in that city. It clearly appears, from our Saviour's conference with the Samaritan woman, that the people of that despised and detested country entertained, not only a strong expectation of the Messiah's advent, but far juster and more scriptural notions of his office, than their haughty neighbours. The woman said, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ; when he is come, he will tell us all things. And the people of her city said to the woman, We have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world.*

From the same chapter we may learn, that in order to obtain admission, through baptism, into the Church of Christ, faith was a necessary qualification; that is, a belief in the truth of what the first preachers of the Gospel taught concerning Christ: but not such a faith as was sufficient to ensure a man's salvation: for Simon the sorcerer, or, as he is most commonly called, Simon Magus, believed and was baptized; yet afterwards, when he saw that the gifts of the Holy Ghost were bestowed on those, upon whom the Apostles laid their hands, (for all who were baptized were not so ordained) he offered them

* John iv. 25, 42.

money, that he might receive the same: upon

which Peter rebuked him with just severity, and told him that he was in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity. This is a striking and indisputable proof of the truth, that a man may believe, and be judged, even by an inspired person, worthy to be made a member of Christ's Church; and yet afterwards fall away from the faith into a state of condemnation. If it be said, that Simon never really believed, we have an answer in the same chapter; for when the devout Eunuch, or chamberlain of Queen Candace, being convinced, by Philip's exposition of the prophecies, that Jesus was the Christ, enquired, What doth hinder me to be baptized? Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. *

With respect to these early converts to the Christian faith, we find them every where spoken of, as being filled with joy and gladness, at their translation from a state of darkness into the kingdom of Christ and of God. And the Apostles describe themselves and the brethren, amidst tribulations and dangers, as rejoicing with joy unspeakable and full of glory. have been from our early age

*Acts viii. 37.

Nurtured as we in the principles

+ 1 Pet. i. 8.

of Christianity, we can hardly estimate the joy and gratitude which follow such a transition. And yet, in order to appreciate the mercies of redeeming love, we ought to reflect upon the state in which we might have been, had the Gospel never been preached to us; upon the state in which many nations of the earth still are; nay, upon the state of many even of those persons, who live under the light of that Gospel, and yet have never had their hearts illumined nor purified by its beams. And if, with regard to ourselves, we do not perceive, that in principles and practice, in sentiment and hope, we are exceedingly different from what we should have been, if we had never been instructed in the truths of the Gospel; then let us look to our condition. Our baptism has been ineffectual: we have neither part nor lot in the gifts of the Spirit; we are still in the gall of bitterness and the bond of iniquity. us seek to be so renewed in the spirit of our mind,* and so to mark and testify that renewal by a clear line of distinction from the unconverted world, as to our opinions, and motives, and pursuits, and conversation, that we may ourselves experience, and persuade * Eph. iv. 23.

Let

others to seek, the powerful influences of that Spirit working in the heart; that amidst all discouragements and difficulties we may go on our way rejoicing and at the moment of our deliverance from the captivity of the flesh, we may look steadfastly upon Him, in whom we have trusted, and breathe out our departing soul in the words of faith and hope, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!

*Acts viii. 19.

LECTURE IV.

ROм. i. 1.

Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an Apostle, separated unto the Gospel of God.

In my first Lecture on the Acts of the Apostles, I remarked that the greater part of that book is occupied with a narrative of the transactions of St. Paul. His figure stands prominently forth in the portraiture, which the sacred historian has drawn of the primitive Church of Christ; and it is in an especial degree deserving of our notice, both on account of the personal character of that great Apostle, and of the signal attestation afforded to the truth of the Gospel in his miraculous conversion. It is principally to this latter feature of his history that I propose on the present occasion to draw your attention. The subject is not new, nor is it now to be set forth with much novelty either of argument or illustration; but it may serve the purposes of