TRAIT XXXIV.

NIS MODEST FIRMNESS BEFORE MAGISTRATES.

SUPPORTED by a strong persuasion, that GOD and truth are on his side, the faithful minister is carried above all those disheartening fears, which agitate the hearts of worldly pastors. Depending upon the truth of that solemn prediction; "They will deliver you up to the council, and ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the gentiles;" he expects in times of persecution to appear before magistrates, and possibly before kings, for the cause of Christ and his Gospel. Nor is he afflicted at such a prospect. Relying on the promise of that compassionate Redeemer, who once appeared for him before Annas and Caiaphas, Herod and Pontius Pilate, without anxiously premeditating what he shall answer, and resting assured, that wisdom shall be given him in every time of need, he cries out with the holy determination of the Psalmist: "I will speak of thy testimonies also before kings, and will not be ashamed."

When he is brought as a malefactor before the judge; while his accusers, actuated by malicious zeal, agree to say...." we have found this man a pestilent fellow, a mover of sedition among the people," and one of the ringleaders of a new and dangerous sect; he justifies himself by answering.... The witnesses, who appear against me this, day, neither found me trampling under foot the authority of my superiors, nor sowing the seeds of sedition among the people; "neither can they prove the things whereof they now accuse me. But this I confess, that after the way, which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things, which are written in the Law and the Pro

phets; and have hope toward God, which they themselves allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust." And supposing his accusers are not only deists, but professors of the christian faith, he will add: This also I confess, that in conformity to those principles, which pretended philosophers term superstitious, and which lukewarm christians call enthusiastic, I believe not only " in God the Father Almighty," but also in Jesus Christ his only Son, whom I acknowledge to be "King of Kings, and Lord of Lords," and who, after having suffered for our sins, rose again for our justification. Further; I joyfully subscribe to that confession of faith, which is frequently in your own mouths...." I believe in the Holy Ghost," who regenerates and sanctifies every true member of the holy catholic church : and I participate with those members the common advantages of our most holy faith, which are an humble consciousness" of the forgiveness of sins," a lively hope of " the resurrection of the body," and a sweet anticipation of "everlasting life. And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God and toward men." If his judge already pejudiced against him, should unbecomingly join issue with his accnsers, and charge him with extravagance and fanaticism; he will answer after St. Paul, with all due respect, "I am not mad: but speak forth the words of truth and soberness. And I would to God, that not only thou, but also all who hear me this day were altogether such as I am, except these bonds.

After a pastor has had experience of these difficult trials, he is then in a situation to confirm younger ministers in the manner of St. Paul...." Ì know, whom I have believed and I am persuaded, that he is able to keep, that which I have committed unto him, against that day. At my first answer, no man stood with me; but all men forsook me ;

Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear" the Gospel : " and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his Heavenly Kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever."

Behold the inconveniences and dangers, to which not only christian pastors, but all, who follow the steps of the Apostle Paul, will be exposed in every place, where the bigoted or the incredulous Occupy the first posts in church or state! And whether we are called to endure torments, or only to suffer reproach in the cause of truth, let us endeavour to support the sufferings, that shall fall to our lot, with that resolution and meekness, of which St. Paul and his adorable Master have left us such memorable examples.

TRAIT XXXV.

HIS COURAGE IN CONSOLING HIS PERSECUTED BRETHREN.

PERSUADED, that "all, who will live god ly in Christ Jesus," and particularly his ministers shall suffer persecution," the good pastor looks for opposition from every quarter: and whenever he suffers for the testimony he bears to the truths of the Gospel, he suffers not only with resolution, but with joy.

The more the God of this degenerate world exalts himself in opposition to truth, the more he disposes every sincere heart for the reception of it. The Gospel is that everlasting rock, upon which

the church is founded, and against which the gates of Hell can never prevail: and though this rock is assailed by innumerable hosts of visible and invisible enemies, yet their repeated assaults serve only to demonstrate, with increasing certainty, its unshaken firmness and absolute impenetrability. A clear sight of the sovereign good, as presented to us in the Gospel, is sufficient to make it universally desirable. The vail of inattention, however, conceals in a great measure this sovereign good, and the mists of prejudice entirely obscure it. But by the inhuman conduct of the persecutors of christianity, their false accusations, their secret plots, and their unexampled cruelty, these mists are frequently dissipated, and these vails rent in twain from the top to the bottom. Error is by these means unwittingly exposed to the view of the world; while every impartial observer attracted by the charms of persecuted truth, examines into its nature, ackowledges its excellence, and at length triumphs in the possession of that inestimable pearl, which he once despised. Thus the tears of the faithful and the blood ofconfessors have been generally found to scatter and nourish the seed ofthe Kingdom.

Ye zealous defenders of truth! let not the severest persecutions alarm your apprehension or weaken your confidence; since every trial of this kind must necessarily terminate in your own advantage, as well as in the establishment and glory of the christian faith. Error, always accompanied with contradictions, and big with absurd codsequences, will shortly appear to be supported by no other prop, than that of prejudice or passion, or the despotism of a usurped authority, which renders itself odious by the very means employed for its support. The more the partisans of every false doctrine sound the alarm against you, the more they resemble a violent multitude opposing the efforts of a few, who are labouring to extinguish the fire that consumes their neigh

bours' habitations: the different conduct of the one and the other must, sooner or later, manifest the incendiaries. Error may be compared to a vessel of clay, and truth to a vase of massy gold. In vain is calumny endeavouring to render the truth contemptible by overheaping it with every thing that is abominable; in vain would prejudice give error an amiable appearance by artfully concealing its defects for when ever the hand of persecution shall furiously hurl the latter against the former, the solid gold will sustain the shock unhurt, while the varnished clay shall be dashed in pieces. The experience, however, of seventeen ages has not been sufficient to demonstrate to persecutors a truth so evident; nor are there wanting inexperienced believers in the church, who are ready to call it in question, and who, "when persecution ariseth because of the word," are unhappily observed to lose their christian resolution. But, "why do the heathen rage and the people imagine a vain thing, the kings of the earth stand up, and the rulers take counsel together against the Lord, and against his anointed? He that dwelleth in Heaven shall laugh them to scorn," and make their malice serve to the accomplishment of his great designs.

Thus the Jews, in crucifying Christ, contributed to lay the grand foundation of the christian church; and afterwards by persecuting the Apostle Paul to death, gave him an opportunity of bearing the torch to Rome, and even into the palaces of its em perors. And it was from Rome itself, as from the jaws of a devouring lion, that he comforted the faithful who were ready to faint at his afflictions, and encouraged them to act in conformity to their glorious vocation. "I suffer trouble as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound. Therefore I endure all things for the elects' sake, that they may also obtain the salvation, which is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory. It is a faith