to Tarsus, and there he found Saul, and took him back with him to Antioch, where he staid a whole year with him, working and rejoicing with this flourishing church; and the disciples were called Christians first at Antioch. 4. Every church, like that at Jerusalem, should always take a lively and public interest in revivals of religion. As soon as ever the church at Jerusalem had heard of the success of the gospel at Antioch, and of the wonderful effects that were being produced upon the minds of the people, although that city was far distant from them, at once they sent forth Barnabas to watch the work and assist in it. They sent him because he was one of the best men that they had. And all those who take the lead in revivals of religion should be good men, full of the Holy Ghost and of faith; they will then be glad when they see the grace of God, and will be the right men to urge the lambs of the flock to cleave unto the Lord with purpose of heart at all times, and by all means. In the use of the means, they must not only cleave to forms and creeds, but unto the Lord. They may cleave unto the means without cleaving to the Lord, but they cannot cleave to the Lord without means. Then be as true and constant as possible at all the means of grace; and in these, whether public, social or private, as well as in the whole tenour of your life, cleave unto the Lord with purpose of heart. 86 A THUNDER STORM. 1 SAM. XIII, 24. Only fear the Lord, and serve Him in truth with all your heart; for consider how great things He hath done for you." Blessed is that people whose rulers and priests are good men, full of the Holy Ghost and of faith, clothed with salvation, and having on the whole armour of God. A profligate, dissolute priesthood is a great curse. it was to Israel. Eli the priest was a nice, quiet man,— sadly too quiet, for he had no control whatever over his So sons, but they grew up as licentious and lewd as they could be; their conduct was so odious that men abhorred the offering of the Lord. About this time Samuel was born. He was the child of prayer, and the child of God, dedicated and devoted to the Lord from his birth, lent unto God all his life; and he ministered before the Lord, being a child, girded with a linen ephod; and was in favour both with the Lord, and also with men. To this child the Lord made known the fate of Eli's house. There also previously came a man of God unto Eli, and told him the same sad tale of woe, and gave him a token, saying,―This shall be a sign unto thee, that shall come upon thy two sons, Hophni and Phineas:-in one day they shall die, both of them. Soon after this the foe came upon Israel; the Philistines fought, and Israel was smitten; there fell of Israel thirty thousand foot-men; the ark of God was taken; the two sons of Eli were slain and Eli himself was so overwhelmed with the evil tidings that he fell from off the seat backward by the side of the gate, and his neck brake, and he died. us. : After this, however, the ark was restored, and the Philistines smitten; and then Samuel took a stone, and set it up between Mispeh and Shen, and called the name of it Eben-ezer, saying,-Hitherto hath the Lord helped And Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life; and when he grew old he made his sons judges; but they walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted judgment; wherefore the elders of Israel desired a king, and the Lord sent Samuel, and he anointed Saul to be their king; and calling the people together at Gilgal, he addressed them there and exhorted them to obedience and the fear of God. He then called unto the Lord, and He sent thunder and rain; and the people greatly feared the Lord and Samuel, and said,-We have added unto all our sins this evil-to ask us a king; but Samuel encouraged them and said,-Only fear the Lord, and serve Him in truth with all your heart; for consider how great things He hath done for you. The Lord had done much for Israel, and it was their duty to fear Him and to serve Him. The Lord hath also done muchvery much for us. Let us consider, I. How great things He hath done for us. I. How great things He hath done for us. 1. He has given us life, and breath, and all things. In Him we live, and move, and have our being. He gave us life, and He sustains it. We live and move in Him-by His power. Every pulse we tell, and every breath we draw, is by Him. If our pulses beat, and our lungs respire but once in a second, this will amount to 60 in a minute; 3,600 in a hour; 86,400 in a day; and above thirty millions in a year! Oh, how many great things are these which the Lord hath done for us! We could not do them for ourselves. If He were to leave us, and cease to exert His power over us, our pulses and our lungs would at once cease, and we should die. And to Him we are indebted also for our food, clothing, sleep, friends, health, strength, and comforts of every kind; and also for our social and national privileges. He has given us all these good things a long time. Look back! Reflect! Call to mind what great things He has done for you; think of them; and the more deeply you think, the more you will be struck