Champion for That Doctrine, on Which alone his hope of Salvation could rest. And yet Paul thought it well, under his own experience of the unabating malignity and cruelty of the Persecutors of the Faithful, as aware also of the weakness of Human Nature in itself, if not invariably yielded to DIVINE Guidance, to renew his admonitory caution to Timothy in this respect; and exemplarily to encourage him to a perseverance in the conflict, by the contemplation of Paul, his Master in CHRIST JESUS, suffering imprisonment for his unflinching adherence to his Profession, both as a Teacher and Preacher of The Truth, as It is in JESUS. Resignation under all DIVINE Dispensations is alike the duty and interest of every professing Christian. Whom The LORD Loveth, He Chasteneth ; and patience and devout and even cheerful submission under trials or sufferings are calculated to advance the Cause of CHRIST, as exhibiting a Support, that the World cannot give, and therefore manifesting the Exceeding Greatness of the Love of CHRIST, Which thus can and does Supply all our Spiritual needs; and turn even our sorrows into joy. Whatever Measure of Trial, in the support and progress of the Christian Warfare, may be Dealt out to us, should therefore, so far from being shrunk from, be received with devout acquiescence, and supplication that it may be so borne, and be so Permitted to extend the Consolations, That Gospel Practice and Gospel Promises alone can Impart.--The Great Design of Human Creation in the First Purpose of The DIVINE MIND must have been Accompanied with the Foreknowledge of Its Primary Failure in the first Man's disobedience of The DIVINE Command; but Simultaneously the Gracious Interposition of The SON of GOD to Reconcile Justice with Mercy in the Free-Will Offering of His Own Expiation of Human sin, in His Own Assumption of the Human Form, Presented Itself and was Accepted, and so the Work of Creation Proceeded; and in all the Generations succeeding, amidst the hapless number of fallen because faithless Souls, the Salvation of the Faithful, and the Great Instrument Thereof in The Incarnate Sacrifice of The MESSIAH, were never Separated from The DIVINE Contemplation. Through the World's growth and in all its continuance to its final scene His Merciful Mediation has been and is and will be Operative; and Whom, amongst its varied and varying Population, The SON Calls, The HOLY SPIRIT will Inspire, and The HEAVENLY FATHER will Adopt. Till the Advent of The MESSIAH This Great and Gracious Truth was Shadowed forth, though but faintly, and in some degree peculiarly to one Nation. But on the Actual Assumption by Him, as the Second Adam, of Human Nature, The SUN of Righteousness Arose, and Spread Light and Life around, and Still It Shines, Imparting Energy and Bliss to every Eye and Heart, that will open with gladness and with gratitude to Its Influence. This Light Points to the present Life as but a Passage to Another, where Spiritual Light will Shine into the Soul with Celestial Brightness. The Great Day of Universal Judgment will Give That Brightness and That Gladness to every faithful Soul Called to Its SAVIOUR's Glory. But Darkness and Despair will envelope the Unbelievers, though then no longer Unbelievers, since, with a Sunbeam, Truth will then be Flashed upon their conviction; but like the Devils they will then only believe and tremble under their infatuated folly and madness in rejecting Salvation, when It was equally Offered to them as to the Believers. Paul had trials very far beyond the lot of the Generality of Christian Professors, but his faith only rose the more triumphantly and he never suffered himself for a moment to doubt, either the Wisdom of GOD in Permitting them, or the Power of GOD to Strengthen and Sustain him under them; to whatever extent they might reach, or to whatever duration his pilgrimage on Earth might continue. And such should be the habitual conduct of All, who enter into CHRIST's Ministry or Service, ever relying on DIVINE Grace to Sanctify and Solace the Soul, even amidst its every other

