SERMON IX. FELIX TREMBLING. ACTS 24. 24, 25. And after certain days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, which was a Jewess, he sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in Christ. And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee. THE example of the apostle in this instance furnishes to all who labour in the Christian ministry, both direction for their choice in the topics of discourse, and encouragement for them not to be disheartened in the ill success of their exertions. The careless may neglect our exhortations, the proud may despise our reproof, and even the most diligent of the flock may be found wanting in attention lieve. Note how the whole is written for your good; not so much to make you wiser, as better, and happier, wiser unto salvation. Note how through the whole shines forth a tender concern for our improvement, a careful fitting of our helps and duties to our frail and forlorn condition. Above all, note in all the love of God, for "God is love;" and the more you feel Him to be so, the nearer you are to seeing Him as He is. Thus will your blindness be removed, whilst the shame of your nakedness will be covered by his mercy, and your poverty at the same time be enriched by his goodness. Daily will the soul know more and more of heavenly things. Daily will it be better and better prepared for that vision, which awaits it at the end of life. And when that end shall come, the end for which it has watched rather in hope than fear, the heavenly healing will be complete in death, and all which we now see as in a glass darkly we shall then behold face to face. (See 1 Cor. 13. 12.) SERMON IX. FELIX TREMBLING. ACTS 24. 24, 25. And after certain days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, which was a Jewess, he sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in Christ. And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee. THE example of the apostle in this instance furnishes to all who labour in the Christian ministry, both direction for their choice in the topics of discourse, and encouragement for them not to be disheartened in the ill success of their exertions. The careless may neglect our exhortations, the proud may despise our reproof, and even the most diligent of the flock may be found wanting in attention and proficiency. But it is not at all the less our duty, in the service of our heavenly Master, and in the sole expectation of his reward, to speak, like the apostle, of faith in Christ, to reason, however slight may be our hope of conviction, "of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come." This reasoning we should observe was uttered by St. Paul whilst a prisoner for trial in the hands of Felix. Felix had with him on this occasion "his wife Drusilla," as she is called, "which was a Jewess." This is added to remind the reader of her real history; she having in fact deserted her lawful husband, and being at the time guilty of adultery. The governor, from whom a single word could have set St. Paul at liberty, might naturally have expected him to speak rather as one trembling himself, than so as to make his hearer tremble. What then are the topics selected by the apostle for his discourse before this guilty pair? Far from flattering their pride, far from countenancing their sin, he reasons boldly of righteous nor man. ness, temperance, and judgment to come; of righteousness or justice, to an unjust judge; of temperance or continence, to an adulterer and adulteress; of judgment to come, to those who feared neither God He reasons of faith in Christ, of that lively conviction of things spiritual, by which the soul enjoys the graces of the Gospel, of this he reasons to those who were elated with the pride of earthly power, and besotted with the joys of sense. He reasons. But he reasons in vain. His preaching, though it commands respect, brings not about conversion of heart. Though it gives no offence, or withholds at least the governor from expressing any, yet it moves him not to instant and deep contrition. Though for the moment it compels him to tremble with dismay, he dismisses the preacher with the delusive answer: "when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee." The trembling soon ceases. The momentary apprehension of danger is allayed. The governor has resumed his worldly mind." He hoped also that money should have been given |