Baptist. He expounds the mission of the wilderness-preacher, and shows how he prepared the way of the Lord. As his mind approaches the glory of gospel days he becomes more animated, and rushes to the application of the doctrine of the Gospel before he has finished recounting the facts: "Men and brethren, children of the stock of Abraham, and whosoever among you feareth God, to you is the word of this salvation sent." The speaker now comes to the times of the Lord, and hastens at once to His Cross as if that were the key and the explanation of all. He bears a powerful testimony to the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, and declares the "glad tidings" which spring out of these facts. He announces forgiveness and justification to all who believe. His great doctrinal statement contains the germs of his elaborate Epistle to the Romans. In closing his address he warns them of the fatal consequences which will follow the rejection of his words. And now the service is brought to a close. Many hearts are deeply touched-consciences are aroused. Such speaking had never been heard before. Some are strongly prejudiced against the new doctrine, but many long to know more of it. An injustice has been done to the Jews in the forty-second verse. It should read, "And as they were going out of the synagogue, they besought that these words might be preached to them the next Sabbath."

And now the congregation is broken up. The synagogue is vacant. The results, however, of the service are not done with. Paul's words have made an abiding impression. The religious emotions of many are excited. The Gospel, though resisted by some, is the power of God unto salvation in others. Though some have shown signs of disapprobation, and turned away from the message of mercy, others are waiting and desirous of hearing more of this wondrous story. We have here, then, a number of Anxious Inquirers. They are moved in the very centre of their being. They are unwilling to go home. They follow the preachers. To them religion is of greater importance than their necessary food.

There were many Jews among these anxious inquirers. For many centuries the Jews had been a smitten and a scattered people. They had endured much suffering. They were living in anticipation of a coming Deliverer. Such a Deliverer had been preached to them by these strangers, and now they were pressing forward to know more of the wonderful story..

There were Gentiles among these anxious inquirers. These were religious proselytes, and had been initiated into the mysteries of the Jewish faith. There are religious instincts in all men, and they seek their gratification in different ways. The choice of these Gentiles lay between the abominations of idolatry on the one hand, and the purer worship of Judaism on the other. The Jewish faith did not contain everything necessary to meet the need of their moral and spiritual nature, but it did contain elements of religious instruction and

heavenly consolation not to be found in heathenism. The Scriptures read publicly in the synagogue were a revelation of God's gracious purposes of mercy and love. They announced a coming One who should be a Redeemer of the people.

The very worst forms of Judaism contained more truth that was religiously helpful than the best forms of idolatry.

The Gospel is that Divine message which breaks down the middle wall of partition and makes Jews and Gentiles one. These earnest seekers after salvation have all been affected by the same grand story. Their inward religious feelings are pretty much the same. The sense

of sin is the same in the heart of the Jews as of the Gentile.

Re

pentance does not vary with locality and race. There is only one sweet voice that can calm the troubled conscience and give it peace and rest. The one Cross is for all nations.

"When wounded sore the stricken soul

Lies bleeding and unbound.

One only hand, a piercèd hand,

Can salve the sinner's wound."

How, then, did the preachers deal with these anxious inquirers? They gave them advice full of wisdom. They persuaded them to continue in the grace of God. This advice is thoroughly characteristic of the two men. They ascribe no virtue to themselves. They regard salvation, both as a principle in the heart and a power in the life, as purely a work of grace.

The word grace is one of the key-words of Scripture. It is Paul's favourite word for setting forth the grand blessings of redeeming love. As used by the apostle it combines and comprehends all the Divine provisions and spiritual influences which are concerned in the salvation of the soul. Paul sums up all the agencies operating in human redemption in this word "grace." "By grace are ye saved." "By the grace of God I am what I am."

They persuaded them to continue in the grace of God. This advice is worthy of close attention. Conversion is only the beginning of the religious life. Many seem to think that the work is all done when they have found peace with God, and have made profession of religion. The apostles would have them go forward into the fuller experiences of the Christian life. Religion is something more than mere temporary excitement. It may be soothing to the mind to sing, "Safe in the arms of Jesus, safe on His gentle breast; " but the religion of the Cross is something more than this. The indulgence of sentiment does not always lead to the promotion of sanctification. We have not made known to us the details of the advice given by Paul and Barnabas to these inquirers after saving knowledge. Should any youthful religious inquirer press for details, and ask what method should be adopted for continuing in the grace of God, taking Paul's writings as our guide we might reply in the following manner;

God.

