ILLUSTRATION I.

THE LISTENING HEART, THE OPENED HEART.

"AND A CERTAIN WOMAN NAMED LYDIA, A SELLER OF PURPLE, OF THE CITY OF THYATIRA, WHICH WORSHIPPED GOD, HEARD US: WHOSE HEART THE LORD OPENED, THAT SHE ATTENDED UNTO THE THINGS WHICH WERE SPOKEN OF PAUL."-Acts xvi. 14.

Ir was fabled of old, that when the Thracian harper struck the sweet, yet wild music from his strings, rivers staid their course, trees came down from the mountain-top, rocks moved at his melody, and the forest tenants, tamed by the magic of his sounds, lay listening at his feet. What was only fabled of the Orphean lyre, is true of the sounds which echo from the harp of heaven-the Revelation of God. Divine Inspiration brought down the harp which hung behind the throne of God. The prophet-minstrels first swept their fingers across it; mysterious notes of mercy and of menace floated around; but the utterings of their prophecy were but darkly understood. There was silence for four centuries! The Angel of the Gospel then struck the harp of heaven, and the notes which

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rung from it were "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace!" and as the symphony of reconciliation swelled along, the stream of custom and the current of absurd belief were staidgroves of idolatry were shaken and uprooted-stony hearts, fractured by contrition, were moved and melted into tears-and many a cruel nature, softened into kindly affection and brotherly love, became "peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated."

That such are the mighty effects produced by "that gospel which is the power of God unto salvation," the varied characters I shall bring before you, will, I trust, abundantly show. What is recorded of them has been written for our example and encouragement. They were persons of like passions with ourselves; open to the same besetments of sin and temptation; having the same world to encounter; but they were "kept by the power of God, through faith unto salvation." Let us trace from God's word how the hand of the Lord led them; with the hope that we may find the same promises and encouragement "a light unto our feet, and a lantern unto our paths!" And to this end we will-1st, consider the Gospel in its general effects; and-2nd, in its domestic and private influence.

Lydia, the Thyatiran purple-seller! Every shred and vestige of her merchandize is lost. Time has tarnished, and decay has rent to tatters her costly wares of scarlet and divers colors. But her name remains! Her example is renowned! And as we contemplate her gazing with earnest countenance upon the Apostle, we learn that the listening heart is the opened heart.

city by the

St. Paul and his fellow-disciples had passed by Mysia, and went down to Troas. There a vision appeared to Paul-a Macedonian imploring him to go over and help them. Assuredly gathering from this, that the Lord had called them to preach the gospel there, they hastened to Philippi, the chief city of that region of Macedon. And on the Sabbath-day they "went out of the river side, where prayer was wont to be made." Some little sacred oratory-some still, secluded spot, where many a burdened heart had aspired to God. Some peaceful sanctuary by the river's brink, where the noisy world never entered; where the very solitude seemed to whisper to the spirit, God is here! To this spot the Apostle's feet were turned-some hearts, seeking after God, whom as yet in grace and truth they had not found, led him thither; thither where they were wont to seek him; thither where they were wont,

though perchance in ignorance, to breathe to Him

the prayer.

Lydia was among that little band. Lydia too, as we may safely judge, was amongst those who oft resorted thither; for it is written of her she worshipped God. Her own city was afar off; probably long left behind; but this, perchance, was not the only country on which her exiled heart oft pondered. Beyond all thoughts of fatherlandshe may have been looking for a better, a brighter home. Her traffic was with the rich and noble ; she may have had large possessions, and all on earth that her soul desired. But she longed for something more! What she longed for may have been unknown even to herself. But we may deem that there were inward seekings and inward desires-that her heart was not at rest-that it yearned for a full peace it had not found-and that when she resorted to the hushed chapel by the water's side-it was to search for that peace, and to search for it by worshipping God. Oh how holy is the soul's retirement! how blissful are those earth-withdrawn moments-when the world and time and sense are alike forgotten, and we are entranced in communion with God.

But it is the Sabbath day. And though Philippi is all astir with customary life-though her mer

chantmen are on her mart, and her traffickers at their trade-there are a few hearts there which know the Sabbath! And these are they who are listening to the Apostle. They are devout women who resorted thither. How deeply, and as if necessarily, is Religion a part of woman's existence! The temper of her spirit seems more in accordance with its softer, its purer influences. Man's engrossed mind a thousand thoughts and cares sweep over, each and all serving to deface the recollection of his God-but woman's heart is essentially devout, the very affiance of her nature expresses itself in piety to heaven; and you must root out her being's love before you can wholly alienate her mind from that dependance upon heaven, which is her strength; and that trust in Him unseen, which is her exaltedness.

We may judge what was the Apostle's theme, Christ the wisdom of God, and the power of God. Doubtless, here as elsewhere he preached unto them Jesus and the Resurrection. A name and a doctrine perhaps till then unheard by those listeners. How that name affected the others we know not; but upon Lydia it fell with power. The Lord opened her heart. And every other care was hushed there, and every other desire was still. In her inmost being she heard, and with listening