March 1

"And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what will thou have me to do?" Acts 9:6.

THE repentance of every sinner must afford joy to the friends of Christ, because then a soul is saved from death, a brand is plucked from the fire, Satan's empire is lessened, and Christ's kingdom is increased. But surely the conversion of Saul of Tarsus was a matter of extraordinary interest. Let us glance at

THE SUDDEN EFFECT PRODUCED. The voice of God arrested him in his journey to Damascus, when perhaps he was delighting himself with the prospect of making havoc in the church there; an overwhelming blaze of glory shone round about him, while the appeal thundered in his ear, "Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?"

There was an effect of fear: "he trembled." His conscience had been asleep, but now it was aroused, and he who had made so many to quake with fear now trembles himself. The martyrdom of Stephen was, no doubt, fresh in his recollection, and guilt seized his soul. This will be the effect when the Spirit pours the rays of Divine light into the darkened mind; we tremble before God.

There was an effect of surprise. "He was astonished" at what he saw and heard; astonished at the glory of Christ; he had rejected and despised him as a deceiver, imposing on the credulity of weak-minded men; astonished at the knowledge of Christ, that his deeds of infamy had been observed; that his name and thoughts and designs were known to Jesus; astonished at the love of Christ, that he should not inflict punishment on him immediately after exposing his sin; astonished at the power of Christ, that could stem the torrent of his iniquity, and arrest him in his errand of blood.

There was an effect of inquiry. "Lord, what will thou have me to do?" When we find ourselves in the path of error, we must inquire for the way of truth. The awakened sinner puts this question from a sense of guilt, a view of danger, and an apprehension of vengeance.

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