far as Appii Forum, and the Three Taverns; whom when Paul saw, he thanked God, and took courage.' When he arrived at Rome, he was suffered to dwell in his own hired house with a keeper. He presently sent for the chief Jews of the city, and explained the circumstances that brought him there, declaring at the same time the gospel unto them. As usual, some believed, and others opposed it. Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, preaching to all who would hear him. Whilst at Rome, St. Paul is supposed to have written the Epistles to the Philippians, Ephesians, Colossians, and Philemon. Being released, he travelled into several countries of Europe and Asia. When he came the second time to Rome, he was cast into close prison; and we learn from ancient authors that he was there beheaded under Nero.-Acts xxviii.

LTHOUGH the narrative portion of the New Testa

ment, strictly speaking, closes with the Acts of the Apostles, yet there are incidents and allusions in many of the Epistles, and scenes, though prophetic, in the Book of Revelation, which will well supply us with subjects both for the pen and pencil. The apostle has been describing the wretchedness of a spiritual nature being yet connected with a body full of corrupt appetites and mortal ailments-a body, that is the flesh, in which no good thing dwells. He declares this union to the grosser nature to be nothing less than a captivity of the most dreadful kind, and at length breaks out in this impassioned language: 'O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?' Now, the allusion here is generally understood to be to the custom of some tyrants, who had the enormous cruelty to bind a dead body to the

living victim until he perished by the noisome contact. The artist has represented a wretch in this horrible case! -ROM. vii.

TH

are apt to complain of, and find fault with, the

arrangements of Providence in the world; forgetting two things-first, that it is God's world, and that He will do all His pleasure, as in heaven, so in earth; and secondly, that, until the future state is opened to us, we cannot tell whose lot or destiny is the best. Lazarus lay in neglect and humiliation at the rich man's gate; he had in this life evil things, whilst the sumptuous lord of the mansion rolled in apparent ease and wealth. And if there had been an end of the matter, Lazarus would not have suffered any injustice at the hand of God. But another period of

THE POTTER AND HIS CLAY.

349

existence in their case has been opened to us, and the language to the rich, but now unhappy man is: In thy lifetime thou hadst thy good things, and Lazarus evil things.' St. Paul says, 'Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? shall the thing formed say unto him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus ? Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?' Thus he may, with infinite art and pains, complete on his wheel a highly ornamented vase for a royal palace; or, in heedless haste, turn off a coarse pan or dish for culinary purposes, or a vessel from which swine may feed.ROM. ix.

H

CHARITY AND ALMSGIVING.

WOW unlike the doctrine of some unthinking persons

is the teaching of Christ and His apostles! These take care to instruct us in minute particulars of conduct, as well as in the weightier matters of the law, and also to warn us of disobedience. With regard to charity and almsgiving, there is nothing in all the New Testament more peremptorily insisted on; and in the twenty-fifth chapter of St. Matthew, the proceedings of the day of judgment are made to hinge upon it. We see the injunction of St. Paul taking effect. Piety is here administering to necessity distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.' In no part of the New Testament, however, are these good works made the means of salvation; yet in many parts we are told that they are necessary to it, and in none more conspicuously than in the chapter of St. Matthew's Gospel before referred to, a portion of Scripture too much overlooked.-Rom. xii.