It

than they had ever done from the heathen ones. has, therefore, been true in all times, that through much tribulation men have entered into the kingdom of God; and consequently whenever the world smiles upon us, there is just ground for suspicion that all is not right with us.

Looking through the history of christianity from the beginning, we shall find that the most distinguished characters, those we look up to with the greatest reverence, as patterns of piety, benevolence, and constancy, have been those who have suffered the most. This was eminently the case of the apostles in general, and especially of Paul, the most active of all the propagators of christianity. For ardour of mind, and indefatigable exertion in the cause of truth and virtue, he stands unequalled in christian history. But what did he not suffer after he embraced christianity, from the malice of the Jews, and false brethren among christians.

Speaking of some who undervalued him in the church of Corinth, he gives the following brief enumeration of his labours and sufferings, Cor. XI. 23.. Are they ministers of Christ, I sbeak as a fool, I am more. In labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths often. Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save

one.

one.

stoned.

Thrice was I beaten with rods. Once was I Thrice I suffered shipwreck. And this was written before the shipwreck of which a parti cular account is given in his history. A night and a day I have been in the deep. In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by my own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea. In fastings often, in cold and nakedness, besides those things that are without, that which com-` ethupon me daily, the care of all the churches. Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is offended, and I burn not? If I must needs glory, I will glory in the things that concern my infirmities. After this he was imprisoned two years in Judea, conveyed to Rome as a prisoner, and suffered shipwreck at Melita. He was two years more a prisoner in Rome, though not in strait confinement; and though he was at that time acquitted, he afterwards suffered martyrdom.

In the same epistle, however, in which he gives this account of his sufferings, he say 2 Cor. VIF. 4. I am exceedingly joyful in all our tribulation; and he frequently exhorts the christians to whom he writesto rejoice in the Lord always. Rom. XII. 12. rejoicing in hope, patient tribulation. When he

was

was preaching to some of the churches in Asia Minor, (Acts XIV. 22.) exhorting the disciples to continue in the faith, he reminds them that through much tribulation they must enter into the kingdom of God.

"With what true heroism and satisfaction does he reflect upon his labours and sufferings, in the epistles which he wrote from Rome, towards the close of his life, and when he was in expectation of a violent death. In these circumstances he thas writes to Timothy. 2 Tim. IV. 5. Watch thou in all things. Endure affliction. Do the work of an Evangelist. Make full proof of thy ministry. For I am how ready to be offered, and the time of my depar turé is at hand. I have fought the good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith. Hence, forth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day; and not to me only, but to all them that? love his appearing.

Can any thing now be wanting to reconcile us to any hardships to which we can ever be exposed, ei ther in the ordinary course of providence, or in the cause of truth and a good conscience? What is all that we can suffer, in these times of rest from open persecution, compared to that to which either the

antient martyrs in the time of heathens, or those in the time of popery, were continually exposed. How many thousands of them suffered death in every frightful form, besides being the objects of ridicule and insult, as if instead of being the benefactors of mankind, they had been the greatest pests of society; a treatment which to many persons is more painful than death itself, and very often would be intolerable, were it not that the attachment of friends is a balance to the contempt of enemies.

It is true, however, that something of this kind of persecution still remains to those whoresolutely bear their testimony, at the same time in favour of christianity, and against the manifold corruptions of it with nominal christians, even those who call themselves reformed. In this case we cannot expect to escape the ridicule of the philosophical part of the world on the one hand, and the hatred of bigots on the other. In some situations it requires no small, degree of fortitude to bear this with a temper becoming christians, pitying the ignorance and prejudices of men, without bearing them any ill will; and taking every method of removing their ignorance and prejudices, in a manner the least offensive to them; always joining the wisdom of the serpent, to the innocence of the dove; the seriousness of

the

the christian, with the ease and cheerfulness of the benevolent man; free from that offensive austerity which gives many persons an aversion to religion, as if it was an enemy to human happiness, and the parent of gloom and melancholy.

Let us more particularly apply this doctrine to the great object of christian hope, the second coming of Christ with power and great glory, to raise the dead and to judge the world, when he will render to every man according to his works. We are apprized by the apostle Peter. (2 Peter III. 3.) that in the last days, there will be scoffers, as we now find, who will say Where is the promise of his coming? For, since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the crea tion. But, as he observes, one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day, that he is not slack concerning his promise, that day will come though as a thief in the

and

night.

Let us then be ever looking for, as we are hosting unto, the coming of this great day of God; and be diligent, that we may be found of him without spot and blameless. That greatest of all events is not the less certain for being delayed beyond our expectatiD 2.

on.