and bestowing the kind and degree of attention which these subjects justly demand, he who seeks the pearls of divine truth will not fail to find them. It is true that the scriptures are not every where clear to every mind, but they are just as perspicuous as they ought to be. Like the gold, the diamonds, and precious things of earth, the priceless gems of divine truth demand an earnest and diligent search, and can never be the reward of the careless and indifferent They are placed within the reach of all who so earnestly desire them, as to employ the means necessary to secure them. They are, indeed, themselves of such a nature, that they alone who truly love them can possess them. They elude the grasp of the thoughtless; they vanish from the casket of the unholy, or, like the enchanted coins of eastern story, are, while in their possession, transformed into useless leaves.

There is here, we may observe, in passing, another well founded objection to the use of doctrinal commentaries and paraphrases of the scriptures, and to those soulless bodies of divinity which profess to bring the teachings of the scriptures down to the capacity and circumstances of every one. The same may be said of all those formularies of belief which propose to furnish in guarded phraseology, and with legal accuracy of definition and prescription, a succinct exposition of the sublime mysteries of revelation. These are but expedients to gratify Indolence, and to furnish Ignorance with a semblance of knowledge. If they prevent the trouble of searching, they equally prevent the happiness of finding. If they bring the scriptures down to the apparent comprehension of every mind, it is because their tendency is to lower and not to elevate, and they have consequently no power to raise a single mind to the proper contemplation of heavenly truths, but rather to bring it down from its proper position as they do the scriptures, by the burdens of humanisms and errors they impose. They serve but to debase and dim the fine gold of the sanctuary, and to dilute with water the new wine of the kingdom of heaven.

Such contrivances are forever substituted for the divine word, or at least permitted to occupy the largest share of the attention. But there is no substitute for the word of God, and nothing should be allowed to interpose itself between that word and the human mind. It is, as said before, sufficiently perspicuous. If it be not understood, the fault is not with the word of God, but with the individual who fails to comprehend it,or with the circumstances which surround him. Elaborate commentaries and systems of divinity are mere apologies for such faults, and they are false and flimsy apologies

because based, if they have any basis at all, upon the unfounded assumption that the scriptures are not sufficiently clear without them, aud that the defect, consequently, is in the latter.

Perspicuity, then. as said before, is a relative quality, and is to be regarded in a two-fold point of view: 1st. as respects the power to impart knowledge; and 2dly. as it regards the ability to receive it. These are correlative and dependent upon each other. It matters not that a treatise have the utmost possible clearness which the subject admits, if there be not sufficient capacity, or knowledge, or attention on the part of its student. However brilliant the light of heaven, it may not penetrate eyes that are closed; however distinct and clear the truths the Bible utters, they will fail to enter into ears that are dull of hearing; however interesting and attractive the objects it presents for acceptance, they can find no admission into hearts already full of grossness and corruption. Hence it is that our Lord so often closes an important lesson of instruction with the singular but expressive injunction, "He that has ears to ear, let him hear." The good word of the kingdom, too, is represented as seed sown upon various kinds of ground-on the beaten pathway where it did not enter; upon stony places where it had not sufficient depth of earth; among thorns by which its growth was hindered, or upon the good soil in which it flourished and brought forth abundant fruit. These different kinds of ground represent different classes of hearers, and as it is manifestlly no defect in the vegetative power of the seed sown that occasions such various results, but differences in the soil on which it falls, so it is owing to no deficiency in the word of God, that all do not understand and receive it, but to the obtuseness and obduracy, the corruption and pride of the human heart itself..

Instead, then, of vainly endeavoring to make the scriptures plain. er, our efforts should be directed rather to the removal of the obstacles which. prevent them from speaking to the consciences of men. Christians may be co-workers with the Lord and agents of the divine providence in breaking up the stony ground or the trodden paths of obduracy, and in extirpating the rank weeds of depravity and vice. It is thus the skilful husbandman addresses his labors to the amelioration of the soil he cultivates, nor does he ever dream of adding any vegetative power to the seed he sows, but seeks to secure an abundant harvest by preparing and opening the soil for its reception. R. R

ACTS OF APOSTLES.

