manifestations are frequently in matters which in themselves appear trivial. Above all other things, self-denial tends to convince of the sincerity of intention, and consequently to gain the hearts of those who are opposed to the truth. Examine, my friends, your bosoms, and ask what degree of it you have individually manifested. Has the love of Christ so far constrained you as to testify its influence over you, as he testified the influence of his love to you? Seek that it may be so that the ardour of your affection for one another, and of your zeal for the salvation of the lost, may lead you to self-denial, as a testimony that you bear the image of Christ, and follow his footsteps.

IV. We perceive in the character of Christ, as opposed to the spirit of selfishness, that of disinterestedness. This may be regarded as an essential characteristic of all the dispositions already noticed. It is this that makes them virtuous. There may be apparent sympathy, beneficence, and self-denial, from base and selfish motives This could not be on the part of Christ. He is independent of his creatures. The perfections of his character could be exhibited in the punishment of all the guilty-as it shall be in regard to those that are lost. But it hath pleased him to glorify himself in the salvation of his chosen-and that from motives the most disinterested and pure; as his high elevation as God over all, rendered him independent of fallen and rebellious man. “Thou, God, lovest righteousness and hatest iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows." It is to this char

acteristic of our minds that God looks. He searches the heart, and scrutinizes our motives. If he finds disinterestedness characterizing us-well; if not, however plausibly good our actions may be, and however beneficial to their objects, they are in his holy eye worse than vanity. Hence, my friends, the necessity of knowing ourselves-of bringing our souls to the test of that holy truth which reveals to us the mind and motives of Jesus, and enables us to ascertain our state in divine estimation. Let us adopt the language of the psalmist, and say, "Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my thoughts; and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting."

From the consideration of this very important subject, we are led to see our own short-comings. O may we be led to mourn over them! Let us look steadfastly to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith; let us imitate the perfection of his holy character; let us earnestly long for the time when we shall be like him, seeing him as he is; and let gratitude ever reign within our bosoms, for his unspeakable condescension in exemplifying, in human form, the perfections to which he would have us attain.

DISCOURSE II.

ON THE REST, PROSPERITY, AND CHARACTER, OF THE PRIMITIVE JEWISH CHURCHES.

ACTS ix. 31.-" Then had the churches rest throughout all Judea, and Galilee, and Samaria, and were edified, and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied."

THE churches in Judea, and Galilee, and Samaria, were "assemblies of faithful men "-associations of believers who were drawn together by the power of love to walk in the ordinances of their Divine Saviour and Head. Were their constitution and character rightly understood and faithfully copied, it would rectify a thousand abuses; it would allay the tempest which now agitates the moral horizon, and, separating the precious from the vile, would make the true church of Christ shine forth in her

glory.

proper

In calling your attention to the text before us, I would, in dependence on the blessing of the Holy Spirit, consider

IN THE FIRST PLACE,-THE STATE OF THE CHURCHES IN JUdea, and GalileE, AND SAMARIA, AT THE TIME REFERRED TO. They had rest.

In the first verse of the foregoing chapter it is said, “And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem, and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles." And at the third verse, "As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women, committed them to prison." "All things work together for the good of them that love God." The history of the church in every age is an assemblage of facts directly illustrative of this principle. Events the most terrific and overwhelming, and causing the most bitter distress to tens of thousands, have, when their shadows have cleared away, proved as visits of the angel of mercy, and have awakened joy and gladness. "In the world ye shall have tribulation," said Christ, "but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." Frequently has the church, acting upon this exhortation, looked through her tears, and discovered behind the thick shades of adversity the dawn of consolation and peace-the clouds that seemed charged with destruction have burst with blessings on her head. Look further at the context:-"Saul yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the High Priest, and desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he

might bring them bound unto Jerusalem." This cruel persecutor, with a heart fired with hatred to the followers of Jesus, while their hearts trembled from a knowledge of his unrelenting rigour, set out for the execution of his dread commission, and when his prey seemed all but within his grasp, "suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: and he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And he said, Who art thou, Lord? and the Lord said, I am Jesus, whom thou persecutest. It is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. And he, trembling and astonished, said, what wilt thou have me to do?" Thus, at the very hour when bondage and suffering seemed inevitable, it was made to appear that Jesus reigns, and that all things work together for the good of those that love him. Not only was the dreaded evil averted, but he who was the cruel persecutor became a subdued penitent, and a zealous and dauntless advocate of the faith which he formerly sought to destroy. "Then had the churches rest." It was rest from persecution. The scattered disciples were allowed for a season peacefully to return to their respective homes, and without molestation to observe the ordinances of their simple and unostentatious worship. The manner in which the fact is introduced shows the high value that was set upon this privilege. How sweet is rest after weariness and pain! How pleasing the returning calm after a desolating tempest! It was thus, by the experience of the bitterness of its opposite, that rest was appre