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or a little group of families? What is it but "the hearts of the fathers turned to the children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers?" Is it not now manifest, is it not now felt, how remarkably, and to what extent, our blessed Lord availed himself of the influence of the parental characters, and the power of natural family attachments where the fear of God had been made the bond of union? ANDERSON,

TIMOTHY.

THE first mention made of this early disciple is in Acts xvi. 1-3. "Then came Paul to Derbe and Lystra, and behold a certain disciple was there, named Timotheus, the son of a certain woman, which was a Jewess, and believed; but his father was a Greek, which was well reported of by the brethren that were at Lystra and Iconium. Him would Paul have to go forth with him." It appears from these verses that he was held in high esteem by all to whom he was known.

He was called to the work of the ministry so early in life, that St. Paul, in more than one place, expresses his fear that it might hinder his usefulness. 1 Tim. iv. 12. "Let no man despise thy youth." 1 Cor. xvi. 10, 11. "Now if Timotheus come, see that he may be with you

without fear, for he worketh the work of the Lord, as I also do. Let no man therefore despise him."

St. Paul conceived for him a strong attachment: honoured him by addressing to him two of his epistles, and he frequently speaks of him in terms of affectionate regard. He calls him "Timotheus my workfellow." Rom. xvi. 21. Again "I have sent unto you Timotheus, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord." 1 Cor. iv. 17. "Unto Timothy my own son in the faith, grace, mercy, and peace from God our Father, and Jesus Christ our Lord." 1 Tim. i. 2. "To Timothy my dearly beloved son, grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father, and Christ Jesus our Lord." 2 Tim. i. 2.

Paul chose him as his companion in his journeyings, and in some instances sent him before him to visit and confirm the churches. Acts xix. 22. "So he sent into Macedonia two of them that ministered unto him, Timotheus and Erastus; but he himself stayed in Asia for a season." 1 Cor. iv. 17. "For this cause have I sent unto you Timotheus, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways which be in Christ, as I teach every-where in every church." Phil. ii. 19, 20. "But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timotheus shortly unto you, that I also may be of good comfort, when I know your state. For I have no man like-minded, who will naturally care for your

state." 1 Thess. iii. 1, 2. "Wherefore, when we could no longer forbear, we thought it good to be left at Athens alone; And sent Timotheus, our brother, and minister of God, and our fellowlabourer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith."

Timothy was afterwards made Bishop of Ephesus. He appears to have suffered much in the cause of Christ, see 1 Tim. vi. 12. " Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses." Heb. xiii. 23. Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty."

At length he endured martyrdom under the persecutions of the Christians which took place in the reign of Domitian; he was beaten with clubs in so barbarous a manner that he died of his wounds two days after.

But what do we know of the early history of this excellent man, to make it peculiarly appropriate to introduce him here? The Holy Spirit has caused this record to be made concerning him. 2 Tim. i. 2, 5. "To Timothy, my dearly beloved son. I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also." 2 Tim. iii. 14, 15. “But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of; knowing of

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whom thou hast learned them; and that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus."

M.

GOD HAS BOUND HIMSELF BY PROMISE

TO BLESS

THE CHILDREN OF BELIEVERS.

DEUT. v. 29. "O that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children for ever!"

Deut. xii. 28. "Observe and hear all these words, which I command thee, that it may go well with thee, and with thy children after thee for ever, when thou doest that which is good and right in the sight of the Lord thy God."

Deut. xxix. 29. "The secret things belong unto the Lord our God: but those which are revealed unto us and to our children for ever."

Psalm xxv. 12, 13. "What man is he that feareth the Lord? him shall he teach in the way that he shall choose; His soul shall dwell at ease; and his seed shall inherit the earth."

Psalm xxxvii. 25, 26. " I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous

forsaken, nor his seed begging bread. He is ever merciful, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed."

Psalm xlv. 16. "Instead of thy fathers shall be thy children, whom thou mayest make princes in all the earth."

Psalm cii. 28. "The children of thy servants shall continue, and their seed shall be established before thee."

Psalm ciii. 17, 18. "But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children's children; To such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them."

Psalm cxv. 12-15. "The Lord hath been mindful of us; he will bless us; he will bless the house of Israel, he will bless the house of Aaron. He will bless them that fear the Lord, both small and great. The Lord shall increase you more and more, you and your children. You are blessed of the Lord, which made heaven and earth."

Psalm cxxviii. 1, 3-6." Blessed is every one that feareth the Lord; that walketh in his ways. Thy children shall be like olive-plants round about thy table. Behold, that thus shall the man be

blessed that feareth the Lord. The Lord shall bless thee out of Zion: and thou shalt see the good of Jerusalem all the days of thy life. Yea, thou shalt see thy children's children, and peace upon Israel."

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