SECTION XII., continued.—CHAPTER XVII.

Further particulars of the introduction of the Gospel into the province of Macedonia.

AND taking their journey through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the 2 Jews. And according to Paul's custom, he entered in among them, and discoursed to them for three Sabbaths from the scrip3 tures; opening them, and evidently showing that the Messiah ought to suffer, and to rise from the dead; and that this is the 4 Messiah, even Jesus, whom I declare to you. And some of them believed, and adhered to Paul and Silas; besides, a considerable number of the devout Greeks, and not a few of the principal 5 women. But the unbelieving Jews, filled with zeal, gathered together some mean and profligate fellows, and making a mob, threw the city into a tumult; and assaulting the house of Jason,

1. Amphipolis-Now called Emboli, a city of Macedonia, near the mouth of the river Strymon, on which the city of Philippi stood, about 48 miles East by North of Thessalonica.

Apollonia-Another town of Macedonia, of some importance; 30 miles East by South of Thessalonica. In neither of these cities did Paul or his Companions make any stay; but hasting on westwardly towards the Ægean Sea, they came to Thessalonica.

Thessalonica-Now called Salonica, was located on a gulf some 200 miles north of Athens. Here resided the Roman governor, and here also stood a Jewish synagogue.

2. "According to custom."-Paul immediately visited the Jews' synagogue; and here, as on all other occasions, he tenders the gospel first to his countrymen. During three successive Sabbaths he has the ears of the members of the synagogue. We are not, however, to suppose that these three Sabbaths were the limits of his labors here. Facts and documents on record authorize the conclusion that after these three Sabbaths spent in the synagogue, he occupied some other place in the city. That he spent a considerable time here is evident from the letters afterwards addressed to the church he founded there. He tells the brethren at Philippi of their assisting him in ministering to his wants at least twice during his labors in Thessalonica. And to his own labors to support himself, he also in both epistles alludes, when reminding them of their conversion and attainments in the Christian faith and knowledge. 1st Epist. ii. 9.; 2d Epist. iii. 8.

2. "Reasoned with them out of the scriptures."-We have before observed that the apostolic manner of preaching the gospel aiffered much from the modern. Their custom was to "testify and exhort." To reason from the scriptures was, of course, first to quote them, and then to apply them rationally to the assumption that Jesus was the Christ. In this case he opened the passages in their Law and Prophets concerning the Messiah, in proof that he was to be first a suffering and then a triumphant personage; and having carried that point, he proceeded to prove that Jesus whom he preached was that identical person.

4. "Believed and consorted."-The Apostle's labors were not in vain. Many believed, and, as a fruit of faith, publicly took sides with the Apostle and Silas.

5. "The house of Jason."-From Rom. xvi. 22, we learn that Jason, as well as Lucius and Sosipater, were of the kindred of Paul. This may have

6 endeavored to bring them out to the people. But not finding them, they dragged Jason, and some of the brethren, to the magistrates of the city, crying out, These men, that have turned 7 the world upside down, are come hither also: and Jason has privately received them. And all these men act contrary to the decrees of Cesar, saying that there is another king, one Jesus. 8 And they alarmed the multitude and the magistrates of the city, 9 when they heard these things. And having taken security of 10 Jason, and the rest, they dismissed them. But the brethren

immediately sent away Paul and Silas, by night, to Berea: and when they came thither, they went into the synagogue of the 11 Jews. Now these were of a more noble disposition than those of Thessalonica: for they received the word with all readiness of mind, daily examining the scriptures, whether those things 12 were so. Many of them, therefore, believed; both of the Grecian women of considerable rank, and of the men not a few. 18 But as soon as some of the Jews of Thessalonica understood that the word of God was announced by Paul at Berea, they 14 came thither, also, exciting the populace. And then, immedi

ately, the brethren sent away Paul, as if he were to go by sea. 15 And they that conducted Paul, brought him as far as Athens:

been one reason why Paul and his fellow-laborers made this their principal residence or home while in the city.

6. Paul and his companions were seized and brought before the magistrates of the city, and accused there as disturbers of the peace of society"turning the world upside down."

