Do they retain a deep and lasting sense of these, daily recording them as the best motives to repent of all their sins, and above all, of that which in the hour of danger filled the soul with extreme terror and anguish? Have they steadily kept their strong purposes and promises of amendment then made? Or are they, on the other hand, like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: for he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was." We have a very sad proof of the ingratitude and insensibility of mankind to God's blessings, in the case of the lepers cleansed by our Saviour; of whom one only turned back to glorify God. "And Jesus said, were not ten cleansed, but where are the nine? There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger." When we read of such conduct we are apt to feel surprise and indignation: yet it is greatly to be apprehended, that the case is by no means singular. Let us then take care not to be deservedly classed with the multitude, who did evil, rather than with the single pious and grateful man, who did well. Let us learn from him, and from the example before us, to praise and magnify God for all his mercies, especially for such particular acts of his divine providence as prove happy issues out of our afflictions, and are derived not from our own merits, but from his free grace and bounty.

Having touched upon the dispositions of the giver and receiver of this gracious blessing, both very proper subjects for our study and imitation, I come now to make an observation or two upon the nature and circumstances of the miracle itself, as bearing unquestionable proof of divine authority.

The man, upon whom it was wrought, had been lame from his mother's womb; and, as we learn in the next chapter, was now above forty years old, A malady so inveterate and confirmed, was a most unfit, or rather an impossible subject, of fraud or collusion. An impostor would have chosen either a case wholly free from, and merely pretending to infirmity; or at least something of a slight or accidental nature, capable of being tampered with in private; and, when restored to soundness in the ordinary way, afforded a display of immediate and miraculous cure. With the advantages of great address, an ignorant multitude, and friends attached to the cause, who are willing even to be imposed on themselves, and still more willing to impose on others; such attempts may, and do sometimes succeed. But no man in his senses ever undertook, in the face of enemies, to heal an infirmity of forty years standing, rooted in the constitution at its birth.

All this you are ready to admit, provided the case be certainly as it is here represented. Now consider the circumstances before us with a little

attention. This is not the case of a person, who happened on that occasion to be seen at the gate of the temple, but was daily laid there: by which expression is plainly imported a continued usage for some length of time. So that not only his person must have been well known to a great many, but likewise the nature and duration of his infirmity ; at least by general and uncontradicted report. He appears to have been completely crippled, through a natural weakness of his limbs; for at the moment of his cure it is said, that immediately his feet and ancle-bones received strength." It would be enough for our purpose, if we suppose him in the habit of asking alms in that condition, even a much shorter time than we have reason to think from the narrative; I mean for any period before the Apostles undertook to work miracles; which was probably not many days since, but certainly a very little while before. You see then how impossible in the nature of things it was for the present event to be owing to a plan of preconcerted fraud : and this suspicion being removed, a shadow of doubt does not remain, that the man was, as it is here stated, lame from his mother's womb. And if any thing were wanting to confirm the argument, we find it in the conduct of the people at the time; and yet more strikingly in that of the rulers, priests and scribes, on the following day: which I shall draw together, as tending to one and the

same point: "And all the people saw him walking and praising God: And they knew that it was he, which sat for alms at the Beautiful gate of the temple; and they were filled with wonder and amazement at that which had happened unto him.” Not the slightest suspicion appears on their part, who had constant and daily opportunities of knowing him. And yet how natural had this been, were the least pretence afforded for it, either in supposing the man to be an impostor, or in any other method of explaining the fact, than by the manifest power of God! So in the 14th verse of the next chapter we read thus: "And they" (the rulers, and elders, and scribes, with other great men before mentioned)

beholding the man which was healed, standing with them (the Apostles) they could say nothing against it." They then conferred together, saying,

What shall we do to these men? for that indeed a notable miracle hath been done by them, is manifest to all them that dwell in Jerusalem; and we cannot deny it." Is it in the power of language to speak conviction in stronger terms? Those men of greatest knowledge, ability and power, among them, possessed of every means to detect fraud and punish the guilty, are obliged to give up the point they dare not enter upon enquiry, wer knowing this to be the very best means of propagating the truth. How then do they act? Why to prevent its spreading farther among the people they

straitly threaten them to speak thenceforth to no man in the name of Jesus. I believe this behaviour requires no comment. Every man sees in it a conscious weakness of their cause, menaces in the place of argument, and power instead of reason. Add to all this, that the miracle, with the speech of St. Peter, converted a great multitude; "Many of them, which heard the word, believed; and the number of the men was about five thousand." Let us even suppose, that the whole number on this and the day of Pentecost are here meant ; yet two thousand converts at least were now made; which were surely a sufficient proof of a very general conviction, and cannot be accounted for but by very strong and clear evidence.

In the 12th verse of this chapter St. Peter begins an address to the people, who ran together in the porch that is called Solomon's. This porch was in the outer court of the temple, on the east side, and was called Solomon's, because it stood upon a terrace which he built up from the valley beneath, and which was the only work of Solomon's temple remaining in our Saviour's time. Here were the Apostles held by the man, that was healed; and to them the people ran greatly wondering; lost in amazement at the miracle, and looking with admi'ration on Peter and John. To bring them to a right understanding of the matter, the former speaks