1. Form the habit of regularly and devoutly reading the Word of "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom." To Timothy, his son in the faith, he writes, "Give attendance to reading." A knowledge of the Scriptures is one of the safeguards of the inward spiritual life. More Bible reading would be promotive of deeper piety.

2. Form and fix in your souls the habit of prayer. "Pray without ceasing." "Continuing instant in prayer." Prayer is absolutely essential to growth and continuance in the grace of God. Prayer intensifies and deepens all the religious emotions, and brings the soul into a more real fellowship with God. He who prays much shall ro faint nor fall in the conflict of life.

3. Choose some service in which you may glorify God by promoting the well-being of others. "Work out your salvation with fear and trembling." Christians are not called to work in order that they may be saved, but because they are saved. Service for Christ, however humble it may be, fosters and strengthens the religious principles. By patient continuance in well doing we are to seek for glory, and honour, and immortality-eternal life.

This scene in early Church history presents points of encouragement to all who are called to labour in the work of the Lord. Paul preached the great facts of Christianity, and they awoke a response in the hearts of many who listened to them. Christ is still the

power of God and the wisdom of God. The Gospel of grace is the only Gospel that can meet the need and satisfy the wants of the soul. Trusting in the all-powerful aid of the Holy Spirit, let us lead men to the Manger of Bethlehem, that they may behold the mystery of the incarnation; to the Cross of Calvary, that they may behold the mystery of the atonement; to the Open Grave of the Garden, that they may behold the mystery of the resurrection; and, as in the days of old, so now, men shall feel the power of, and continue in, the grace of God. Sheffield.

A NEW COMEDY OF ERRORS.

"O DEAR! Did anybody ever tion was presently repeated, and have as much trouble as I ? " supplemented by, "Come, out with The speaker was Miss Dora Ster- it. Speaking may relieve you,' as ling, who dropped into an easy-grandma's old hymn says.' chair, clasped her daintily-gloved "I have just been and gone and hands, and leaned dejectedly back, done it!" vehemently declared at the risk of damaging the "love Dora, more to herself than in reply of a bonnet" coquettishly perched to the question. upon the crown of her head.

"What's happened now, Do?" asked Richard, her brother, a youth of fourteen summers and winters.

Receiving no answer, the ques

"Killed a man? Set a house on fire? Broke the commandments?" anxiously interrogated the unsatisfied young gentleman.

His sister bestowed on him only

a withering glance, and, suddenly | head! If I had been a man among sitting up very erect, began pulling men I believe I should have been at the fastenings of her gloves in a 'torr'd an' futherr'd an' corr'd in a way that threatened their speedy ruin.

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"My dear," put in Mrs. Sterling, suppose you ease Dick's anxiety by telling us the terrible thing that has taken place."

"Spoken evil against the ruler of the people! Oh, my tongue! my tongue! into what dreadful errors will you lead me yet?" incoherently continued Miss Dora, twitching at the unoffending gloved finger as spitefully as though it was the aforementioned unruly member upon which she desired to vent her wrath.

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corrt.' Being one of the gentle and fair among my own sex, I was made to feel the full force of feminine contempt and scorn expressed in word, act, and look. They are all 'down on me,' as Dick says.

insignificant I—have dared to set aside a dignitary, and now I suffer the penalty of my rashness."

"Hush. Don't be a goose, Do. For my part, I should be glad to see Lady Denton taken down a peg," commented Master Richard.

