And thus it shall be with all who imitate his fidelity. While they water others, the dews of heaven shall descend abundantly upon themselves; their path shall shine brighter and brighter unto the perfect day; through every new perplexity an unexpected way shall be opened before their face; and at every discouraging turn they shall be favoured with unexpected assistance: till, having finished their day's work in the daytime, they joyfully enter into that rest which remains for the people of God.

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SERMON X.

ACTS XVIII. 24.

And a certain Jew, named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the Scriptures, came to Ephesus.

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my last discourse, my remarks on Apollos were carried down to the period of his introduction to Priscilla and Aquila. After attending his ministry for an uncertain space, and marking its peculiar defects, these devout persons felt a strong inclination to supply what was lacking on the part of the preacher, as far as their experience and ability would go. And as we no where find that Priscilla and Aquila were accustomed to act as public teachers, it is probable that they invited Apollos, on this occasion, to a private conference at their own lodgings.

It may, perhaps, be neither improper nor uninteresting to set before you, in this place, all the information that Holy Writ has con

veyed to us, respecting the character and circumstances of these two excellent persons. They were originally of Pontus. We find them afterwards settled at Rome, where it is highly probable that they first became acquainted with the gospel of Jesus Christ. No peculiar circumstances attending their conversion are any where recorded but that their reception of the christian faith was cordial, and that they maintained a conduct altogether agreeable to the christian profession, is manifest in every mention made of them. From the city of Rome they were removed by a royal edict, in company with all the Jewish inhabitants of that place. This edict, it is thought, was intended to operate solely against the Jews: but as it was no easy matter for the Roman government to distinguish accurately between the adherents of Moses and the disciples of Christ, it is not very wonderful that Jews and Christians should have been blended together in this scene of suffering. We hear however, no complaints of the losses sustained or the hardships endured by these two innocent sufferers, on that lamentable occasion; though it may be reasonably supposed, that no inconsiderable

share of both must have fallen to their lot. From Rome they journeyed into Greece; where under the guidance of that gracious God into whose hands they had committed all their concerns, they took up their abode in the celebrated city of Corinth: and there they were found by the apostle Paul on his arrival from Athens.

Between these two disciples of Jesus Christ and the great apostle of the Gentiles, a holy friendship was speedily formed, which nothing but death could terminate. For a year and six months they continued together in Corinth, not only dwelling under the same roof, but labouring together at the same calling: for by their occupation, they were tent makers, an occupation much in request in that country, where the heat of the climate rendered tents of very general use. St. Paul had been brought up to that employment from his youth. Nor was it an unusual thing, in those times, for persons of a liberal education to learn some handicraft profession, which might serve them as an amusement in seasons of prosperity, and afford them a certain resource on the failure of other prospects. To this occupation the

apostle was accustomed very diligently to apply himself in various places; choosing rather in this way to provide for his necessities than allow himself to become burthensome to any newly founded church. We find many strong and pointed allusions to this practice in the epistolary writings of this extraordinary man. To the elders of the Ephesian church we hear him speaking in these terms-I have coveted no man's gold, or silver, or apparel: yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me. And to the Thessalonians he writes thus--Ye remember, brethren, our labour and travail, labouring night and day, because we would not be chargeable unto any of you. While Paul and Aquila thus laboriously employed their hands, their hearts and their hopes and their conversation were in heaven. Many hours of the day were devoted to these secular cares and we may easily imagine, that their seasons of labour passed agreeably away, while they took sweet counsel together, how they might most effectually advance the interests of Christ's kingdom upon earth. It was during these busy yet peace

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