them, with such views. Yet there is too much reason to fear, that some take more pains to cavil and confound, than to clear, explain, and reconcile them, although containing our title to immortal life. I hope and am persuaded, that none of my present congregation do now, or ever will, belong to this description. The remaining part of the first chapter is taken up with an account of the disciples' manner of electing one to fill the place of the traitor Judas. In which we may observe they proceed with great caution; confining their choice to those men, "who had companied with them all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among them: beginning from the baptism of John," unto the ascension of our Lord. Out of this number, who were all of course competent witnesses, they appointed two most distinguished among them; and not venturing to decide the important question of themselves, they have recourse to God by fervent prayer, that he would shew, whether of these two he had cho"And the lot fell upon Matthias, and he was numbered (or voted in) with the eleven Apostles. Thus the number of disciples was completed: whica was the first step necessary to be taken before they entered on their ministry. sen. I have endeavoured to the best of my judgment to lay before you my thoughts upon the several subjects contained in this chapter, with all the plain ness and brevity I could. I trust they have brought conviction to your minds as well as my own. Το give them full effect upon our hearts and understandings, let us employ earnest and constant prayer to God for the assistance of his Holy Spirit, which is able to guide us into all truth, and to give us a right understanding in all things." LECTURE II. CHAPTER II. AMONG MONG the several wonderful and gracious events in the Christian dispensation, none more deserves our attention and regard, than what we find recorded in the second chapter of the Acts; I mean the descent of the Holy Ghost upon the Apostles on the day of Pentecost. This day was one of the great festivals among the Jews, celebrated as the feast of harvest, and also for the delivery of the Law on Mount Sinai, fifty days after they had been brought out of the land of Egypt; and was of course attended by vast multitudes of them from every quarter. It is related thus: "When the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing wind," (which was a fit emblem of the Divine Spirit) and it fillcd all the house where they were sitting; and there appeared unto them cloven tongues, like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them;" by which words are signified the power and efficacy of their preaching in various languages, and also the permanency "And they were all fill and duration of the gift. ed with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. And there were dwelling (that is sojourning probably during the great festivals of Passover and Pentecost) at Jerusalem, Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven: Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language: And they were all amazed, and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold are not all these which speak Galileans ? And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born ?" It then goes on to name the several countries and people; among whom are mentioned Jews and proselytes, which last were strangers, converted to Judaism. According to some writers, there were two kinds of proselytes among the Jews, Proselytes of Justice, and Proselytes of the Gate: the former became complete Jews by submitting to circumcision, and all the rites and ceremonies required by their law; while the latter were partially adopted, on the conditions of renouncing idolatry, and observing what were called the Seven Precepts of Noah. Other writers deny any such distinction, holding the former only. If there were any such, both descriptions are included here. Upon the miraculous event recorded in the passages now read and refer red to, it will be necessary to speak at some length, that you may see how admirably it was contrived to assist and forward the Christian cause. The providence of God, in conducting and completing the redemption of mankind, is wonderful and excellent in all its parts. He laid its first foundations immediately after the fall of our first parents, and by successive degrees raised the edifice of our faith upon the patriarchs and prophets, Jesus Christ being the chief corner stone. It was a dispensation of miracles throughout; and most eminently so in the hands of our blessed Lord, who performed wonders able to convert every reasonable and candid mind. But when about to leave the world and go to the Father, he well knew the invincible obstacles to the propagation of his religion, in its struggle against flesh and blood, against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world," should it have no other than mere human means of support, in the hands of a few weak followers. It was, therefore, both wise and gracious in him, to bestow on his disciples such miraculous powers as were best adapted to maintain the faith; among which none was more excellent, than this effusion of the Holy Ghost upon the Apostles on the day of Pentecost. For whether we consider the event in itself, wrought by the extraordinary power of God, or attend to the design and consequences of it, there is, in either |