journer in Philippi, come thither as a seller of purple cloth, for which her part of Asia was famous. But she had not, when she left her home, left also her religion behind her. She had sought out those who worshipped God, and had gone with them to the place of prayer.

Neither was she so engrossed with worldly affairs as to neglect all other things. She was not in Jerusalem, or in Judea, where the sabbath would be observed by all; but she was in a heathen city, where it would be observed by none except the Jewish residents. She might therefore have carried on her trade, and sold her purple cloth; but she had been brought to the knowledge of that God, who, when he made the world, "blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it:" and therefore we find her, not in the market, not offering her purple to the passers by; but joining the party which had gone out of the city by a river side, where prayer was wont to be made.

Perhaps there are many whose advantages have been much greater than this woman's, who might learn a lesson from her.

Such was the person whose heart the Lord opened that she attended unto the things spoken of Paul. She attended to them. We know by experience what it is to attend, or not attend, to a thing spoken, an offer made. If we think it concerns us, may convey to us some good, or relieve us from some evil, we attend to it: we give our mind to it; we lay hold of it. Otherwise it passes by us like the wind. The words of Paul did not pass by this woman. It was matter of consequence to her, that "God had so loved the world, as to send his only Son,

that all that believe in him might not perish, but have everlasting life." She thought within herself, This is the very comfort which I need. If I have a soul which must return unto him who gave it: if there is an account held of "the things done in the body:" then, "blessed is the man whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered." And blessed be God, who has laid on One,-One infinite and omnipotent to bear itthat iniquity which must otherwise have overwhelmed us at the Judgment day. "Yea, blessed be God for his unspeakable gift!"

Thus she attended to the things spoken. It might be expected, perhaps, that she would lay them up in her mind, to be thought more upon hereafter, and acted on at a more convenient season." No such delay could satisfy her. If he that believeth and is baptized is saved: if he is saved who receiveth Jesus as the Christ, and the sign of receiving him is the being baptized in his name; what hinders my being baptized? So she would reason. And we read that she was baptized and her household. All persons are justly fearful of delay when they find an offer suit them. There often is, indeed, delay in things relating to the soul. The Lord's Supper, for example, becomes now often, practically, the seal of faith, as the sacrament of Baptism was the seal of faith to Lydia: and this is delayed by many, for want of fitness, they urge; but really for want of faith, for want of will, for want of a heart entirely surrendered up to God. But when we truly feel the value of what is offered us, we do not wait till to-morrow for what we may secure to-day. And so it was with Lydia, and with her household, moved no doubt by her advice,

and influence, and example. She was baptized and her household. They entered into the fold of which Jesus was the shepherd. They were grafted upon the vine of which Jesus is the stem. They were made part of that family in heaven and earth, which is named after Him whose "name is above every name." They were made members of Christ, children of God, and inheritors of the kingdom of heaven.

St. John has left a test of a sincere profession, saying, "By this we know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother, abideth in death." Now Lydia, if truly converted, and "led by the Spirit" of God, had passed from death unto life. And she at once gives this sign of the indwelling Spirit, this proof of true conversion, that her heart overflows with love to those who had now become her brethren. We find her saying, If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide there. And she constrained us. She would not allow the apostle and his party to remain any longer at their own charges, or to lodge among the heathen in the city; they must abide at her house. But why is it added, she constrained us? No doubt, because they were as scrupulous in receiving, as she was free and hospitable in offering. They might urge, We shall be chargeable to you: we shall interfere with your interests; for we are the objects of suspicion and enmity; and as you esteem us, because we are the apostles of Christ, others, because we preach in his name, revile and persecute us. So they might truly say. Lydia, however, had made up her mind. 11 Ep. iii. 14.

If Christ was hers, the friends of Christ must be hers too. They had been the instruments by which she received a treasure which she valued above earthly friendship, or earthly fortune, or life itself. And she must show them the poor return which was in her power: she must give them the refuge of her home. For her own sake, with the courtesy and the delicacy which is one of the surest signs of heavenly grace, and as a favour to herself, she entreats them, If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house and abide there. And she constrained us.

It was a happy company. Surely we may pronounce them so. "The kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchantman, seeking goodly pearls; who when he hath found one pearl of great price, goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that pearl." Lydia had found this pearl of great price, and had secured it for her own. And, doubtless, the Lord who opened her heart that she should attend to the things spoken of Paul, would not desert her now, but enable her to experience the "joy and peace of believing."

And Paul, too, would be happy. God had given him these firstfruits of his visit to Philippi. He had that proof that God was with him of a truth; and a fresh jewel was added to the "crown of rejoicing,"l which he was providing against the great day, when both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together.

1 1 Thess. ii. 19.

XXVII.

PAUL AND SILAS IN PRISON.

ACTS xvi. 25.

22. And the multitude rose up together against them; and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them.

23. And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cust them into prison, charging the gaoler to keep them safely:

24. Who having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks.

THE apostles at Philippi had relieved from an evil spirit a young woman, whose masters had used her peculiar properties to assist them in their trade of soothsaying or divination. The cure which they effected had no influence upon the men who had profited by her malady, except to excite their indignation. When they saw that the hope of their gains was gone, they stirred up the people against those troublers of the city, those innovators in religion, who were "teaching customs contrary to the laws of Rome," Philippi being a Roman colony.

It is grievous to reflect, in every state of society, how many have a sort of vested interest in sin and