Look upward, my brethren, from the spot which we now inhabit, to the glorious vision which the holy martyr saw in heaven. It encouraged him— may it encourage us!-to "run with patience the race which is set before us-looking unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our Faith 1." And

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Grant, O Lord, that in all our sufferings here upon earth, for the testimony of thy truth, we may stedfastly look up to heaven, and by faith behold the glory that shall be revealed; and, being filled with the Holy Ghost, may learn to love and bless our persecutors by the example of thy first martyr St. Stephen, who prayed for his murderers to Thee, O blessed Jesus! who standest at the right hand of God, to succour all those that suffer for thee, our only Mediator and Advocate 2." Amen.

1 Heb. xii. 2.

* Collect for St. Stephen's day.

LECTURE IX.

ACTS VIII.

Persecution and dispersion of believers-Philip the Deacon plants a Church in Samaria-Simon the Magician-Philip teaches, and baptizes the Ethiopian eunuch-JerusalemSebaste, a city of Samaria-Road from Jerusalem to GazaAzotus-Cesarea. A. D. 34.

If there be any circumstance which particularly displays the supreme majesty of God, and his controuling power over the affairs of men, it is when those events which we ignorantly call evil, and which appear to us teeming with destruction, are not only removed, without those accumulated horrors which we dreaded, but actually leave behind them the most beneficial effects. Then are we satisfied that" the Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men';" then do we gratefully acknowledge, "This is thy hand, and Thou, Lord, hast done it 2."

The persecution of the primitive Church, which immediately succeeded the death of St. Stephen,

1 Dan. iv. 17.

2 Psalm cix. 26.

naturally suggests this reflection.

The "little

flock," which could hardly be said to have acquired any worldly stability, might seem unable to sustain the rude shock which the malice of its enemies was preparing to inflict upon it. "Had it indeed been of men, as Gamaliel argued, it would have come to nought;" but as it was of God, man could not overthrow it.

Having dipped their hands in blood, the Jewish rulers could not easily be appeased; and "the persecution was great against the Church which was at Jerusalem." If we inquire, what were the crimes which demanded such severity of punishment? we shall find that their accusers were instigated, rather by prejudice and inveterate enmity, than even by the common pretext of a judicial offence. It was alleged against the Christians, that they were the propagators of a new doctrine, that their intention was to overturn the ancient form of religion, and that they affirmed Jesus of Nazareth to be the true Messiah. To these they added charges of a political nature; they accused them of stirring up sedition; and of prophesying, and of course attempting, the destruction of the temple and city of Jerusalem, as well as of the whole Jewish people.

It was not to be suspected, that so humble a society, associated together for peaceful purposes, and which avowed that worldly dominion formed no part of its design, could expect to introduce political changes in the established government; and surely it could not only be no crime, but de

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serving of the highest commendation, to endeavour to reform the heart by preaching, through Christ, the forgiveness of sins; supported as it was by miracles, and wonders, and signs," from heaven itself. Yet powerful as these were, they could not restrain the crimson sword of persecution. Many of the believers fell blessed sacrifices to their principles. "When they were put to death, (said the repenting Paul, alluding to this period) I gave my voice against them."

The persecution indeed raged with unrelenting violence under the direction of this, afterwards penitent, Apostle. We have seen him a cool spectator, a deliberate conductor, of St. Stephen's death. The history informs us, that devout men, the religious converts of Christianity, heedless of giving offence, prepared the body of their deceased friend for interment; and, as might reasonably be expected where so good a man had perished in so righteous a cause, " made great lamentation over him." As for Saul, says St. Luke, recurring to him for whom every Christian could not but be anxious, who was afterwards so conspicuous an instrument in the hand of Providence, in propagating the blessings of the Gospel, he was a remorseless and an heavy persecutor. "He made havock of the Church." How strong the expression! He ravaged abroad, as a tyger hunting for its prey; "entering into every house, and haling men and women;" separating the parent from the child, distressing the protector and the orphan; com

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mitted them to prison;" from whence, in too many instances, death alone delivered them.

Such, and so dreadful, are the effects of a blind and desolating zeal. Yet melancholy as such a state of mind may be, which could dictate, or at least could irritate and inflame, such cruel persecutions, from this very example we may learn, that no man should despair. In some unexpected moment we may be convinced of sin, and the grace of God may abound in our conversion. Before we finish this history, indeed before we have proceeded far in it, we shall behold an happy alteration in the heart of St. Paul. We shall discover also the reason of the change. "I thank Christ Jesus our Lord," says he, "who hath enabled me, putting me into the ministry; who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious. But I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief; and the grace of God was exceeding abundant, with faith, and love, which is in Christ Jesus 1." Let not any of us, after the example of St. Paul, shelter ourselves in the commission of sin under the pretence of ignorance. We are not ignorant of the way of salvation, and therefore we shall be doubly guilty if we walk not in it. ye were blind," said our Saviour himself, should have no sin; but now ye say, We see, therefore, your sin remaineth 2."

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"If

ye