusalem." This was John Mark, of whom we are told, in the former part of the chapter, that "they had John to their minister." The motive for his sudden departure is not alluded to in holy writ, neither is any sentence passed upon it; but in a subsequent passage of the history, we shall find that it was deeply resented by St. Paul, and laid the foundation of a serious difference between him and Barnabas. "No man having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God," said our divine Master.

Brethren, before you enter upon a religious course, before you take up the cross and follow Christ, "sit down first and count the cost." Are you content to re