bereavement. -In another place Paul writes, As Many as are Led by The SPIRIT of GOD, they are the Sons of GOD: for ye have not received the Spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received The SPIRIT of Adoption; whereby we cry, 'ABBA, FATHER!' The SPIRIT Itself Beareth Witness with our Spirit, that we are the Children of GOD; and, if Children, then Heirs; Heirs of GOD, and Joint-Heirs with CHRIST; if so be, that we suffer with Him, that we may be also Glorified Together-Rom. viii. 14 to 17. And St. John saith, GOD is Love; and he, that dwelleth in love, dwelleth in GOD; and GOD in him: herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the Day of Judgment; because as He Is, so are we in this World. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear; because fear hath torment: he that feareth is not made perfect in love. We love Him, because He first Loved us; and This Commandment have we from Him, 'That he, who loveth GOD, love his Brother also'-1 John iv. 16 to 19, 21.-—Before His Ascension CHRIST Injoined His Disciples to tarry in Jerusalem until they were Endued with Power from On HIGH-Luke xxiv. 49; Acts i. 4, 5; even Baptism with The HOLY GHOST. Should we be Called to Suffer for the Faith's sake, may we, after the example of St. Paul, rejoice in our sufferings, as thereby contributing to fill up that, which is the Predicted Measure of Affliction to the Church of CHRIST-Coloss. i. 23, 24.~~JESUS, The SAVIOUR, is The SAVIOUR of His People from their sins, and as Such was Announced by the Angel of The LORD-Matt. i. 21. But Sinners should be Sinners no more, and on the contrary, ashamed of their offendings, shunning any continuance therein; and should strive in gratitude for Such Love of CHRIST, to do His Will, and walk in The Way, Which He has Set before them. And then All Things will work together for Good to them, that so love GOD, and who will be amongst them, who are Called, according to The DIVINE Purpose of Mercy -Rom. viii. 28, 30. Yet not by our own works, however deemed righteous, but by That Mercy shall we find Salvation from the Regenerating and Renewing Influence of The HOLY GHOST on the hearts, that will receive It faithfully and gratefully, as Shed abundantly through the Expiatory and Sacrificial Intercession of The Incarnate SON of GOD, JESUS, The MESSIAH-Titus iii. 5, 6. The DIVINE Election of the Descendants of Abraham was not for their own deeds, but for the Love Borne to That Father of the Faithful; for GOD is Faithful, and Keepeth His Covenant of Mercy with All, that love Him and Keep His Commandments to a Thousand Generations-Deut. vii. 7, 8, 9. Blessed be The GOD and FATHER of our LORD JESUS CHRIST, Who hath thus Blessed us with All Spiritual Blessings in Heavenly Places in CHRIST JESUS, according as He hath Chosen the Faithful in Him before the Foundation of the World, to be holy and without blame before Him in love; having Predestinated them unto the Adoption of Children by JESUS CHRIST to Himself, according to the Good Pleasure of His Will, to the praise of the Glory of His Grace, Wherein He hath Made them Accepted in The Beloved: in Whom we may have Redemption through His Blood, the Forgiveness of sins, according to the Riches of His Grace; Wherein He hath Abounded towards us in all Wisdom and Prudence; having Made Known unto us the Mystery of His Will, according to His Good Pleasure, Which He hath Purposed in Himself, that in the Dispensation of the Fulness of Times He might Gather together in One All Things in CHRIST, both Which are in Heaven and Which are on Earth, even in Him: in Whom also we may obtain An Inheritance, that we should be to the praise of His Glory, if indeed we trust in CHRIST-Eph. i. 3 to 12. Thus by Faith in the true and vital sense of it, and repentance thereunto, we are Permitted to look forward to That Blissful Union with CHRIST, when The Fulness of the Glories of His

KINGDOM shall be Opened to us, and an Inheritance be Allotted Everlastingly Therein. Unto JESUS CHRIST this Debt of Eternal Gratitude is due; Who Verily was Fore-Ordained in the Councils of The MOST HIGH before the Foundation of the World, and Made Manifest in the Appointed and ForetoldTime-1 Pet i. 20. To Him we owe That Vitality of our Soul and its aptitude for Heavenly and Heavenward Associations, which the Infusion of DIVINE Grace, as its Regenerating Influence, Inspires, and in the Prospect thereof Death is swallowed up in Victory-- 1 Cor. xv. 54; of Which we have the Assurance in the Record of our Adorable SAVIOUR's Own Words, Verily, Verily, I Say unto you, He that heareth My Word, and believeth on Him, That Sent Me, hath Everlasting Life, and shall not come into Condemnation; but is Passed from Death unto Life. Verily, Verily, I Say unto you, The Hour is Coming, and now is, when the Dead shall hear the Voice of The SON of GOD; and they, that hear, shall live: for as The FATHER hath Life in Himself, so hath He Given to The SON to have Life in Himself; and hath Given Him Authority to Execute Judgment also, because He is The SON of Man: (and He Adds,) Marvel not at This! For the Hour is Coming, in the Which All, that are in the graves, shall hear His Voice, and shall come forth; they, that have done good, unto the Resurrection of Life; and they, that have done evil, unto the Resurrection of Damnation-John v. 24 to 29. Paul said, As much as in me is, I am ready to preach The Gospel; for I am not ashamed of The Gospel of CHRIST; for It is the Power of GOD unto Salvation, to every One, that believeth: for Therein is the Righteousness of GOD Revealed from Faith to Faith; as it is Written, (Habak. ii. 4,) The Just shall live by Faith-Rom. i. 15 to 17. Should we therefore be called to such or the like sufferings in test of the vitality of our faith, let us consider, that it is according to the Will of GOD, and let us commit the Keeping of our Souls to Him in so well doing, as unto A Faithful CREATOR, A Merciful REDEEMER, and A Gracious SANCTIFIER!-1 Pet. iv. 19.

