which much resembles this case of Herod. (Dan. iv. 30.) Nebuchadnezzar, like Herod, was lifted up by the pride of his wealth and majesty." He walked in the palace, and the king spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, for the honour of my majesty? While the word was in the king's mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, saying, O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken; The kingdom is departed from thee. The same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar." His reason was taken from him, and he became "as the beasts of the field." And expressly as a judgment upon his pride. "Until he knew that the Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will."

Now contrast with this natural pride and vain glory the conduct which springs from the grace of God.

Solomon had a far greater share of understanding than Herod and the magnificence of "great Babylon," in which Nebuchadnezzar boasted, could not surpass the grandeur of the palace and the temple built by Solomon. But no sooner had he brought that vast and glorious work to an end, than his thoughts turned to Him by whose goodness he had been enabled to raise it. He dedicated it to God, and implored his blessing, as that which could alone establish or preserve it. (1 Kings viii. 55.) "Solomon stood, and blessed

all the congregation of Israel with a loud voice, saying, Blessed be the Lord, that hath given rest unto his people Israel, according to all that he promised. The Lord our God be with us, as he was with our fathers: let him not leave us, nor forsake us." "And the king, and all Israel with him, offered sacrifice unto the Lord."

4

"What hast thou, O man, that thou didst not receive?" And "who maketh thee to differ from another?" These are reflections which the peo ple of God will cherish, whatever their advantages may be and with thoughts like these they keep their spirits meek, and give God the glory. David, for example, when seated on the throne of Israel. "Then went king David in, (2 Samuel vii. 18,) and sat before the Lord, and he said, Who am I, O Lord God? and what is my house, that thou hast brought me hitherto ?" What have I or my family to boast of, that I have been thus distinguished; that thou hast brought me to this honour?" Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto thy name be all the praise."

Herod was cut down in his pride. And it does not follow, but that another may be cut down in his humility and that even a spirit like that of David or Solomon may not always preserve to a man his earthly prosperity or possessions. But such a spirit sanctifies wealth and honour; and such a

4 1 Cor. iv. 7.

spirit will not be overwhelmed, though honours, or friends, or riches "make to themselves wings and flee away." For the Christian knows, that here is not his rest. He knows, that "if our earthly house of this tabernacle were destroyed, we have a building of God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens." 5 Therefore his "conversation" is there, where his best and sure possessions are laid up. And he "looks not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal." 6

LECTURE XXXVIII.

BARNABAS AND SAUL SET OUT ON THEIR MINISTRY, UNDER A SPECIAL COMMISSION. THE SORCERER STRUCK WITH BLINDNESS.-A. D. 45.

ACTS xiii. 1—12.

1. Now there were in the church that was at Antioch, certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cy• 2 Cor. iv. 18.

5 2 Cor. v. 1.

rene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.1

2. As they ministered to the Lord, and fusted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.

3. And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.

4. So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed unto Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to Cyprus.

Barnabas and Saul had long been dedicated to the work of the ministry, had been already acting as apostles. But it seemed good to the Spirit, in directing the affairs of the church, that their employment for a particular purpose should be attended with a fresh and solemn commission. That purpose was to go widely through different countries, and repeat elsewhere the works which had been wrought at Antioch. The intimation was given in a way not here explained, but which could not be mistaken. And after a special meeting for fasting and prayer, the prophets and teachers of the church dismiss them with a benediction. They laid their hands upon them, and sent them away. Not with the object of bestowing any spiritual gift upon them: for in such view "the less," as St Paul says, "is blessed of the

Lucius is mentioned fifteen years afterwards, in the Epistle to the Romans xvi. 21. Manaen was the foster-brother of Herod Antipas. Thus is "one taken, and another left."

2

greater;" and Lucius and Simeon were inferior to Saul and Barnabas. It was a solemn and customary mode of invoking the divine favour upon their heads, that it might be with them, and rest upon them.

5. And when they were at Salamis, they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews: and they had also John to their minister. 4

6. And when they had gone through the isle unto Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Bar-jesus:

7. Which was with the deputy of the country, Sergius Paulus, a prudent man; who called for Barnabas and Saul, and desired to hear the word of God.

8. But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith.

This false prophet, or sorcerer, like Simon in Samaria, (ch. viii. 9,) was one who used the arts of divination, and pretended to superhuman knowledge. He soon perceived that his livelihood was in danger, if the faith which these apostles preached was listened to. The false prophet would be rejected, if the true prophet was received. So he endeavoured to turn aside the deputy (the Roman

2 Heb. vii. 7.

3 Salamis and Paphos were considerable towns in the island of Cyprus.

4 See ch. xii. 12.