But we have a valuable example to cite. Go to Philippi. Learn of a woman, whose name cannot perish, though generations pass away, and the stars become extinct. _Lydia_ was not a person of leisure; she was a "seller of purple," or cloths, which were died of a purple colour, or purple silks. [49] She had surely sufficient occupation, and yet she has no apologies at hand. She was not too much engaged to be concerned about her eternal salvation; but when the apostle of the Gentiles preaches, she _must_ go, she _must_ hear, she _must_ attend. She was "diligent in business," but this did not preclude her being "fervent in spirit." As a seller of purple she could only have become _rich_--the acmè, indeed, and summit of human wishes, but a miserable barter for real and everlasting happiness; as a hearer of Paul, she might and did become "_wise to salvation."_ Every thing is beautiful in its season. We must not wander from our proper business under pretence of religion, nor must we neglect religion upon a plea of business. Religion does not require a relinquishment of our calling and station in society, but no civil engagements can justify a disregard of religion. We may sell our purple--but we must also attend to the instructions of the ministry and the word of God. If we imitate Lydia in diligence, let us not forget to imitate her in piety. It is vain and wicked to aver, that, the concerns of this world and those of another interfere; because an ardent religion is not only compatible with worldly occupations, but promotes both their purity and integrity, if it do not secure their success. Another effect of divine influence upon the heart of Lydia, and essentially connected with her reception of the great principles of Christianity, was an immediate attention to the ordinance of baptism. "She was baptized and her household." In the true spirit of that apostle from whose lips she received the truth of heaven, and by whom she was directed to "the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world," "she conferred not with flesh, and blood." With a promptitude which was at once expressive of the sincerity of her faith and the zeal of her mind, she did not hesitate to observe the baptismal institution of her Lord and Saviour. What were to her the wonder of ignorant spectators--the ridicule of her fellow-traders--the reflections of her heathen neighbours--when balanced against the approbation of God and her own conscience? She had "bought the truth," and would not sell it--she had found "the pearl of great price," and went and sacrificed every temporal consideration for it--she had "found the Messiah," and was resolved to follow his foot-steps whithersoever they conducted her. She did not dispute or hesitate, but she obeyed. May the bright example of Lydia stimulate us to a similar conduct!