the most inquisitive, and completely filling the most comprehensive mind. This indeed may be well supposed, if we direct our attention to the nature of the truths in which Jesus professes to instruct his disciples, or to the acknowledgements which the greatest proficients in his doctrine have made, respecting their St. Paul "came own imperfect attainments. St. Paul not a whit behind the chiefest of the apostles," yet declares, "I count not myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting the things which are behind, and reaching to those things which are before, I press toward the mark." The very angels regard the subjects of redeeming grace with amazement, desiring to look into them. In this boundless science the oldest christian is still a learner, and will often find occasion to lament that his ignorance is so great. This, however, instead of discouraging, should increase the eagerness of our enquiries, and occasion us to redouble our diligence, in the pursuit of divine knowledge, rejoicing at the prospect of that glorious world, where every cloud will be dispersed, and perfect day smile upon us.

But though complete knowledge will not reward the pursuit of any in the present world,

I observe

(3.) That the expression, used in the text, is favorable to the idea of high attainments. An old disciple may have much to learn, but it is to be supposed that his progress in knowledge and holiness is very considerable. An attention, habitually directed to the great truths of the gospel, a mind for a long course of years employed in the examination of their evidence, nature, and design, an uniform regard to the dispensations of providence, producing thankfulness for the bounty, or submission to the chastisements of God, a devout regard to him in whatsoever befals us, an habitual dread of sin and vigilance against it; in a word, a course of holy and close walking with God, in the duties of devotion, leading to a dependence upon and confidence in the mediation of Christ, may be supposed to place an old disciple on the highest ground of religious attainHence those words of Elihu, Days shall speak and the multitude of years teach wisdom.

ment.

Persons who have been daily accustomed, from early childhood, to read and meditate upon the sacred writings may be expected like Apollos to be mighty in the scriptures. It

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may be supposed that they are firmly established in their principles, and that they will not be tossed to and fro, and carried about, like children, with every wind of doctrine. It may be expected that they are eminent for devotion, seriousness, humility, charity, and heavenlymindedness; such an expectation is justified by the apostolic precept that the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, and in patience: the aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness,

(4.) Stability in the profession of the gospel may be considered as another part of the character delineated in the text.

An old dis

ciple is a man stedfast in the faith. Mnason lived in days of fierce persecution; and no where had enmity to the gospel been more violent than in the city of Jerusalem: yet here, he maintained his profession, with an undaunt ed resolution. Jerusalem might be called the slaughter-house of the prophets; here the great founder of our religion had been crucified, and a clamour raised against all his followers; here Stephen had been stoned to death for his zeal in the cause of Jesus, and from hence letters had been issued, ordering the imprisonment of

all who were attached to him in distant parts; here the faithful followers of the Lamb, whatever their age, sex, or condition, were denied the exercise of the smallest compassion, and for the sake of their master were killed all the day long, or regarded as sheep for the slaughter; but none of these things could move that intrepid disciple of whom we speak. His principles were too well established to be abandoned, neither would he suffer himself to disguise them; but living in the open profession of christianity, his house and his heart were open to its friends, even to such as were the most obnoxious to its foes. The apostle Paul, by his great zeal, and unwearied labors, in the cause of Christ, was a person of this description; so that the Holy Ghost witnessed in every city saying that bonds and afflictions waited for him. In Jerusalem his enemies were peculiarly active, the knowledge of which, had occasioned much anxiety amongst his friends, respecting his safety; yet in these circumstances, the house of Mnason was open to him, and at the time alluded to in the context, Paul was his guest.

Since the time, when this old disciple first embraced the Gospel, how many had made

shipwreck of faith. The raging tempest had proved fatal to their hopes, and instead of reaching the fair haven of celestial bliss they were for ever lost. How many professors, during that period, having received the seed of the kingdom into stony places, where they had not much earth, had suffered it to wither under the scorching beams of persecution. But of this man it might be said, that, like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season, his leaf had not withered. The violence of those storms, by which the superficial professor had been carried away, did but occasion a firmer hold on principles, from which this old disciple was not to be separated.

Polycarp, one of the earliest ministers of the christian church, being summoned to appear before a magistrate, and commanded instantly to abjure and blaspheme the name of Christ, upon pain of death, is reported to have made the following noble reply. "I have now "been a disciple of Christ, four-score and five

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years; during which time, I have experi"enced nothing but kindness from him. I "love my master, I revere his name, he died for and I am not unwilling to die for him."

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me,

C