hope of Israel I am bound with this chain.* And they said unto him, We neither received letters from Judea concerning thee, nor did any of our brethren who have come to Rome report or speak any harm of thee. But we desire to hear of thee what are thy sentiments: for, as concerning this sect, we know that every where it is spoken against.

And when they had fixed a day with him, many came to him to his lodging; and he expounded to them and testified the kingdom of God, trying to persuade them concerning Jesus, both from the law of Moses, and from the prophets, from morning till evening. And some believed the things which were said, and some believed not. And when they agreed not among themselves, they separated, Paul saying this one thing, Well spoke the Holy Ghost by Esaias the prophet unto our fathers, saying, Go to this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive: for the heart of this people has become gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; so that they should not see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. Be it known therefore to you, that the salvation of God is sent to the Gentiles, and that they will hear it. And when he had said these words, the Jews departed, and had much discussion among themselves.

And Paul dwelt two whole years in a hired house of his own, and received all that came in to him, preaching the kingdom of God, and teach

*Bound with this chain.-One end of the chain being fastened to his right arm, and the other end to the left arm of the soldier who kept him.

ing those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all freedom, no one forbidding him.

WORDS, &C. TO BE EXPLAINED IN LESSON Xxv.

Barbarians,
Viper,

Put in,
Coasted about,

Converted,

QUESTIONS ON LESSON XXV.

ON what island were Paul and his companions wrecked? How did the people treat them?

What happened to Paul soon after his landing?

What did the people at first think of him? and what afterwards?

Who had property in that neighbourhood?

What did Paul do for him?

What was the effect of this?

How did they get out of Melita? by what vessel ?

What town did they touch at ? and in what island?

Where did they remain seven days?

How far did the brethren from Rome come to meet Paul? At what place did they meet him?

When they arrived at Rome, how did the centurion dispose of him?

What did the apostle do when he was settled in Rome? What did the Jews say to him?

When they came to him again, what did he say to them? What effect had his preaching on them?

What warning did he give them?

How long afterwards did he remain in Rome ?

How was he employed during that time?

LESSON XXVI.

FROM PSALM CVII.*

O THAT men would praise the Lord for his goodness,

And for his wonderful deeds on behalf of the children of men,

* Psalm cvi., Douay version.

And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of praise,
And recount his works with rejoicing.

They that embark on the sea in ships,

That exercise their business in the great waters,-
These men see the works of the Lord,
And his wonders in the deep.

For he speaks, and the stormy wind comes forth,
And raises up its billows.

They mount up to the skies; they go down to the depths;

Their soul is melted, because of trouble,

They reel, they stagger, like a drunken man.
All their skill is overwhelmed.

Then they cry unto the Lord, in their trouble,
And he brings them out of their distress.
He makes the storm a calm,

And the waves of it are still.

Then they are glad, because they are quiet :-
So he brings them to their desired haven.

O that men would praise the Lord for his good

ness,

And for his wonderful deeds on behalf of the children of men.

And let them exalt him, in the assembly of the people;

And let them praise him, in the meeting of the

elders.

FROM PSALM XCIII.*

The LORD reigneth ;-he is clothed with majesty. The Lord is clothed with strength-girt about with it.

Verily he hath established the earth, that it may

not move.

* Psalm xcii., Douay version.

H

Thy throne is established from of old ;-
Thou art from eternity.

The floods have lifted up, O Lord!
The floods have lifted up their voice,
The floods lift up their waves.
Mighty are the breakers of the sea :—
Mighty on high is the Lord.

Thy testimonies are very faithful.
Holiness is the beauty of thy house,
O Lord! for ever.

LESSON XXVII.

Paul's sufferings in the service of Christ-His sentiments on the near approach of death.

FROM 2 COR. XI. AND 2 TIM. IV.

[The Apostle Paul sums up the sufferings which he endured in the prosecution of his Apostolical labours, as follows:]

Or the Jews five times did I receive forty stripes save one; thrice was I beaten with rods; once was I stoned; thrice I suffered shipwreck; a night and day I spent in the deep; in journeyings often; in dangers of rivers, in dangers of robbers, in dangers from my own countrymen, in dangers from the heathen, in dangers of the city, in dangers of the wilderness in dangers of the sea, in dangers among false brethren: in toil and weariness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness; besides those things which are without, my daily burden, the anxiety about all the Churches. Who is weak, and I am not weak?-who is offended, and I am not on fire?

*

* Offended, literally scandalized, offended in his conscience, ensnared or betrayed into sin, and thus made to offend.

If it be necessary to boast, I shall boast of my infirmities. The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is blessed for ever, knoweth that I lie not. At Damascus the governor of the nation, under Aretas the king, guarded the city of the Damascenes, wishing to seize upon me, and through a window, in a basket, I was let down by the wall, and escaped his hands.*-2 Cor. xi.

[When the Apostle Paul was a prisoner at Rome a second time, under Nero the emperor, and expected soon to be put to death by that cruel prince; he thus described his situation in writing to his young friend Timothy :]

I am now ready to be sacrificed,+ and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight; I have finished my course; I have kept the faith. As to what remains, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the just judge, will bestow upon me in that day ;and not only upon me, but upon all who have loved his appearing.

Do thy diligence to come to me quickly. Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world, and has gone to Thessalonica; Crescens has gone to Galatia; Titus to Dalmatia. Luke only is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with thee; for he is profitable to me for the ministry. But Tychicus have I sent to Ephesus. The cloak which

* From this summary of the Apostle's sufferings, it plainly appears, that many as they are which are recorded in the Acts, a large proportion of them are not noticed there.

† Sacrificed; literally, "I am already being poured upon;" alluding to the libation that was poured upon the animal to be sacrificed, just before the fatal blow was given.

Take Mark, &c.-This was John Mark, who had left Paul and Barnabas at Perga, when they were entering Asia Minor; and about whom Paul and Barnabas afterwards contended so sharply, that they separated from one another. Paul, however, as has already been observed, retained no dislike to Mark; but, on the contrary, expressly sent for him, as being useful to him in the ministry.