fited by it, whether clad in warlike accoutrements, in purple, or in the garments of poverty. It is the light of God, which shines not less on the blade of grass than on the tall cedar, illuminating the cottage as well as the palace. Here there is neither Jew nor Greek, bond nor free, male nor female, but all are one in Christ; Gal. iii. 28.

Cornelius is the fourth Centurion commended in the New Testament on account of his faith. The first of whom we read is the one at Capernaum, who entreated our Lord, with great humility, to heal his servant, and on whom our Savior pronounced this high encomium-'Verily I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel'— at the same time prophesying of those who should come from the east and the west, and should sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven. The second* is the other Centurion at Capernaum, who asked and obtained from our Lord the healing of his sick child, after the physicians had been employed in vain. Next comes the one who kept watch at the cross of Christ, at whose death, being seized by an overwhelming conviction of the truth, he cried out, Truly this was the Son of God!' Lastly, there is our Cornelius, who, in mind and character, humility and faith, bears a strong resemblance to the first at Capernaum. St. Paul that God has chosen not says 6 many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble ;'t yet he has always chosen some of them. Yes, even now, there are not a few who, high in worldly rank and hon

* See Note A.

+ See Note B.

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or, engage with apostolic zeal, and a child-like, humble, scripture faith, in spreading the word of God, and the light of the gospel amongst the heathen.

Our Cornelius was by birth and education a pagan and not a proselyte. Of the latter there were two kinds those who, renouncing heathenism, embrace judaism, and underwent circumcision, conforming to the whole Levitical law, called proselytes of justice, or proselytes of the house, because they were incorporated with the house or people of Israel, and those who, renouncing heathenism and the worship of idols, merely professed their belief in one God, and pledged themselves to obey the moral law, but without undergoing circumcision, or observing the Levitical law and service. These were called proselytes of the gate, being, as it were, excluded from the interior of the house. But Cornelius was neither.* Had he been a proselyte of justice, or of the gate, Peter would not have been unwilling to receive him into the community of Christians, when so many proselytes of all nations were to be found among those baptised after his preaching on the day of Pentecost. Nor would they of the circumcision which believed,' who accompanied Peter, having been astonished, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.' Cornelius was a Gentile by birth, but certainly no Gentile in mind or character, no worshipper of idols, for he acknowledged and feared the one true God, the God of Israel.

How could he have attained such a clever understanding? In no other way than by the word, and the

* See note C.

grace of God for the Holy Scriptures had even then made their silent, secret way through a great part of the world. Such is their nature and destination, so it is in the present day, and so it shall be unceasingly. The knowledge of the one living God had been spread among the Gentiles, through the scattering of the Jewish people, during the Assyrian and Babylonian captivities. Besides, in Egypt, two hundred years before the birth of Christ, the written word of God had been made accessible to the great mass of the people, being translated into Greek, the language of the civilized world. In this manner, probably, the word of truth. had reached the Gentile Cornelius, and through its means, he had arrived at the knowledge of God. Without doubt, he had heard also of the mighty deeds of the Lord which were done in Judea, and of the messengers of God, who, like Philip, in Syria, and even in Cæsarea and its invirons, were announcing the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Yet man is not saved by the mere acknowledgement of this all-imporant truth for it may be only a barren conviction. Indeed, the falling away of all nations, in the early ages, from this simple belief, their loss of the knowledge of the one true God, and the consequent strictness with which He maintained his worship amongst his chosen people, is a fearful proof of the deep deterioration and delusion of men. The acknowledgement of one God and an Almighty Creator, is but the commencement of a Christian's life; the devils know that there is a God, but while they believe, they tremble. The prodigal son knew well that he

had a father, but of what service was this to him, until his wounded heart was awakened to long for this father, and for a reconciliation with him! In our Cornelius, it was not a barren conviction; on the contrary, it was a heart-felt desire for the living God, and for his revelation.

"For he was a devout man, and one that feared God, with all his house."

Devout is a beautiful word, and is here full of signification-that Cornelius, after he had learned to know the true and living God, made meditation on him, and seeking after his fellowship, his highest and most earnest occupation, the guiding principle of his thoughts and life. He also feared God; the one cannot be separated from the other, for the fear of God is an humble holy veneration of the most High, and is grounded on a lively conviction of His glory and omnipotence, who is King of kings and Lord of lords, who dwelleth in a light which no man can approach unto. Whosoever knows God aright, cannot be otherwise than penetrated with a holy awe. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; therefore, saith the law, (Deuteronomy x. 12,) And now Israel, what doth the Lord thy God require of thee, but to fear the Lord thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul.'

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This fear of God shows itself in a holy detestation of thinking, wishing, or doing, anything that displeases him.

Such was Cornelius, and such was his whole house

hold, his wife, children, and servants; we find two of the latter mentioned in the 7th verse, besides the devout soldier who waited on him continually. The words of Joshua, 'I and my house will serve the Lord,' were also in the heart of our Centurion-his light shown brightly, that all his house might fear and seek the Lord along with him. Though Cornelius, as a Gentile, might not enter the Synagogue of the Jews, yet, what was far better, he could transform his house into a temple of God! Blessed is that house where they fear the Lord thus, and walk in his ways!

If his house were a temple, offerings of love were the sacrifices which he brought thither; he gave much alms to the people,' and fulfilled the law,—' Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? When thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh ?' Isaiah lviii. 7.

'He gave much alms ;'-plenteously, and with kindness, he dispensed his gifts, and was not weary of well doing.

'He gave to the people, that is to say, to the poor of the Jewish nation—to the people of God, whose debtor he was, in order to show his gratitude for being partaker of their spiritual things. Cornelius proved his devotion and fear of God in his compassionate and benevolent love towards his neighbor: on which account he was of good report among all the nation of the Jews, verse 22. And, what is much more, in him was fulfilled the promise made by Isaiah, in the name of the Lord, to those who exhibited love, out of a pure heart