An interesting occurrence now presents itself to our view, and Philip once more displays the important powers of an Evangelist. An angel directs him to "go towards the South, to the way that goeth down from Jerusalem to Gaza, which is desart." Though ignorant of the purpose of his journey, he arose and went. His obedience was implicit; and so should ours be, when we receive the commands of heaven. If our duty call us to Gaza, through the dark and howling wilderness, we may be assured that, some good purpose of Providence is to be answered by it. When Philip arrived at the appointed place, he beheld an Ethiopian nobleman in his chariot; not an indolent and careless traveller, but one who was a Jewish proselyte, and was returning home, after having performed his devotions in the temple of Jerusalem. No way is so long, difficult, or tedious, no expence too much, no fatigue of mind or body too great, for a good man in performing the duties of his religion. Much less should any slender pretence, or trifling excuse, prevent our constant and unwearied attendance on places of public worship. How many thousand miles probably did this Ethiopian travel, that he might prostrate himself in the court of the Gentiles! And we-how many vain excuses have we to plead, with all our pretended knowledge of Christianity, when we have hardly so many yards to walk to some place appropriated to Christian devotion!

Neither, when this Ethiopian left this place of worship, did he leave behind him his religious im

pressions. "Sitting in his chariot he read Esaias the prophet." He kept alive, by study and meditation, the sacred flame which had been excited in his breast. "How will this illustrious personage," says the pious Bishop Horne, "arise up in the judgment against all those Christians, who, in the hours of domestic ease and tranquillity, never open a Bible, when he would not even travel without one in the chariot with him 1." This should teach us to have our minds at all times prepared for the reception of divine truths. God knows on what part of the field the holy seed may be sown; but if the soil be ready, every grain will take root, and bring forth abundant fruit. The subject of his study was that truly interesting and important prophecy concerning the passion of Christ; a prophecy which in modern, as well as ancient times, has made its noble converts. The passage he read was this-" He was brought as a sheep to the slaughter." An immediate impulse directed Philip to join himself to the chariot. He heard the sacred words, and inquired of the reader, whether he understood them? He was answered, that without an interpreter they were dark to him. So may we peruse, and re-peruse, the Scriptures without being wise unto salvation, if we never ask ourselves this plain question, Understandest thou what thou readest? An opportunity now presented itself to Philip of clearing the film from the eyes of this

1 See an excellent Discourse, entitled the Noble Convert, by Bishop Horne. Vol. ii. Disc. 3.

'Burnet's Life of Lord Rochester.

stranger, and through him, perhaps of accomplishing the conversion of a whole land of unbelievers. Being invited into the chariot, he began his discourse; and from these words, preached unto him the invaluable doctrines of Jesus.

How careful should we be in our passage through life, to seize every opportunity proper for instruction. "A word, and more especially the word, spoken in season, how good is it!" What delightful moments did the eunuch spend with Philip! How gradually did his knowledge of the truth expand, till the whole mystery of man's redemption was displayed before him! His faith became strong; and nothing could restrain his desire of being made an immediate member of that Church which shewed unto him the way of salvation. "See! here is water-what doth hinder me to be baptized?" After making a solemn profession of his faith, "they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him."

From this instance, among many in this history of the Acts of the Apostles, we may observe the great efficacy of preaching. God is with the word. He accompanies the delivery of it with a blessing. He prepares the heart, and the good seed is scattered by his influence. An Angel excites Philip to go down to the road to Gaza-the Spirit orders him to join himself to the chariot-he finds the Ethiopian reading a passage of Isaiah, which of

1 Prov. xv. 23.

himself he could not understand-he explains the passage, and preaches Christ crucified—the convert believes, and is baptized. Such is the method which our Lord adopts, in the conversion of a sinner. And though we do not always see, as in this case, every link of the chain, yet we may be assured that such connexion of circumstances always exists, and that God arranges and completes the plan. When the effect is not such as might reasonably be expected, to whom, but to ourselves, can we ascribe the miscarriage? The means of salvation have been fully opened to us. But we may inquire with much serious concern, whether we have made the same use of our Bible, or obtained the same advantages from the discourses we have heard, as the treasurer of Candace did, in his short interview with Philip? I leave the question with yourselves; and may all of us be able to answer it with joyful acquiescence before our great and awful Judge!

Let us then improve every opportunity of instruction, though it may be as transitory, as that which the Ethiopian nobleman enjoyed with his Christian teacher; for no sooner was the purpose accomplished for which they were brought together, than" the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip," to enter upon new scenes of duty," and the eunuch saw him no more." He saw him no more in this world, but, as the preacher abovementioned observes, "in Heaven he will again behold the face of his old Pastor and Father in Christ. Numbered with the Saints of the most

High in glory everlasting, with what pleasure will they then look back upon the time which they spent together in the chariot, over the fifty-third chapter of Isaiah; that small portion of time, productive of so much never-ending joy and comfort to them both!"

The Ethiopian went on his way rejoicing; he felt that sweet tranquillity of mind which a knowledge of the Gospel must have recently inspired; a tranquillity which none can feel, but he whose faith is productive of "righteousness and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost '." "But Philip was found at Azotus," a city of Philistia, and after preaching there, he proceeded, in his holy progress, through all the other cities of that country, till he came to Cæsarea.

The several circumstances related in this lecture, happened, according to the chronology adopted in the margin of our Bible, in the course of one year; the first, after the ascension of our Lord. St. Luke does not profess to write a full history of this important period, but while he records the proceedings of one Apostle or Evangelist, he intimates that the rest were thus employed in other places.

May our meditations on these early portions of Ecclesiastical History confirm our faith, and animate our exertions. The shifting scenes are beautiful and interesting; but neither beautiful nor in

1 Rom. xiv. 17.