ACTS xx. 38.
“Sorrowing most of all for the words which he spake, that
they should see his face no more. And they accompanied him
to the ship.”

THESE words close this farewell scene between the Apostle
Paul and the elders of the Church at Ephesus. It is a
final parting between a minister of Christ and the people
among whom he has laboured, and their feelings and con-
duct are here described.
I. The source of this sorrow. As one element in it
there was—
1. The loss of a true friend. Next to the assurance of
having the best Friend in heaven, is the conviction that we
have a true friend on earth. A Christian minister should
be this: the monitor of some, the comforter of others, the
friend of all his flock.
2. The close of religious privileges.
3. The recollection of numerous changes which the
departure suggests.
II. The comfort of this sorrow.
1. The sorrow for a lost friend has this comfort, that to
him it is immeasurable gain.
2. Sorrow for the close of religious privileges has this
comfort, that results from them may still remain.
3. Sorrow at the recollection of numerous changes has
this comfort, that they are preparing the way for a world
that is immutable. Let every departure become to me
an argument that a higher life is at hand, a portion of
the drift-weed from the farther shore, which assures the
voyager that a new world is near.
III. The improvement of this sorrow.
1. Christian sorrow for the departed should lead us to
seek re-union with the object of our affection.
2. It should lead us to cultivate what they had most
at heart while with us. Empty sorrow for the dead is a
worthless tribute. Let us translate our grief into a warm
appreciation of the excellencies, a sympathy with all that
was great and noble in their heart, and active duty in
carrying forward their Christian plans and purposes.
J. K.