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Well, I can sympathise," remarked Mrs. Sterling, with what began a laugh and ended a sigh, "Eldora Sterling! exclaimed "for I have learned to my sorrow her mother, in an alarmed voice, to-day the danger of heedless speak"for mercy's sake stop that rigma- ing. I observed in confidence to role, and tell me what you have Mrs. Carlton, the other evening, done." that I feared Mrs. Hunter's ex“Well, madam mamma," began travagance would be the ruin of the young lady in a tone less melo-herself and family; and this afterdramatic, you must know that noon, at three out of five houses her majesty, Mrs. Denton, because where I called, I was met with she has much money in her purse inquiries concerning Mrs. Hunter's and a liege lord who can sign him- prodigality, and told that Mrs. self M.P., is a person of great consequence in this community. Everybody loves her and her money. Everybody admires her style and copies her fashions. Her time and attention are so engrossed by dress and society that she reads nothing except now and then a fashonable novel. She is superficial, undiscriminating, and quite deficient in literary taste. Yet all this is no reason why we should decline her liberal donation to our book club; though it is a very "And I," said Mr. Sterling— good reason why we should dis- coming out from behind the newspense with her services on the com- paper, where, absorbed in stock mittee to select books. As much reports and discussions on all I ventured. to hint mildly at the sorts of things, he had sat appameeting this afternoon, when her rently oblivious to surroundingsname was mentioned for the first on the committee of purchase. And you just ought to have seen the breeze raised about my defenceless

Carlton was the informant, and that she had it from me; and, as I was neighbour to Mrs. Hunter, and knew all about her management, it must be true. So I am thus set in the place of a gossip. That Mrs. Carlton would repeat what I mentioned, I hadn't the slightest idea. It does seem as though everything that comes to some people's knowledge-especially everything of an ill-nature-is like fire shut up in their bones till they tell of it."

"am nearly as deep in the mud as you are in the mire. In conversation with Mr. Dane this morning, I got at the cause of the coolness

tained an hour after school, to meditate on his sins and hear a lecture from the professor."

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and lack of confidence and fellow-man, happened to have one of the ship that he has always manifested windows open at the time, so he toward me since he came to be our heard me. Sequel: This child depastor. He said that he understood I was opposed to his settling here, and told one of the church that he hadn't any experience, and "Come, Uncle John," said Mr. wasn't the man for us. Of course I Sterling, turning to the only rewas indignant, and declared I maining occupant of the room--a never said such a thing. On sober grave-looking old man, who had second thought, however, I remem- kept solemnly silent through all the bered saying to Deacon Sanford, talk- "it's your turn to speak before I had seen Mr. Dane, and next." when the question of sending for him was being agitated, that I didn't know that he was the man for us, for he had had little experience except with city churches. Somehow that harmless remark had been turned and twisted and enlarged upon till it had finally reached Mr. Dane in the malicious form I have stated. I shall be pretty careful hereafter how I speak. Hasn't there been something said, Dora, by somebody, about a lie that is half the truth being the blackest of lies? If there hasn't been, there ought to be."

Before Dora could reply to set her father right on the quotation and give its author, Richard, the irrepressible, broke in, "Now, I guess I can tell a story to beat that all hollow. Old Thornton--" "Old Thornton, Richard ? gravely interrupted Mrs. Sterling. "Oh,pardon me, mamma," goodhumouredly responded Dick, "I mean our honoured teacher, Professor Thornton. He gave us the meanest kind of a Latin lesson for tomorrow. The awfullest conjugations —regular jaw breakers! When we went out at recess, I just told the boys what I thought of it, and what I thought of him, and, you see, the old fellow-pardon again," nodding toward his mother" the dear gentle

Speech is silver, silence is gold.' The tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity,' was the response. "I've prated enough in my time to keep still now. Talking isn't so bad, though, if you take care how you talk. I could give you a rule that, if you'd go by it, would save you from all such vexation and sorrow as you've been telling of."

"Oh, please give it to us, Uncle John," came in chorus; and then Biddy put her head in at the door with, "Tay is waitin', mum," and Uncle John said, "By-and-by;" and so the impromptu "experience meeting" broke up.

After tea was cleared away, and the Sterlings had settled down to their evening employments, Uncle John came in to them, from the retirement of his own room, with four slips of paper in his hand. Of these he gave one to each personseriously, as if dealing in a matter of life or death, and without a word.

On the papers was written, in Uncle John's quaint chirography, these lines:-

"If you your lips

Would keep from slips,

Five things observe with care:
Of whom you speak,
To whom you speak,

And how, and when, and where."