VERSES 13, 14.-Hold fast the form of Sound Words, Which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love; which is in CHRIST JESUS! That Good Thing, Which was Committed unto thee, keep by The HOLY GHOST, Which Dwelleth in us!

By the diligent searching of The Holy Scriptures, and the persevering study Thereof, and by comparing Scripture with Scripture, in a prayerful Spirit for the right understanding and correct interpretation Thereof, we may hope to arrive at a just knowledge and a profitable Self-appropriation of Its Truths in all Their Bearings and Inestimable Importance; and, having so learnt Them, it is obviously only in consistency with our Profession, as Believers and as Servants of The MOST HIGH, to whatever Station He may Appoint us, to exhibit Their Saving and Hallowing Influence, that we may hold fast to our hearts as well as minds, The Great Doctrines of Salvation and of Eternal Life, Which They Reveal; and that, with an earnest zeal and attachment and an unfeigned and unfailing fidelity, which nothing in the sophistry of Unbelievers, or in the subtlety of Satan by his numberless arts, may shake or gainsay; the Impression of the Wondrous Love of CHRIST in Imparting or Obtaining for us These Means of Enlightenment, and of DIVINE Reconciliation, being ever present to our thoughts, and Sustaining us in our trials. Every Peculiar Grace of The HOLY SPIRIT, Which may be Communicated, should be hailed with reverential thankfulness, and employed to the Great and Goodly End, for Which It is especially Fitted; with an honest acknowledgment both of Its Sacred SOURCE, and of the bounden duty, as an Entrusted Talent, to employ It to Others' benefit, as well as to our own-Rev. ii. 25. We should so hold fast as to obey from the heart That Form of Doctrine,

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Which has been Delivered and Taught to us in The Gospel of JESUS CHRIST -Rom. vi. 17. For, as has been before insisted upon by the Apostle, If Any teach otherwise and consent not to Wholesome Words, even The Words of our LORD JESUS CHRIST, and to The Doctrine, Which is according to Godliness, they are proud, knowing nothing; but doting about questions and strifes of words; whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, perverse disputings of Men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the Truth-1 Tim. vi. 3 to 5, 20, 21. May we according to our ability and opportunity, and in deference to the Christian Position Allotted us, and to The SPIRITUAL Aid and Gift Imparted to us, fight the good fight of Faith, by following after Righteousness, Godliness, love, patience, meekness, that we may lay hold on Eternal Life, Whereunto we are Called!-1 Tim. vi. 11, 12.

VERSES 15 to 18.-This thou knowest, that All They, which are in Asia, be turned away from me, of whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes. THE LORD Give Mercy unto the House of Onesiphorus for he oft refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain: but, when he was in Rome, he sought me out very diligently, and found me. THE LORD Grant unto him, that he may find Mercy of The LORD in That Day! and in how many things he ministered unto me at Ephesus thou knowest very well.