7. "Contrary to the decrees of Cesar, saying that there is another king, one Jesus." This is the usual style of mobs. They can generally show some popular reason for their outrages. We learn that in calling Jesus Lord, they were liable to be charged with treason, as setting up a rival of the Emperor.

10 “Sent away Paul and Sitas by night.”—In Philippi he was so polite as to leave the city because he was besought by the magistrates to do so; and here, to save himself from violence and from hindrance in his labors of love, he condescends to take his departure in the night.

Berea-Now Veria, a town of Macedonia, 48 miles south of Thessaloni ca, and on the same gulf, rather on the way towards Athens, within a few miles of Pella, where Alexander the Great was born.

11. "More noble."-Literally of a better race, as cvas indicates; but it here refers to disposition rather than to blood. Luke the historian, educated by Paul his companion and fellow-traveller, gives a very imposing title to a candid and inquiring mind. It is true nobili y, according to him, to examine first with all impartiality, before we decide on any important question affecting our own well being or that of others. The happy fruit of candor and full examination is conviction and assurance of the truth of the matter at issue-"Therefore, many of them believed."

The Thessalonians came to Berea, stirred up the people and compelled the brethren to send Paul to some other place.

14. "To go as it were to the sea."-This might indicate that the disciples conducted Paul to the sea,as if he had intended to embark for Trous, but really designing to visit Athens. It might, indeed, be so understood; but it may also mean that his friends preferred some unfrequented way, and therefore took him around the coast to that city. The case does not appear to be one that would call for, or justify a feint, or artful pretence.

and having received an order for Silas and Timothy, that they should come to him as soon as possible, they set out.

PRACTICAL THOUGHTS AND REFLECTIONS.

The book of ACTS OF APOSTLES is, to saint and sinner, a book of infinite value. It developes the Apostles' doctrine and the Apostles' manner of propounding it to the acceptance of mankind. In it we find the gospel facts, precepts, and promises, unfolded and applied to all classes of men-Jew and Greek, Samaritan and Barbarianto all ranks and orders of society-magistrates and subjects-philosophers, Scribes, Pharisees, Sadducees, &c.

The manner of the apostolic addresses is as worthy of our consideration and regard as the matter of them, and still more especially of those who aspire after the honor of preaching the apostolic gospel.

There is nothing in the book of Acts that countenances the textuary plan of modern sermonizing. When addressing those who had the oracles of God, the Apostles did not select a verse or a paragraph as the occasion of an oration, or the subject of a doctrinal exposition. They contemplated men as believers or as unbelieversas practising or not practising the precepts of the Saviour, and immediately proposed some point in reference to which they opened. the scriptures and applied them.

Paul's manner of preaching is simply and beautifully unfolded by Luke on various occasions; but no where with more clearness and force than in his relation of what occurred in Thessalonica. His discourse was first directed against a very popular and fundamental error-viz. that the Messiah was to appear as a conquering and triumphant hero. To remove this very dangerous opinion, he opened the oracles of God, evidently showing that the Messiah ought, aecording to the Prophets, first to suffer and then to enter upon his glory. After disabusing their minds of this error, his next step was to show that this Jesus whom he announced was that Messiah. His success under the divine blessing is the best commendation of his plan, which to say the least of it, was perfectly rationa!.. Indeed, he seldom labored without some fruit; and on this occasion he planted a very famous church, to which no less than two of his fourteen epistles, still extant, were addressed.. Still there were those, then, who were so stupefied with sin and so malignant in their hearts as to call him, "a pestilent fellow, a sower of sedition throughout the world, and a ring-leader of the sect of Nazarenes."Wisdom, however, is justified by her children; and many, nay, all the candid and noble-minded of the people believe and obey his doctrine..

No more impressive commendation of the necessity and utility of a candid and inquisitive temper is extant, than is afforded in the history of the citizens of Berea.. They not only heard with candur and openness of mind, but they also searched the scriptures dailyintent to know whether these things were as alleged. by Paul and. his companions. Never was a THEREFORE more worthily introduced, nor more worthy of universal regard, than this-Therefore,