fested, not only by the gathering of a church there (Eph. i.), but also by the more violent opposition of those who rejected the gospel. Some of these became so hardened by their unbelief and resistance of the truth, that they publicly slandered and abused the christian doctrine, amongst the people of Ephesus; and in consequence of the state of things resulting from this conduct, Paul thought it no longer necessary to confine himself to teaching in the synagogue; but he judged it right to gather into one separate body those who had believed, known to be the church of Christ at Ephesus, as distinguished from the Jews, in whose synagogue the preaching of the gospel had begun.

Having thus established the christians as a distinct and peculiar people, from that time he carried on the publication of the gospel in a building which was employed as a school by a person named Tyrannus; and here he conducted open discussions every day. This course of evangelical instruction was carried on by Paul for two years; and by this means the gospel became known, not only by all the Ephesians, but as Ephesus was the metropolis of the whole province called Asia Minor, and great multitudes of people continually resorted thither, the doctrine of the Lord Jesus Christ became generally known throughout all the country.

It pleased God to enable Paul from this advantageous position to extend the power of the gospel, by making him also the instrument of most striking miracles. Not only did Paul himself perform these wonders, but articles of clothing that had touched his body were endued with power over diseases; so that when such things were taken from the apostle and laid upon persons who were suffering from illness, or who were under the possession of evil spirits, they were at once cured or dispossessed, without even being brought within the reach of Paul himself.

The possession by evil spirits, which was evident and notorious during the life of our Lord upon earth, still continued so plainly, that it was a common practice for people to go about the country gaining money by pretending, through the use of certain charms and incantations, to cast out devils from persons in this unhappy condition.

(Luke xi. 19.) These were called exorcists. The fame of the miracles actually performed by the apostle produced such an effect amongst the people, that many of these exorcists found it profitable to recommend their incantations, by connecting them with the names of Jesus and of Paul. The chief of the priests among the Jews, whose name was Sceva, had seven sons who were exorcists, and who thus employed the name of our Lord in their charms. Upon one occasion, in attempting to cast out an evil spirit from a possessed person, they employed the form commonly used by these impostors, and said, "We adjure thee by Jesus, whom Paul preaches." Instead of having any power over the devil, he answered by the mouth of the man, saying that he knew Jesus, and that he knew Paul, but that he did not know these exorcists; and immediately the possessed man sprang upon these sons of Sceva, and with supernatural power (such as was seen in the man amongst the tombs, Mark v. 1-5) tore their garments, wounded their bodies, and overcame their strength, so that they ran out of the house in that shameful condition.

This event very soon became known all over Ephesus, both amongst Jews and Greeks, and the people were generally impressed with a solemn awe, which led them to pay great respect to the name of the Lord Jesus. But besides this, many persons were brought under the power of true faith in Christ, and these frankly acknowledged their sins, confessing the wickedness of their course of life. What had happened to the sons of Sceva produced also a great effect upon a number of persons who were in the habit of practising the art of magic, by which they imposed on the credulity and superstition of the people; many of these professors of sorcery gave up the manuscript books they were accustomed to use; and when a large number of these books had been accumulated, they were publicly burned. A calculation was made of the sum of money for which these books might have been sold, and it amounted to fifty thousand pieces of silver. What particular coin is intended by this expression does not clearly appear. The coin of least value that could be meant is the Greek drachm, which would make the sum

amount to £1562 10s.; the higher coin which might be meant is the Jewish shekel, which would make it as much as £6250. Thus through the proof afforded of the reality of the apostle's miracles by the contrast with the pretended miracles of the exorcists, the power of the word of God was more fully acknowledged, and its influence extended over the country every where, in spite of the opposition of its enemies.

It was during the latter part of the two years and three months of Paul's residence at Ephesus, that he wrote his first epistle to the Corinthians, the date of which appears to have been early in the year 55. (1 Cor. xvi. 8, 19.) Several circumstances connected with the writing of this letter may be gathered from different passages in it, taken together with other passages in the Acts; and as these circumstances belong to this part of the history, they may be properly referred to here.

