the prayer was earnest, and the exhortation gladly received:  “For they all wept sore, and fell upon Paul’s neck, and kissed him, sorrowing most of all that they should see his face no more.”  Who of us, Brethren, has not prayed at the departure of one we dearly loved?  As you take the hand probably for the last time, and give the last touch of the lips, who can withhold prayer—­prayer from the inmost depths of the soul?  As the receding form fades from sight, how the heart swells with emotions of prayer for blessings upon the departing one, altogether too big for utterance.  Such were the feelings of these sorrowing disciples at the departure of Paul.

Brethren, the account here given shows the love in which the truth was received in that day.  Paul here says:  “I have not shunned to declare unto you the whole counsel of God.”  This means a great deal.  Oh, how many, many at the present day fear to declare the whole counsel of God!  And it is a sad truth, or at least I believe it to be true, that if a minister in almost any of the so-called orthodox churches would have the courage, from a sheer sense of duty, to declare the whole counsel of God in the ears of his congregation, instead of falling on his neck and kissing him at his departure, they would be heartily glad to get rid of him.  But, Brethren, I am persuaded better things of you, and things which accompany salvation.  Our love for the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, is our best evidence, when that truth is lived out in a life of obedience to the Lord’s precepts, that we are walking with God in the fellowship of the Spirit.  So let us ever walk.

MONDAY, Sept 23.  They went through Huntingdon City, in Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania, and got to Brother Michael Bolinger’s, where they had evening meeting in a schoolhouse near by, and stayed all night at Brother Bolinger’s.  Next day they took dinner at Brother Andrew Spanogle’s, and got to the meetinghouse at one o’clock.  Meeting and love feast.  Luke 24 is read.  They stay all night at Brother Umbenhaver’s.

WEDNESDAY, September 25.  They have meeting at the meetinghouse.  Hebrews 10 is read.  Brother Michael Bolinger was this day ordained to the full work of the gospel ministry.  May the Lord bless the good brother in his work.  They had night meeting at Brother Samuel Myers’s in Mifflin County, Pennsylvania, where they stayed all night.

THURSDAY, September 26.  They had a union meeting at Brother George Keever’s, and stayed all night with Brother Keever.

FRIDAY, September 27.  They attended a council meeting before preaching.  Brother Abraham Rothrock was this day ordained to the full work of the gospel ministry; and Brother Jacob Mohler was advanced.  The visiting brethren spoke on the text:  “My kingdom is not of this world.”  Night meeting was appointed, but owing to a violent storm of hail and rain no people assembled.

SATURDAY, September 28.  They got to Brother Jacob Royer’s, in Union County, Pennsylvania, where they stayed all night.  Clear and cool.