cognise in this representation your own experience? If not, be a servant of the Lord Jesus: cherish habitual and forcible perceptions of the sovereignty and the love of God and you may hope in future seasons of suspicion to be enabled to attest the truth of the description.

From this survey of some of the sources, effects, and remedies of suspicion, let us turn to the practical instruction, which the proceedings of the Apostles, on the occasion which has been stated, suggest. Their proceedings inculcate the duty of endeavouring to prevent, and of studying to obviate, any circumstance in our conduct which may be, either in reality or in appearance, of a suspicious nature; and also illustrate the method of discharging the obligation.

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If the apostles, when the complaint that the widows of the Grecians were neglected was laid before them, had not at once interfered in order to apply a remedy to the evil, if it should be found to exist, or to preclude, if the neglect were imaginary, all probability of its existence; they would either have proved themselves to be partial, or, on the most favourable supposition, would have excited very plausible suspicions against their own fairness. It is not indeed impossible, considering

sidering the irritated state of mind with which the murmuring of the Grecians was evidently accompanied, that some of them might even then be capable of suspecting the apostles not to be altogether free from an interested bias towards their countrymen, the Hebrews. On all accounts, therefore, it behoved them promptly and prudently to interpose. What course did they take? They interposed without delay. And did they interpose prudently? With so wise a measure, that it gave universal satisfaction instantly. The saying pleas ed the whole multitude. Every complaint was silenced. Every complainer saw, that no cause of murmuring or of distrust on the subject could rise again. The apostles removed the management of the fund entirely out of their own hands; and committed it exclusively to a select body, in the choice of which they took no part; a body in the formation of which the Grecians participated equally with the Hebrews. It is worthy of incidental notice how similar, on a corresponding occasion, was the circumspection of Saint Paul, When his exertions had procured in various churches of the Gentiles contributions for the relief of the Christians in Judæ, who were suffering under the pressure of a famine, it is thus that he writes to the Corinthians concerning the collection

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collection preparing among them also for the saints: Whomsoever you shall approve by your letters, them will I send to bring your liberality unto Jerusalem. And if it be meet that I go also, they shall go with me (1). And in his subsequent epistle, when he refers to collections for the same object made elsewhere, he speaks of the messengers of the churches, chosen of the churches (in compliance, we may be assured, with the uniform wish of St. Paul) to travel with us with this grace which is administered by us (m). His reasons for these precautions he does not hesitate to avow: Avoiding this, that no man should blame us in this abundance, which is administered by us: providing for honest things not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men (n). To revert, however, from this not irrelevant digression, to the apostles at Jerusalem; observe that anxious as they were to afford satisfaction to the discontented by doing, and by doing instantly, all that was befitting themselves for the purpose, they would not deviate the breadth of a hair from the line of duty. The Grecians appear to have expected, at least to have desired, that the apostles should in person attend the daily dis

(1) 1 Cor. xvi. 3• 4.

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(n) 2 Cor. viii. 20, 21.

(m) 2 Cor. viii. 19—23.

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tribution of the provisions, in order to take care that it should be conducted with impartiality. Such an appropriation of a portion of their time the apostles were immediately aware would be a departure from their peculiar business, and therefore positively wrong. Their office, the office which Christ had committed to them, was to preach the Gospel. It is not reason, they replied, that we should leave the word of God and serve tables. And they decidedly refused to take such a step; refused to occupy themselves even for a season, even but occasionally, in the business. We will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.

From this survey of the conduct of the apostles, let us learn to abstain from all appearance of evil; to watch over our character as a talent, as an instrument of usefulness capable of being employed to the glory of God; to strive by well-doing to put to silence the ignorance of foolish men, who through that ignorance may assail us with groundless accusations, or may harbour unauthorised suspicions concerning us and particularly to be prompt and ingenuous in explaining any part of our proceedings which we discern to have been misunderstood, or foresee to be in danger of misconstruction. The apostles possessed

possessed in the transaction in question, and it was the desire of their hearts to possess in all transactions, a conscience void of offence both towards God and towards men. It has often been, and well may we fear lest it should again be, otherwise with us. What then remains? Whenever we perceive ourselves to have offended, whether by unwarrantable actions, or by injurious suspicions, let us be earnest to acknowledge our transgression not only unto God, but, if conscience indicates the duty, to the individual also against whom we have sinned; and to any other persons to whom the evil which we have committed, ought, under existing circumstances, to be made known. Never let us be satisfied that we truly repent, if we will not thus give glory to God by frank and honest confession. Closeness is foreign to repentance. While closeness remains is there not a presumptive token that pride, and a secret purpose of continuance in sin, rule the heart?

But, farther, let us learn never to seek to clear our characters, whether justly or unjustly suspected, at the expence of duty, Have we sinned? Let us gladly bear any shame, any worldly consequences, rather than disguise or palliate the offence by falsehood.

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