who concealed him, and at length enabled him to flee, he had fallen into the hands of his cruel enemies. As soon as he escaped, he tells us, he did not go to Jerusalem, but into Arabia, where he laboured diligently teaching the people the word of life. He returned again to Damascus, but the enmity against him was as rife as before, and the city being in the hands of Aretas, an Arabian king, the governor appointed by him assisted the Jewish rulers to apprehend him; but through a window in a basket he was let down by the wall, and escaped his hands.' (See 2 Cor. xi. 33.)"

"Yes," interrupted Mr. Lawrence, "and the Christians now dwelling there pretend to point out the very spot, namely, at an old gate, which has been long walled up on account of another being very near it."

"Damascus is a very ancient city, sir, is it not?" demanded Mr. Hill.

"One of the most so in the world," replied Mr. Lawrence; "we read of it as early in the Bible as the fourteenth chapter of Genesis, at the time of the battle of the kings, when Abraham was eighty-four years old, that is, in the year of the world 2083."

"Do many persons professing Christianity live there now, Mr. Lawrence ?" said Mrs. Basil.

"When I was there, Madam," replied Mr. Lawrence, "it was supposed to contain about 5,000 Greeks and 5,000 Latins and Armenians; but alas! there is no real vital religion amongst them. I sought for it in vain, and thought upon the faithful disciples who dwelt there in the days of Saul, and were sufficiently numerous to be objects of hatred and persecution."

"Three years had elapsed," resumed Mr. C—, "since the period of Saul's conversion to the time of his escaping in the basket; he then went to Jerusalem, and endeavoured to join himself to the disciples in that city; but naturally enough they were all afraid of him, not having heard of his miraculous conversion, and subsequent zeal in preaching the faith which once he so heartily laboured to destroy. They had not forgotten the furious bigotry wherewith he had persecuted their friends, nor the eagerness that attended the martyrdom of Stephen, and nothing would induce them to believe he was indeed a disciple, until Barnabas, who had perhaps received more information concerning him, brought him to the Apostles, Peter and James, (see Gal. i. 18, 19,) and declared unto them

how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and that he gave evidence of the truth and sincerity of his conversion by his boldness in preaching the word of Christ. But in Jerusalem likewise, bonds and imprisonment awaited him; the enemies of Jesus were preparing for his destruction, but infinite mercy interposed. He informs us, the Saviour who had called him again appeared to him, not to reproach him for his sins, but to honour him with a commission of mercy to the Gentile world. Yes, my dear friends, the time had arrived for the Gentiles also to receive the word of God, for the glad sounds of the gospel of salvation to be proclaimed to distant lands, and for all the ends of the world to see the salvation of our God.' To us, therefore, has the word of reconciliation arrived; we, too, are no more 'strangers and foreigners, but fellow-citizens with the saints and of the household of God'-the flock belonging to Jesus, who graciously declared his determination of uniting it with his original one, and thus having 'one fold under one shepherd.' Oh what glad tidings are these for us poor Gentile sinners! may the Lord the Spirit make us more sensible of them, and add unto the Church daily such as shall be saved."

R. CLAY, PRINTER, EREAD STREET HILL.

THE

NEW TESTAMENT HISTORIES.

How many and various are the duties of a minister of God's holy word! He is not only to act with watchfulness and vigilance, as the shepherd of the flock committed to his charge, but he must be the prudent, skilful physician, wounding in order to heal, and oftentimes administering nauseous draughts in order to cure ;-in other words, speaking the truth with all sincerity, and pointing out with tenderness and affection whatever he sees wrong in any of his people. Thus it was with our favourite pastor, Mr. Cthe weekly assemblage at the Court had given him a further insight into the characters of his wealthier neighbours than he might otherwise have attained. With the tempers and dispositions of his poorer flock he was well acquainted; they could seldom deceive him; he knew his richer friends possessed the same evil hearts, and failings, and if they acted differently, in many of them it was to be attributed to education, whereby they learned to conceal feelings and dispositions equally displeasing to a pure and holy God. This is a truth oftentimes forgotten. We are displeased with the humble cottager for his bursts of temper, his selfishness and hardness of heart; alas! we seek not for the same faults in the rich, though scarcely a day passes wherein they may not be found, accompanied by many an additional circumstance of ungodliness and sin. They little think of the evil they produce, naturally looked up to as examples. Too often the wealthy Squire and his family are the greatest hindrances the village rector meets with in the performance of his duty, and the improvement of his people; and it is not until we learn to 66 cease from man,” and from taking him as our guide, that we are able to value the

plain and simple rule for our conduct, laid down in the word of God.

Mr. C- -'s desire and prayer was, to act faithfully towards all his people, but at the same time without respect of persons. Many excellent people used to attend his weekly lecture at the Court, the end of whose existence was, to endeavour to love and serve God, both "outwardly in their bodies, and inwardly in their souls;" they were, in fact, true Christians, and as such were his greatest assistants and comforts, his dearly beloved in the Lord, his joy and crown; but there were others, who “had the form of godliness without the power thereof," who were "ignorant of God's righteousness, and went about to establish their own righteousness," and thus departed from the simplicity of the Gospel of Christ; the faults observable in these he was earnestly desirous of correcting, and like a skilful doctor, he set about endeavouring_first to discover the disease, and then apply the remedy. He recollected that the next historical event that occurred in order, was first the death, and then the restoration to life, of Dorcas or Tabitha, whose loss was so deeply deplored in the Church, on account of her kindness and unwearied charity to her poorer brethren. And this word "charity," thought Mr. C―, how little it is understood! truly, if I am able to-day to render its meaning plainer, I shall rejoice at the opportunity afforded me, and I trust that those who have been Christians only in name, may learn that the gospel must be followed not in word only, but also in deed and in truth. Thus communing within himself, he entered the room, where every seat was occupied by anxious and admiring hearers. Upon opening his Bible he remarked, that little had been related of the acts of the Apostles who generally resided at Jerusalem, watching over and governing the affairs of the infant Church; "but," proceeded Mr. C————, we now find it mentioned that Peter went through various parts of the land of Judea, visiting those persons who had received the word of God, and strengthening their faith in what they had been taught. He then visited the saints residing at Lydda." "Pardon me, sir," interrupted Hyford, "but who are meant by the Saints ?"

"All Christians, every sincere professor of the faith of Christ," replied Mr. C," he who believes in Jesus, and looks to him alone for forgiveness of sin, for holiness, happiness, peace, and joy."