Desertion of a faithful Pastor, because bonds and imprisonment had overtaken him in his forward and righteous zeal in his Heavenly MASTER's Cause, the Soul should be prepared to contemplate, from the Experience of That Heavenly MASTER Himself, as a Lot of not uncommon occurrence; and the Solace is, that there is ONE, Who Sticketh Closer to us than a Brother; Who will never Leave us nor Forsake us, if we forsake not Him, nor desert or deny The Doctrine, Which He hath Set before us. In his privation, and amidst the many abandonments he encountered from false or feeble Brethren, The LORD yet Raised up an Instrument of Blessing to Paul in Onesiphorus and his devoted Household; who seem, with one heart and one mind, to have had delight in contributing, in many ways and that perseveringly, and under much personal danger, to the necessities of this Saint of The LORD. Well therefore may Paul have prayed, and that heartily, for DIVINE Blessings being Visited in return upon such true Christian Friends, who had proved under adversity their esteem, and the true influence of Christian Doctrine in awakening and sustaining the exercise of charity and liberality. In nothing daunted by the cruelty inflicted on Paul, though a like fate might have befallen Onesiphorus for the profession of a like faith, he laboured to discover the Apostle's situation, and penetrated even a Prison to gain access to him, and alleviate his sufferings and contribute to the supply of his wants Mercy we All need, and Mercy is Offered to us All. The Day will Come to All, when That Truth will be Confirmed; and as Unspeakably Blessed will They be, who shall then find It, as having in their State of Probation wisely and meekly and piously sought It; so to Them, that, in pride and obstinacy and daring rebellion, rejected and set at nought The Offer, Judgment without Mercy will Present Itself, when but too late Its Inestimable Value and Irreparable Loss will be acknowledged, but mourned in agonizing despair.-Paul had laboured hard to make Converts in Asia, and when at Jerusalem spake boldly in the Synagogues, disputing and persuading (of) the Things concerning The KINGDOM of GOD; but when Divers were hardened and believed not, but spake evil of That Way before the Multitude, he departed from them, and separated the Disciples, disputing daily in the School of one Tyrannus; and this continued by the space of two years, so that all They, which dwelt in Asia, heard the Word of The LORD JESUS, both Jews and Greeks-Acts xix. 8 to 10. When Paul reached Rome, on his appeal to the Emperor, he was suffered to dwell by himself with a Soldier,

that kept him; and, having called the Chief of the Jews together, he said unto them, 'Men and Brethren, though I have committed nothing against the People or Customs of our Fathers, yet was I delivered Prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans; who, when they had examined me, would have let me go, because there was no cause of death in me: but when the Jews spake against it, I was constrained to appeal unto Cæsar; not that I had ought to accuse my Nation of. For this cause therefore have I called for you to see you, and to speak with you, because, that for the Hope of Israel I am bound with this chain,' And they said unto him, 'We neither received letters out of Judea concerning thee, neither Any of the Brethren, that came, shewed or spake any harm of thee: but we desire to hear of thee what thou thinkest; for as concerning this Sect we know, that every where it is spoken against.' And when they had appointed him a day, there came Many to him into his lodging; to whom he expounded and testified The KINGDOM of GOD, persuading them concerning JESUS, both out of the Law of Moses and out of the Prophets, from morning till evening. And Some believed the Things, Which were spoken; and Some believed not. And when they agreed not among themselves, they departed, after that Paul had spoken one word, 'Well Spake The HOLY GHOST by Esaias (Isa. vi. 9, 10; Psl. lxxxi. 11, 12,) the Prophet unto our Fathers, Saying, 'Go unto this People and say, 'Hearing, ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing, ye shall see, and not perceive: for the heart of this People is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing; and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should Heal them!' Be it known therefore unto you, that the Salvation of GOD is Sent unto the Gentiles; and that they will hear It.' And when he had said these words, the Jews departed, and had great reasoning among themselves. And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house; and received All, that came in unto him; preaching The KINGDOM of GOD, and teaching Those Things, Which Concern The LORD JESUS CHRIST, with all confidence; no Man forbidding him-Acts xxviii. 16 to 31. Thus the evil heart of unbelief assailed Paul wherever he went, though his Soul was rejoiced occasionally with Converts; and under every discouragement his labours as an Apostle, whether to Jews or Gentiles, were unabated, if not at Jerusalem, yet wherever else he might be. And though labouring in his worldly occupation, as the only means of maintaining himself, though under the gall of a prison chain, and giving access to All, that came to him, and seeking to convince them, that JESUS was The CHRIST, on the faith of Whom Salvation depended, he yet found time to compose and write many of those invaluable Epistles, which have descended, with their charm and authority and instructive and encouraging Guidance, to this our day; namely, Those to the Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, the Second to Timothy, and that to Philemon, and probably That to the Hebrews, if, as is generally supposed, he were the Author of it. In The Day of Universal Judgment CHRIST, The SON of GOD, and SON of Man, shall Come in His Glory, and all the holy Angels with Him; and then shall He Sit upon the Throne of His Glory; and before Him shall be gathered all Nations: and He shall Separate them One from Another, as a Shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats; and He shall Set the Sheep on His Right-Hand; but the Goats on the Left: then shall The KING Say unto them on His Right-Hand,' Come, ye Blessed of My FATHER, Inherit The KINGDOM Prepared for you from the Foundatiom of the World! For I was an Hungered; and ye gave Me meat: I was Thirsty; and ye gave Me drink: I was a Stranger; and ye took Me in: Naked; and ye clothed Me: I was Sick; and ye visited Me: I was in Prison; and ye came unto Me.' Then shall the Righteous answer Him, saying, 'LORD, when saw we Thee an Hun