and in her experience there is nothing peculiar. It reveals to us the general law of God's house; his method of grace in opening the hearts of sinners to the life and power of the Gospel. It only remains that

In the fifth and last place, we view the gracious change here brought before us, in its effects. And in determining our present condition and future prospects, as accountable and immortal beings, to these it is our wisdom, with earnest and impartial scrutiny, to look. The heart, the unseen heart, is the special seat of the change produced by the Gospel. But the grace which renews the heart, purifies the affections and sanctifies the life. The new principles which it plants within prompt to new duties without; which, however much overlooked before, are now performed with careful and conscientious diligence: or if, as in the case of Lydia, diligence in outward performance previously existed, it now derives a quickening impulse from new motives and principles, which communicate to it a character and aspect in every essential respect new. works are transformed into living sacrifices. bondage of slaves gives place to the free-will offerings. of children. The new heart, and the new spirit, become the parents of new obedience.

Dead

The

This new obedience Lydia exhibited in three interesting particulars mentioned in this narrative. 1. "She attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul"- -SO attended to them, as to believe them as unquestionably true, to feel them as unspeakably important, and to act upon them as truths communicated, not to minister to the gratification of her intellect, or fancy, or affec

tions, but to promote her salvation. Her religion did not, like that of many, terminate in hearing. She was too much in earnest to mistake the means for the end. Her heart was opened; and the Word preached, she treasured up there, so as to have it at all times at hand-a guide in duty, a comforter in trouble, and a shield of defence in the hour of temptation. 2. She shewed a holy concern for the spiritual welfare of her household. While, by receiving baptism, she personally assumed the badge of the Christian profession, considering, at the same time, her household as part of herself, she saw the sacred rite administered to them also; and so far as it depended upon her, she put them in the way of being ingrafted into Christ, and made sharers in the promised and purchased blessings of the covenant. To this she was prompted, both by a sense of her responsibility to God, and her love to those who stood to her in a relation so near; and had she acted otherwise her conversion might well have been called in question. For nothing can be more true than the remark of Philip Henry, that "every man in religion, is really what he is relatively." They whose religion is merely a creed, or a formal routine of outward observances, may manifest indifference to the spiritual welfare of their children and domestics; and while providing for the health of their bodies, they may leave their souls to sicken and die. But such as are Christians indeed are incapable of this. Every principle of their new nature protests against it, and prompts them to the use of every mean by which they, with whom they are so nearly connected by the ties, whether of nature or

of mutual dependence, may be also united to them by the bonds of grace-children and servants of the Most High-" members of the household of faith," Unless their Christianity is sadly defective, their domestic habits and arrangements bear consistent testimony to this; and say for them to all around them, what Joshua declared to the assembled tribes of old-"choose you this day whom ye will serve; but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." 3. She testified a right Christian spirit towards the instruments of her conversion. "She besought us, saying, if ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house and abide there. And she constrained us."-Conduct, on her part, such as it ought to be;-the natural and beautiful expression of two sentiments, both of them indicative of the gracious change upon her heart gratitude to her spiritual benefactors, and a desire to enjoy the benefit of ampler intercourse with men, whose words were life and health to her soul. And wherever Christianity plants its foundations deep within us—wherever it truly opens the heart to the charities and sanctities of the Gospel, neither of these sentiments is slow in making its appearance; and in none are they found more active than in recent converts. They love the hands which have conveyed to them the heavenly treasure; and they delight in holding communion with persons of a kindred spirit. More especially do they prize the society of those whose Christian knowledge and experience are superior to their own. Indeed, when the great realities of the Gospel have penetrated the full depths of their spirits,

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nothing else can interest them. To other subjects interesting, perhaps engrossing before, they lend a cold— a reluctant ear. And the longest day sometimes seems short, as, out of the fulness of overcharged hearts, they pour into the ears of Christians, whose sympathies can cheer, and counsels direct them their mingled hopes and fears, and privileges, and trials as young believers. In all stages, indeed, of their spiritual progress, genuine Christians testify the social energies of their religion. They cannot live without Christian companionship. As in the days of Malachi, they that feared the Lord, spake often one to another," so it is still, so it always will be. And wherever there is a Lydia, "whose heart the Lord hath opened to attend to the things” which belong to her peace, she will evidence the Spirit into which she has been baptized, by being the companion of those who, “partakers of like precious faith," can enter into her feelings, minister to her improvement, mitigate her trials, and be helpers of her joy, in the way that leads to the promised inheritance of the saints.

We have thus rapidly glanced at some of the more essential points connected with the important subject of conversion, as these have been suggested to us by the present narrative. We have done so, however, to little purpose, unless the result is a deep and influential impression of the unspeakable importance of this great Gospel change. In the world in which we live, we are all familiar with changes. They occur everywhere-in our persons, in our families, in our churches, in our neighbourhoods, in all our social relations, civil

and ecclesiastical. And there are many of these which affect us so deeply, either for good or evil, that we ought not to be indifferent to them if we could, and could not, if we would. But all such changes sink into insignificance compared to this. Is it a change still foreign to our experience? While it continues so, no other change that may befall us can be solidly beneficial. For God is against us; our hearts are the dwelling-place of the enemy of all good; we live without God, and die without hope. Have we, on the contrary, experienced it? Then every interest is provided for; and we possess a treasure which outweighs millions of worlds in value. While the present scene is our abode, all our trials are sanctified to us, and all our blessings are blessings indeed. And when we go hence, it is to a world where we shall dread no change, because none can arise there, but one that will add to us the lustre of new graces, and enable us to draw richer and more liberal supplies from the ever-flowing fountain of life and blessedness.

May the Lord vouchsafe to all of us that change of heart which forms the happy prelude to such joys; and may he "seal us with that holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance, until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory." Amen.