fruits to God and the Lamb, surely they, in a peculiar manner, have the seal of God in their foreheads. And were they not blessed to be called and chosen, sustained and strengthened thus to witness for the truth? And are they not blessed now and for ever in some rich and high display of the glory of God, to them and in them, above what they, who only follow Jesus afar off and scarcely dare to own his name, can expect? O Lord of hosts, the glorious army of martyrs praise thee!

England has had her share in this glory and honour of the Christian church. And it would be well if we, now at ease and in prosperity as a church, more remembered the blood of holy martyrs, by which, as a church, our standing was secured; we should think upon Latimer, and Cranmer, and Ridley and others, and count ourselves of too high a character to mingle with anti-christian and half-christian professors of the present day!

"Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake," and blessed still might be that church of Christ which has had such champions for the truth.

Truly we follow very feebly in the steps of those who were valiant for the faith. Indeed we are not exposed to famine, or sword, or death, and the little we have to bear seems to keep down our strength. But it should not be so: each Christian ought to know "whom he has believed," and ought to bear his name through evil report and good report. We are called upon to come out from a world which crucified our Lord, and which still puts a slight upon his suffering, by sin. A vain world, which stands no stay, should not have the hearts of those whose Lord

66

calls them to a kingdom everlasting. Christians are expected to separate "1 "1 from their company, who are still taking part with a world which is at enmity with God.2

There is still the persecution of the tongue, to which the consistent Christian is exposed. Many "smite with the tongue," point the finger of scorn, and the lips, and help forward the reproach, who in a time of open persecution, perhaps, would do violence to the helpless and harmless sheep of Christ's little flock. Some grace is wanting to bear this kind of persecution. Blessed are they who thus are persecuted for righteousness; more blessed are they who thus endure, than they who are gladdened by the world's transient and often deceitful smile! Remember, "They laughed him to scorn," who died upon the cross for those who bear his shame.

Again, we find in this our day, divers opinions amongst real Christians; and much meekness of wisdom is required to bear and forbear one with another. The Rock is everlasting, and will support the church of Christ against all her foes, but many a wave of sad division now breaks against her. Our safety is in sound principle and a simple adherence to the faith once delivered to the saints. God often keeps the weakest of his people stedfast, because they are strong only in him, and in his power.

"Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake; "-for profession of Jesus and his gospel, for adherence to its precepts and promises: they prove themselves to be subjects of his kingdom of grace, and are growing up fit subjects for his king

dom of glory. Companions in tribulation with prophets, apostles, martyrs; persecuted Christians may well "rejoice and be exceeding glad;" they may well be satisfied to be accounted worthy to suffer for his dear name's sake, who was mocked and scourged, and spit upon, and crucified for them!

Only let us see that it is for the truth's sake, and for all holy conversation that any kind of persecution comes upon us. Let our faith be stedfast in Christ Jesus-the God-man:-our dependance on him alone for righteousness and justification; on his spirit for sanctifying grace. Nor let the deep things of God be cavilled at by us, rather let us in all humility render the obedience of faith, to what is far above the span of reason, and beyond the depths of finite understanding. Thus thoroughly furnished may the Christian stand: stand in the liberty wherewith Christ makes his people free. Then should reproach, contempt, reproof, the slight of friends, the wrath of enemies befal us, complete in Christ we shall be held by his right hand, and shall not be greatly moved. Blessed now, blessed in all that can take place, are Christ's people; blessed in temptation, and delivered from its hour; blessed in sickness and health; in weakness and in strength; in death saved; over death triumphant; raised, glorified, blessed through eternity are they!

Practical Recollections.

Only take care that all the evil which is said of you for Christ's sake is false. Such descent!—children of God; such heirship!-joint heirs with Christ; such an indwelling guest!-the Holy Spirit-what

should not Christians be in all holy conversation and godliness? O! Saviour of sinners! pity, pardon, cleanse thy people. Fill them with thyself, and raise their affections above a world which has dared to persecute thee in thy suffering members. Put this vain world, and all its passing good and ill beneath our feet, and let us now triumph, through faith, over all the fears and trials and temptations of this mortal life. Amen.

SELF is the grand centre in every unrenewed mind; the sun round which, at a greater or lesser distance, every feeling revolves; out of which every action grows. A person may, even after religion is received into the heart as a regenerating principle, do precisely similar things, in a manner precisely similar to what he would have done before the difference will consist in his new motive, and that motive will be a hearty, honest, constant desire to glorify and serve God, and to benefit his fellow-creatures for the sake of God; a perpetual reference to the declared will of God, as a standard of duty; a constant eye to the approbation of God, in the place of his former desire of the approbation of his fellow-men-Miss Jewsbury.

с

THE BYSTANDER.

No. VII.

I UNDERSTAND that some of my juvenile friends complain that Aunt Patty does not keep her promise; that instead of giving them lessons on friendship, love, and marriage, as I engaged to do, I write only for old dowagers, and the elderly gentlemen who sip tea, and talk church-and-state politics with them. As I would not give any ground for such an imputation, I shall change my theme, and begin at once with that interesting topic-love.

It seems to me that there is, in the present day, much affectation shewn in regard to this affection of the mind. In the olden time, when Dr. Gregory and Mrs. Chapone were the oracles of young ladies, these, and others who wrote for the benefit of this interesting portion of the community, took up the subject of love in an open and straight-forward way ; giving sundry sage rules, and prudent maxims, regarding it. But our moralists now-a-days seem to look upon it as a matter by no means to be hinted at to school-room Misses; as if they deemed it a sort of naughty trick they would learn soon enough, without having it put into their heads by any directions on the subject. The reason of this squeamishness, that would banish alike from conversation, and