We have already seen that Apollos had gone to Corinth, with letters from the Ephesian christians, some time before Paul returned to Ephesus. (Acts xix. 1.) After remaining for a season at Corinth, during which he greatly assisted in strengthening and establishing the christians there, (1 Cor. iii. 6), he must have returned to Ephesus; for we find that Paul wished him to accompany the messengers whom he judged it necessary to send from Ephesus to Corinth, in consequence of the state of the church there. The chief of these messengers was Timothy; Apollos was not disposed to return to Corinth with them, but promised to do so if he should find it convenient afterwards.

Paul sent these messengers to Corinth in consequence of information he had received from some members of the family of a person named Chloe, who arriving at Ephesus from Corinth, made the apostle acquainted with the distressing state of division and contention which prevailed amongst the christians there (1 Cor. i. 11, 12), together with other scandalous inconsistencies in the conduct of some. After Timothy and the brethren had set forth on their journey, Paul received a letter from the Corinthian church, in which they sought his advice and instructions concerning several points of discipline and conscience. This letter was brought to him by three Corinthian chris

light, and from the power of Satan to Himself. A conviction of this ought to excite every christian to an earnest diligence, in order to take advantage of each favourable concurrence of circumstances to put forth the truth, which may be made the means of salvation to those amongst whom our lot is cast.

QUESTION.

Am I living in the habit of observing carefully the current of events around me, in order to take advantage of every favourable opportunity for extending the gospel! and do I expect that providential advantages for the purpose will accompanied by manifestations of God's power? Am I diligent in using the means which may give occasion for the display of His grace?

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3. What a contrast between the casting out of evil spirits by the power of God, through Paul's ministry, and the attempt to do the same by the incantations of the exorcists, put forth in the same name as that used by the apostle! This suggests an application of general importance in a day when the knowledge of religion is so extended, as to render it very common for the unconverted and worldly to live in the profession of a true creed. The use of religious arguments by such persons may be compared to the exorcism of the sons of Sceva; many endeavour to put forth the doctrines they have learned from some celebrated preacher, without having themselves been taught of God; and the effect of such religious display is none other than that produced by those who adjured the possessed ones "by Jesus, whom Paul preacheth." To expect that the mere declaration of doctrines will have the effect of altering the character of the wicked or the worldly is as idle, as was the expectation of these exorcists. Satan knows and trembles at the power of Jesus; he knows too the effects which are wrought by the preaching of his true ministers; but he despises the efforts of such as imagine in their own strength, by the arguments of worldly wisdom, to deprive him of his power over willing sinners. It must be the strength of Him who is stronger than that "strong man armed" which can alone cast him out; and every

of opposition is excited, and is commonly vented in speaking evil of that way from which they themselves turn. But the result of all this at Ephesus was, that the church was placed in a position in which the christians not only stood forth more prominently, and were seen to be bright lights in the world, but they had the advantage of more direct means of grace: while on the other hand, the opposers were left to the consequences of their own hardness, as rejecters of God's truth; and were no longer favoured with opportunities of hearing that truth lifted up amongst themselves. How carefully should we avoid the dangers that result from a continued resistance of the power of truth! How greatly should these dangers alarm us; and how anxiously ought we to strive so to "make our calling and election sure,' that we may be evidently classed amongst God's "peculiar people, zealous of good works !”

QUESTION.

What is my position in society with respect to religion? Am I decidedly ranged amongst the disciples of Christ, separated for his service? or am I amongst the mixed multitude, and those who are in some degree resisting the truth? What danger is there of my becoming hardened?

2. The circumstances of Ephesus were very advantageous for the greater extension of the gospel; and it pleased God to manifest his power in the miracles wrought by Paul; thus concurring with his providence which arranged the circumstances so favourably for promoting the cause of Christ. The diligent exertions of Paul were called forth to profit by this combination of God's providence with his grace; and the result was, that the word of God "mightily grew and prevailed." It is not only on a great scale of events, as at Ephesus, that the same combination is found; but wherever God's providence arranges favourable circumstances, we may be sure that he is ready to manifest the power of his grace; not indeed by such special miracles which he wrought by the hands of Paul, but by those greater evidences of his power, which he has continually wrought through the words and exertions of weaker instruments than Paul,-through the ordinary ministry of the word, in converting souls from darkness to