One of the most remarkable incidents which happened to Paul at Ephesus, was his meeting with some of the disciples of John the Baptist. None of the evangelists mention anything about the disciples of John the Bap-tist, after the imprisonment and death of their Master. It is more than probable, that the greater part of them became the followers of our Lord; for John had instructed them so to do. It is very likely, however, that before John's death, some of them had left Palestine, and gone into various countries, carrying with them only the imperfect knowledge which they had derived from John. It would appear from the history, that on Paul's going to Ephesus, he met there several of these disciples; and in conversing with them, he found that they had only received this imperfect instruction-that they knew nothing about the baptism of the Holy Ghost. After being instructed by Paul, he baptized them in the name of Christ, and laying his hands on them, imparted to them the miraculous power of speaking in various languages, and they were thus enabled to preach Jesus Christ. In Ephesus, Paul preached regularly about three

months in the Jewish synagogue; but at last, in consequence of their hardness of heart and unbelief, he left them, and continued to preach in the school-house of a person named Tyrannus; and here he continued for two years, and was eminently successful.

God wrought many signal miracles by the hands of Paul. His fame became very great, and to those who could not come to him from a distance, were taken handkerchiefs or aprons, and their diseases were cured, and the evil spirits were driven out. There were, at this time, in Ephesus, certain wandering Jews, who obtained their living by going from place to place, and pretending to tell fortunes, cure diseases by using charms, and drive out evil spirits by conjuration. They were called exorcists. These persons, observing that Paul was able to work miracles in the name of Jesus, attempted to do the same. Among those who were most shameless and impudent in this business, were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew. In their impious attempt, they came near losing their lives, for a man whom they attempted to cure of evil spirits nearly killed them.

The defeat of these pretenders and impostors, was the means of attracting greater notice towards the Apostle and his doctrine; and, eventually, many were converted. As soon as this took place, they brought all the wicked books which told about charms and incantations, and such impious fooleries, and burned them. The value of the books which they burned was 50,000 pieces of silver. When the power of the Gospel is felt, every profane practice will be renounced, and even the love of money will be subdued. One or two questions here will not be misplaced. Have we given any such proof of our submission to Jesus Christ as these believers did? Are we willing to forsake those occupations and habits which, though profitable, cannot be retained with a good conscience towards God? Ah! how many reject the word of God, and perish eternally, because they are determined to hold fast their wicked practices, or their unjust gains.

After these things had happened, which we have just recorded, Paul felt desirous to go through Macedonia and Achaia; and he de-. termined also, if the will of God should be

so, to go to Rome, after he had been once more to Jerusalem. As he could not, however, leave Ephesus at this time, he determined to send two of his disciples, Timothy and Erastus, to several places in Macedonia and Achaia. It is supposed that he despatched at this time his first epistle to the Corinthians, which discusses a great variety of very important points; and which, also, contains that wonderful chapter on the subject of the resurrection.

The stay which Paul made in Ephesus, had nearly been fatal; for shortly after the departure of Timothy and Erastus, one Demetrius, a silversmith, excited a popular commotion. The silversmiths had been in the habit of earning a great deal of money, by making silver shrines; that is, little temples made of silver, in imitation of the Temple of Diana, and selling them to the people. The preaching and miracles of Paul had injured this idolatrous business; and, of course, the persons who had been in the habit of making money this way were angry. When they came together, Demetrius thus addressed them: "Sirs, ye know that by this craft, we

have our wealth: so that not only this our craft is in danger to be set at nought; but also that the temple of the great goddess Diana should be despised, and her magnificence should be destroyed, whom all Asia, and the world worshippeth. And when they heard these sayings, they were full of wrath, and cried out, saying, Great is Diana of the Ephesians." The idea that their temple would be despised, and the goddess Diana no more worshipped, excited the indignation of the multitude to the highest pitch, and they cried out, saying, “Great is Diana of the Ephesians." This tot, which does not appear to have been very extensive at first, soon gathered the greater part of the people. The city became all confusion; and the people having seized hold of Aristarchus and Gaius, two of Paul's travelling companions, hurried them away to the theatre. This was the place where the public plays were acted in honour of the goddess Diana; and also, where men were sometimes set to fight with wild beasts. It is more than likely that it was in allusion to some such uproar, that Paul says, "if after the manner of men, I have fought with beasts at Ephesus."