God

pel, which maketh not ashamed? knoweth. We may practise a deception upon ourselves, and upon others, but he will detect the same in that day when he cometh to judge the quick and the dead. Be persuaded to examine yourselves, strictly and honestly, whether you are in the faith or not. slight and unsatisfactory evidences of gracious state. See that you have Christ in you, the hope of glory, and be "followers "of them who through faith and patience in"herit the promises"." AMEN.

Rest not satisfied with

n Heb. vi. 12.

your

SERMON XI.

PAUL PREACHING BEFORE FELIX.

ACTS XXIV. 24, 25.

And after certain days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, which was a Jewess, he sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in Christ. And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season I will call for thee.

THE Apostles, like their illustrious Master, experienced the scorn, hatred, and persecution of men and devils. Though they went about doing good, publishing salvation, and working miracles, yet did they suffer afflictions of the sorest kind. They were treated like malefactors, the off-scour

ing of the earth. They were haled to prisons -dragged before tribunals-calumniated— insulted-reviled-scourged; and all this without cause. Sad, however, as their fate was; it answered many valuable purposes. Their faith was tried in the furnace, and came out of it pure and bright. The divine support which they experienced, thus also became evident to all. Having been taught by their Master to depend solely on Jehovah at all times, they looked to him, and he came to their aid. Prison doors, without human agency, were opened for them, and they let loose from confinement. They rejoiced in tribulation; in being counted worthy to suffer for Christ's sake. They also bore a noble testimony before princes, and in the halls of judgment, for the truth as it is in Jesus. took no thought what they

was given unto them by the

Master, as occasion required.

Though they should say, it Spirit of their

Thus indited,

their addresses and exhortations came home with great power to the hearts of those who heard them.

Of this, you have a striking specimen in the text. Paul had already appeared before 47

VOL. I.

Felix to answer to the charges brought against him by Tertullus, the sycophantic orator of the Jews. He then maintained his innocence, testifying that he had exercised himself to have always a conscience void of offence towards God and man. defence was so satisfactory as to influence Felix to grant him the privilege of seeing his friends unmolested. Thus he triumphed over his implacable and powerful foes.

His

But a nobler triumph awaited him; a triumph of his matchless eloquence over the ungovernable passions of Felix." After certain

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days, when Felix came with his wife Dru"silla, which was a Jewess, he sent for Paul, "and heard him concerning the faith in "Christ. And as he reasoned of righteous

66

ness, temperance, and judgment to come, "Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy

way for this time; when I have a conven"ient season I will call for thee." What a spectacle was this! A poor Jew in chains, a follower of the despised Nazarene, under criminal charges before the tribunal of the Roman governor, by his eloquence makes this governor, who was his judge, to trem

ble!

From this interesting portion of holy Writ, I purpose to illustrate for our improvement, on this interesting occasion", the following particulars :

I. The kind of preaching which is most successful in reaching the heart.

II. The connexion, through divine appointment, existing between this kind of preaching, and the alarms of natural conscience.

III. The reasons why awakened persons do not immediately comply with the dictates of their awakened consciences, but delay their repentance to a more convenient time.

After which, the value of a faithful ministry will be shown, and the absolute necessity of immediate attention to the gospel preached by such a ministry, enforced.

1. To preach the gospel, is the duty of all the ministers of the Lord Jesus Christ. Their commission is so plain, that he who runs may read and understand its import.

Whilst it is granted by all, that the gospel must be preached, there exists a great

a The installation of the Rev. Dr. Richards to the pastoral office, in the first Presbyterian Church in Newark.