Paul and Silas, and brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?' (Verses 29, 30.) It was for the accomplishment of this great end that the apostles had been cast into prison; this heathen jailor was to be brought into the fold of Christ, and, though he knew it not, was to be set forth to posterity as another and encouraging proof of the irresistible power of Divine grace, and the fulfilment of the promise made to the Church of old,' I, even I, will both search my sheep, and seek them out.' (Ezek. xxxiv. 11.) 'What must I do to

be saved?' the keeper cried: he had heard the slave girl say, 'These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation.' And now he felt it they could teach him, and he wanted to learn; nature itself, at its Maker's word, had borne testimony to their sacred character, and he flew to them for guidance; he seems to have forgotten all his other prisoners, and only to be interested in getting a reply to the one momentous question,What must I do to be saved? Oh, what a different man he was now to what he was when he went to bed! then he gloried in seeing his prisoners fast in the stocks, and thought how effectually they were silenced; now, overwhelmed with horror, under a sense of sin, he fell down at their feet, and besought their guidance. And what did the Apostle answer? Did he say, as a popish priest would, 'Repeat so many Pater-nosters and Ave Marias, go on pilgrimage, give large sums of money to the church, and then all will be well?'-No, that he did not; he said these few but precious words, 'Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.' (Verse 31.)

"This, my dear friends," proceeded Mr. C, "is the only true reply that could be made to such a question: this is the Gospel; believe and live are the soul-quickening words that bestow salvation upon millions; believeyes, believe in him who is both able and willing to accept you. He died to save sinners. Do you feel you are sinners? if you do, he died for you. He has made

reconciliation for you to God, and though once far off, and enemies in your minds by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreprovable in his sight.' (Col. i. 22.) Look well at the Apostle's answer, for it merits deep attention. There is no mention therein made of human works or deservings, for

heaven and eternal life cannot be purchased by man's endeavours: In us, that is in our flesh, dwelleth no good thing. And after we have done ALL that is commanded us, we are but unprofitable servants: we have only done that which it is our duty to do. (Luke xvii. 10.)"

"Sir," said Hyford, a bright smile beaming in his fine old face, "I love to hear you put us all to rights, exalting our dear Redeemer, and just placing us at his feet, where we ought to be."

"Then, Mr. C

said Mrs. Walton, ""

works nothing? Is faith everything?"

are good

"Oh, madam," replied Mr. C 66 put each in their proper place, and all will be well. A tree is known by its fruit, and so is faith. A cold unmeaning assent to God's word is nothing. What says the Apostle : 'Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.' (James ii. 19.) Yes, they have seen his power, they have felt the effects of his wrath, and truly they believe; and you may do the same. You behold the wonders of creation; you see God inscribed on everything, and the breath you draw you are convinced is continued by him; you feel you are utterly helpless, and can agree to the words of the Psalmist Thou hidest thy face, they are troubled : thou takest away their breath, they die, and return to their dust. Thou sendest forth thy Spirit, they are created: and thou renewest the face of the earth.' (Psalm civ. 29, 30.) You consent to all this ?"

"Most heartily," replied the lady.

"So far well," rejoined the Pastor; "but this is not saving faith. The faith of the Bible worketh by love, purifieth the heart, and overcometh the world.' If you have faith in a person, you have confidence. When the Apostle therefore said to the jailor, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved,' it was as if he had said, Have confidence in Jesus, this gracious Saviour whom we declare unto you; he is able and willing to save you; and though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.' (Isa. i. 18.) Trust him entirely; he has wrought out a righteousness for you which is perfect, and by virtue of your union with him you will strive to live and act according to his will. I live,' says the Apostle, yet not I, but Christ liveth in me ;' and you can imagine, Mrs. Walton, how a

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person would live in whose heart the Saviour dwelt. His thoughts would be brought into subjection, his temper. under control, his words giving utterance to pure and holy sentiments, his actions guided by the spirit of love. These are the fruits of genuine faith; and thus you see that they cannot be separated, for such a being never was known as a true believer destitute of holiness, or, as you call it, good works. The jailor proves the truth of what I say; the Spirit of God, who made him utter the anxious, agonized cry, What must I do to be saved?' enabled him to understand the reply,' Believe;' and he gave evidence that he did so, for he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway.' (Verse 33.) How different now was the behaviour of this man! the lion truly was transformed into the lamb; and he who wounded his victims with savage joy, now endeavoured to repair the evil, and cause them to forget their sufferings. Convinced that he was a sinner saved by grace, an object of redeeming love, the Apostle proposed to administer the rite of baptism, as the sign of his adoption into the family of the redeemed, or the visible Church of Christ. To this he gladly assented, and immediately, with all his family, obeyed his Lord's command, being baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. When the morning arrived, the magistrates began to question the lawfulness of their conduct with regard to Paul and Silas, and, fearful of getting into trouble, sent a message, privately commanding the jailor to let them go. He, delighted at the order, requested them to obey it; but Paul, though ready to suffer anything for the cause of the Master he so ardently loved, considered it right to teach these unjust judges a wholesome lesson. They have beaten us openly uncondemned,' said the Apostle, 'being Romans, and have cast us into prison; and now do they thrust us out privily? nay verily; but let them come themselves and fetch us out.' (Verse 37.) We. cannot but admire the manly spirit shown by the Apostle on this occasion; had they crept away, it would have been tacitly acknowledging they were wrong and their cause a bad one; but in his reply he proved that he had truth and uprightness on his side, and that the holiness of his profession demanded that they should be publicly acquitted. Glad, therefore, to get rid of them on any terms, the magistrates forgot their own dignity, and came

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to the prison, when they besought them to leave the place and depart out of the city without loss of time. This they did when it suited their convenience, for upon quitting the prison they entered into the house of Lydia, and when they had seen the brethren, and related all the wonders of the night, they departed, leaving behind them many seals to their ministry, and rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for the name of Jesus."

R. CLAY, PRINTER, BREAD STREET HILL.