thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth.

These words are taken from a prophecy of Isaiah, xlix. 6, in which the prophet complains, in the name of Christ, of want of success. "I have laboured in vain, I have spent my strength for nought" to which God replies, that if the issue of his labours should be the most unfavourable that could be supposed; if Israel should not be gathered, yet he should not fail of his reward; but so far would his labours be from being fruitless in regard to others, that he should be successful in raising up the tribes of Jacob, and instrumental, likewise, in enlightening and saving the Gentiles. From this passage, Paul and Barnabas might justly infer, that the Christian religion was intended for the benefit of the heathens, as well as of the Jews; yet it must be acknowledged, that it contains no direct command to preach the gospel to them. Such a command, however, Paul had received at his conversion, as the other apostles also had, when they received their commissions from their Master. 48. And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord;

They extolled the gospel of God, which extended its benign influences to them, as well as to the Jews, and which could not fail, on this account, to recommend itself to their esteem.

And as many as were ordained, "prepared," for eternal life, believed.

Many interpreters have shown that the words, "ordained to eternal life," which appear in our common version in this place, and which seem to imply some decree of Heaven, necessarily forming them for eternal life, are not justified by the original. The proper meaning of the word is disposed; and the sacred writer seems to have intended nothing more by the expression, than to contrast the temper and disposition of the Gentiles with those of the Jews. The latter were adverse to the offer of eternal life, and, from motives of pride and envy, rejected it with scorn; but many of the Gentiles were well disposed to the doctrine, and therefore believed.

49. And the word of the Lord was published throughout all the region, i. e. through the neighbourhood of Antioch and Pisidia.

50. But the Jews stirred up the devout and honourable women, and the chief men of the city, and raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their coast.

By devout and honourable women in this passage, we are not to understand persons of distinguished piety and worth; for persons

* Pearce, Benson, &c.

of this character would not have behaved thus; but merely female proselytes to the Jewish religion, or worshippers of the true God, and persons of rank. These the Jews easily instigated to employ their influence with their husbands, who were still Gentiles, to persecute the apostles, by representing them as seditious and dangerous men. By this influence, and the assistance of the magistrates, they were enabled to drive them from the country. This ill usage, however, did not provoke Paul and Barnabas to call for fire from heaven, or to utter any anathemas against them. They satisfied themselves with declaring, in the mild manner recommended by their Master, that they abandoned them to their fate.

51. But they shook off the dust of their feet against them, and came to Iconium.

This was as much as to say, We desire no farther intercourse with you keep to yourselves what belongs to you; we wish not to share in the smallest particle.

52. And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.

The joy which they felt was the consequence of possessing miraculous gifts, and of being assured that they were chosen into the family of God.

THE advice which these apostles gave to their new converts is equally proper for Christians of the present day-to continue in the grace of God; to persevere in the profession of the gospel, in the midst of all temptations to desert it, notwithstanding the example of the great, the arguments of those who are deemed wise, and the wit and ridicule of the profane. To be ashamed of the gospel from these motives, while we are assured of its divine origin and happy tendency, would be to be ashamed of our highest honour and noblest privilege; to accept of any other system in its place, would be to exchange light for darkness, the wisdom of God for the wisdom of man.

SECTION XXI.

Paul and Barnabas being persecuted in Iconium, flee to Lystra and Derbe.

ACTS. xiv. 1–7.

1. AND it came to pass in Iconium, that they went both together into the synagogue of the Jews, and so spake, that a great multitude, both of the Jews, and also of the Greeks, believed.

2. But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles, and made their minds evil affected against the brethren.

Iconium was a town of Lycaonia, in which, as well as in the other principal towns of Asia, was a considerable number of Jews. In this place they possessed no political power, but they had influence enough to sow suspicion and jealousy in the minds of the Gentiles against the preachers of the gospel.

3. Long time, however, abode they, speaking boldly in the Lord, "about the Lord," who gave testimony unto the word of his grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands.

The Lord here spoken of, is Christ Jesus our Lord; and the word of his grace is that gracious doctrine of God which was entrusted to him, to be dispensed to the world, and by him to the apostles. To the divine origin of this doctrine he gave testimony by the miracles which he enabled them to work in his name. From this passage it appears, as well as from others in the book of Acts, that miraculous powers, although undoubtedly the gift of God originally, were considered as coming immediately from Christ.

