at Jerusalem. Peter took part in the deliberations, and reminded the Council that God had made choice among them, that by his mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the Gospel, and believe; and that no difference was made between the Jew and the Gentile, God purifying the hearts of both by faith. He concluded his address with a remonstrance against the imposition of the Jewish ceremonial on the Gentile converts, characterizing it as a yoke which neither they nor their fathers were able to bear. Several others having addressed the assembly, the question was determined in favour of the exemption of the Gentiles from these ritual observances.

The whole truth of the matter was now correctly apprehended, not only by Peter, but also by them that were of the circumcision; and we might suppose the entire question finally set at rest. Instead of this, however, we find, at intervals, persons, full of Jewish prejudice, troubling the church by their endeavours to obtrude the abrogated ritual. And even Peter, clear as his views were, and consistent as had been his practice for years after the vision at Joppa, was guilty of dissembling his convictions on the subject, and acted a part most unworthy and inconsistent. This occurred at Antioch. The account of it is furnished by St. Paul in his Epistle to the Galatians, in these words: "But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed. For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated

himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision. And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation. But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the Gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?"

We infer from the absence of any statement to the contrary, that Peter felt the justness of this rebuke, and that, instead of being offended or angry with St. Paul, he meekly and Christianly submitted to his reproof. He had done wrong, and he makes no attempt to justify his conduct. Before passing away from this scene at Antioch, we may just observe how absurd it is to claim for St. Peter a supremacy, a princely authority, over the other Apostles, when we find St. Paul withstanding him to the face, and publicly censuring him; Peter, in the meanwhile, neither asserting his prerogative, nor in any way resenting the indignity so openly offered to it.

We have seen the door of the Gospel opened to the Gentiles,-opened to us. May we enter in and be saved! "God is no respecter of persons;" and if by the new and living way we approach him, he will freely bestow upon us the treasures of his love and mercy; he will permit us to feast on the provisions of his grace, and to joy in the anticipation of his glory. His church is thrown open to us; all its privileges are offered to us; and we

Y

may pass through it to the church triumphant in heaven. At the same time we must not overlook the fact, that a solemn responsibility devolves upon us in connexion with our Gospel privilege. And we are warned by the example of the Jews: they were God's chosen people; they were favoured above all the nations of earth; but they neglected their opportunities; they rejected the counsel of God against themselves; their candlestick was removed out of its place, the door was closed against them, and the just judgments of God overtook them. So will it be with us, unless we prayerfully and diligently improve the Gospel of the grace of God, which we so abundantly enjoy.

SCENE XII.

IMPRISONED AT JERUSALEM, AND RESCUED BY AN

ANGEL.

"PETER therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him. And when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains: and the keepers before the door kept the prison. And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands. And the angel said unto him, Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals. And so he did. And he saith unto him, Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me. And he went out, and followed him; and wist not that it was true which was done by the angel; but thought he saw a vision."-Acts xii. 5–9.

In a mountainous region we sometimes have the opportunity of witnessing most surprising and beautiful effects produced by the action of the sun upon the thick mists of the morning. We occupy, perhaps, an elevated position; but all objects beneath and around us are concealed from our view by the dense fog. Rich and magnificent scenery is in our immediate neighbourhood; but, for the present, no part of it is visible. There are fields waving with corn, and green pastures where the cattle recline. The river is there, and the beautiful lake; the heath

covered hill, and the beetling crag. All these are there, although the eye cannot penetrate the vapoury veil which covers them, and they remain invisible. But, after a while, the warm and bright beams of the sun are sufficient to disperse the dense vapours; and first one opening in the mist is made, and then another, affording us glimpses of surrounding objects. For a moment we catch sight of the lofty summit, or of the pleasant dwelling, or of the husbandman busy in the field; and we expect that the whole landscape will soon be spread out before us. But, alas! these momentary peeps through the partial openings are all we can obtain for the present. A fresh tide of mist rolls down from a neighbouring mountain, and all is hidden as before.

Is it not thus with regard to the spiritual world around us? Such a world there is, near to us; but an impenetrable veil shuts it out from our view. It is there, though we cannot behold it. The Bible authoritatively declares the fact of its existence; and it hath pleased God now and then to give us glimpses of the unseen region, and of the bright and happy beings who dwell in it. There have been, as it were, openings in the mist; and we have caught sight of the angels of God who are "sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation." Jacob of old had an enchanting vision at Bethel, representing the ministry of angels. He saw "a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven; and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it."