ish delusions. His fancied pre-eminence carries with it nothing real or satisfactory : his riches are nothing more than a splendid kind of poverty: his power is but weakness in disguise; and his wisdom is nothing better than a specious pretence. He must moreover, in a very little time, be stripped of all these adventitious ornaments, and perceive himself to be wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked. But it is otherwise with him who has become, in deed and in truth, a disciple of Jesus Christ. The highest interests of such a man are everlastingly secure; since he hath found the pearl of great price, and hath chosen to himself that good part that shall never be taken away from him. The views, the feelings, and the whole character of such a man, have undergone a complete change: old things are passed away, and, behold, all things are become new! His heart is purified by grace; his spirit, is ennobled by partaking of the divine nature; he is influenced and actuated by heavenly principles; he has the mind in him which was also in Christ Jesus. Such a man loves the light, and cheerfully follows wherever

it leads the way: while he lives, he lives a life of faith in the Son of God; and when he dies, he dies in the exercise of a blessed hope full of immortality. The station of such a man in the present world, may possibly be fixed among the inferior classes of society. Like his adorable Master, he may be despised and rejected of his brethren; or he may be overlooked and set at nought by the hectoring spirits of the age; while, in reality, he is nothing less than a prince in disguise, travelling homeward, in the habit of a pilgrim, to a divine and enduring inheritance.

Such were the ancient prophets and patriarchs, who were well content to lodge in tabernacles below, while they looked to a city above which hath everlasting foundations. Such were the apostles and primitive preachers of the gospel, who, for the joy that was set before them, endured the cross, despising the shame, and fearlessly treading in the steps of their Lord. And such also are all the disciples of Christ, in all their generations, and under all the different forms in which they are presented to the world. They may vary from each other in

many particulars, in station, in tempérament, in attainments, in appearance, and in degrees of grace: but they will invariably bear about them so strong and gracious a resemblance to one another, as may serve to mark them out as children of the same family, and disciples of the same Lord.

And as the followers of Christ differ from one another in many other particulars, so they must of necessity differ from each other in point of age; a distinction, which I am here the more inclined to notice, because Mnason is characterized by the sacred writer, from the single circumstance of his age he was an old disciple. There are not wanting in the sacred brotherhood of Christ's disciples, a lovely multitude of young and blooming saints, who have devoted their freshest age to the honour and service of their Master in heaven. And truly the world cannot present us with a more interesting spectacle than that of a youthful band, rising above the usual toys and trifles of early life, and resolutely bent on imitating the lovely childhood of their condescending Lord, who increased in wisdom as he increased in stature, and in favour

both with God and man. Such was the devoted child Samuel, who was given up to the Lord in the very morning of his days. Such was the beloved Daniel, whose youthful piety excited the admiration of all beholders. Such was John the Baptist, who was filled with the Holy Ghost from the womb. And with these, perhaps, we may venture to number that zealous company of little children, who once saluted Christ in the temple, crying Hosanna to the Son of David! These, and such as these, are to be seen in every generation, proclaiming to the world, with a most sweet and overcoming evidence, that, out of the mouths of babes and sucklings, God can perfect his praise.

But Mnason is introduced to us as an aged follower of Christ-not, however, for the purpose of lessening our interest in him; but rather, as it should seem, with the intention of increasing it. It is the prerogative of age to command respect; and it is remarked in the book of Proverbs, that the hoary head is a crown of glory, if it be found in the way of righteousness. A Christian of any considerable standing is always an object of veneration: but, if he be an aged

Christian, he is worthy of double honour. When Mnason was introduced to St. Paul, no doubt that apostle received him with more than ordinary tokens of regard, from the very circumstance of his being an old disciple. And indeed so natural is it for age to excite reverence and attention, that, on a future occasion, when St. Paul had a favour to solicit of Philemon, he adverted to the greatness of his age at that period, as an additional motive for Philemon's compliance with his request-I beseech thee, said the apostle, for my son Onesimus, being such a one as Paul the aged.

An aged disciple of Christ must needs be considered as an object of peculiar regard on many accounts, among which may be enumerated the following.

First-Because length of days is usually connected with wisdom and experience: with the ancient, saith Job, is wisdom, and in length of days there is understanding. He who hath travelled long in the ways of the Lord, must of consequence be better acquainted with the usual accompaniments of the christian profession than he who is but just setting