with the benefits you have received at His hands. We 2. He has ordered the bounds of our habitation. are directed and guided by His Providence. As He led His ancient people through the wilderness, so He has led us through the world. Look upon the path by which you have been brought, and you will see the hand of God in it. You thought you would do this way, and live at that place, but you could not manage it; God saw it was not the place nor the way for you; He therefore turned the tide of your affairs, and led you by a way that you knew not. All things are ordered by the counsel of God for those who trust in Him. In the time of trial you may be tempted to doubt it; but be of good cheer. Where is your faith? Consider the happy fowls of the air. Hearken! how cheerfully they sing; and yet they know not where the next meal shall come from; they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. ye not much better than they? As reasonable, in Are C telligent creatures, you have sown, you have used means, and doubt not but God will give you His blessing. And look at the blushing, smiling flowers, how they grow! and yet they toil not, neither do they spin, but God clothes them with beauty which Solomon in all his glory could not equal. Shall He not much more clothe you? O ye of little faith, trust in God! He that feeds His birds will not starve His babes. Consider how great things He hath done for you. 3. He hath made for us a way from death unto life by the gift of His Son as a propitiation for our sins. God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. And Christ, by His death, opened a new and living way from sin and darkness to marvellous light; and all that believe in Him are justi fied from all things from which they could not be justi. fied by the law of Moses. The way to peace and recon ciliation under the old covenant was through the blood of bulls and of goats; but Christ shed His own blood, and thus opened up a new and a better way; for the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made us free from the law of sin and death, and brought us into the liberty of God's dear children. You hath He quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; and hath raised you up, and made you sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus; for by grace ye are saved, through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast. Oh no; not of works, but of grace: this is one of the great things-the best thing that God hath done for us. 4. He has given us the word of reconciliation, and ambassadors to proclaim it. Not only has He reconciled the world unto Himself by the death of His Son, but He has given to the world the word of reconciliation; and it is the special office of every ambassador of Christ to preach it earnestly and affectionately; to show to the world the wonderful plan of salvation by grace; how Christ, by His death, purchased a pardon for every one who will receive it upon His word, by faith in His blood, and to entreat the world to accept the terms of recon ciliation. Are we reconciled to God? What a mercy! What a great thing this is that the Lord hath done for us! 5. He has given us His Holy Spirit to enlighten, lead, instruct, comfort, and sanctify us. The Holy Ghost convinces us of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment; He leads believers into all truth; He brings the words of Christ to their remembrance; they are sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise; the Spirit of truth comforts them, and shall abide with them for ever to testify of Christ, and to enable them to bear witness. What a good thing! 6. He has given us exceeding great and precious promises of grace here, and of glory hereafter. All things shall work together for our good. Nothing shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. The Lord will give grace and glory; no good thing will be withheld from them that walk uprightly. The Lord will guide us with His counsel, and afterwards receive us to glory. Consider what great things He hath done for us, and what great things He hath laid up for them that love Him! II. What is, therefore, our plain duty? 1. To fear the Lord our God. To fear God is to keep within us such a deep and constant impression of His great and holy Name; of His glorious attributes and perfections; of His sacred presence and spotless purity, as will inspire our hearts with devout reverence and deep humility; and deter us from offending His Divine Majesty; hence it is said that the fear of the Lord is to depart from iniquity, and to hate evil. And those who duly feel the force of that deep and awful fact:-Thou God seest me! will not dare to sin and do this great evil in His sight. 2. To fear the Lord is a duty which is often inculcated in the sacred Scriptures, and which has ever been, and ever will be, attended to by all wise and reflecting men. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and of knowledge; and those who live under its restraining influence escape many pangs of sorrow aud snares of death which pierce and entangle those "fools who hate knowledge and despise wisdom and instruction." Only |