4. But the multitude of the city was divided, and part held with the Jews, and part with the apostles.

5. And when there was an assault made, rather an attempt made," both of the Gentiles, and also of the Jews with their rulers, to use them despitefully, "to abuse them," and to stone them,

6. They were aware of it, and fled unto Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and unto the region that lyeth round about:

7. And there they preached the gospel.

REFLECTIONS.

1. THE conduct of the Jews in rejecting the gospel, in persecuting those who preached it, or stirring up others to persecution, affords a melancholy example of the force of prejudice in blinding the eyes and hardening the heart: so contrary to their taste was the idea of a suffering Messiah and a spiritual kingdom, that the force of miracles and the voice of the prophets could not overcome their objections. How base and odious the spirit by which they are animated! What evil could it be to the Jews that Gentiles

were honoured with equal privileges, and placed on a level with themselves? Must their happiness be necessarily diminished, if others possess an equal portion of good? Ought they not rather to rejoice that the divine bounty, which was once confined to a single people, is now become so much more extensive, that provision is made for promoting the virtue and piety of thousands, who seemed to be before neglected, and who will, by these means, be saved from destruction? But they are actuated by the spirit of envy, and that evil passion converts all these causes for joy into so many sources of pain. See by what wicked passions men may be governed, and to what wicked actions they may be instigated, under the idea of a zeal for religion-even to hate, to assault, and stone innocent and virtuous characters. Let Christians take care how they foster the delusive idea that they are the peculiar favourites of Heaven; that its regards are limited to them, and that those who think differently from them, are necessarily its enemies, the objects of its aversion and hatred. It is an idea which inevitably leads to pride and envy, to hatred and cruelty. Let all men beware how they shut their eyes against the light, and refuse to listen to what may be advanced against that which they deem established truth; for under the idea of preserving the truth, they may be cherishing the most fatal errors.

2. While we admire the perseverance and fortitude of these first preachers, in publishing the gospel in the midst of much opposition and danger, let us also take encouragement from their success. Wherever they went, they gained proselytes, notwithstanding the opposition which they encountered, and those proselytes procured more, until, in the course of time, the whole country was converted to Christianity. Thus, agreeably to the prediction of their Master, the grain of mustard-seed became a great tree, and a little leaven leavened the whole mass. Let not the friends of truth, then, who are engaged in like arduous struggles, be discouraged in their exertions. If they find many, or even the majority, blind, obstinate, and violent, yet, in every place, there are a few of a different description, whose minds are open to conviction, who will receive the truth with joy, as soon as it is proposed, and who will communicate the valuable prize to others. Let them renew their labours, therefore, in every place, and persevere in their endeavours to gain an audience of the candid and well-disposed, not doubting the force of truth or the favour of Providence, while they are engaged in so benevolent a work.

SECTION XXII.

Cure of the cripple at Lystra. Paul is stoned by the people. He returns with Barnabas to Antioch, after visiting several cities of Asia.

ACTS xiv. 8-23.

8. AND there sat a certain man at Lystra, impotent in his feet, unable to use them, being a cripple from his mother's womb, who never had walked.

9. The same heard Paul speak, "was hearing Paul speak," who, steadfastly beholding him, and perceiving that he had faith to he healed,

10. Said, with a loud voice, Stand upright on thy feet; and he leaped and walked.

Perceiving that he had faith to be healed." These words plainly imply that if he had not had faith, the favour of being healed might not have been granted to him, which corresponds very well with the language of Christ, who often said to the person upon whom he wrought a miraculous cure, Thy faith hath saved thee. Agreeably to this idea, we are likewise told, that in some places Christ did not many mighty works, because the people believed not. Miraculous cures might sometimes be performed for all alike; but in general they were confined to those who believed in the divine mission of Christ and his apostles; God not choosing to honour unbelievers with a display of his power. The miracle on this cripple seems to have been performed while Paul was speaking to the multitude, and would be the more striking for its being sudden and unexpected.

11. And when the people saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying, in the speech of Lycaonia, The gods are come down to us in the likeness of men.

12. And they called Barnabas, Jupiter; and Paul, Mercurius, "Mercury," because he was the chief speaker.

The miracle which had been just wrought, evidently exceeded the power of man to produce, and must have some supernatural origin. The Lycaonians, therefore, could think of no better. method of accounting for it than 'by supposing, what was indeed no uncommon thing according to their mythology, that two of