ed you, merely concerning the dangers peculiar | What repose can you enjoy in a criminal into each age. What would you not say now, trigue, saying to yourself, perhaps God will if we should enter into a detail of those which pardon me after having brought this intrigue occur in every situation of life? We find, in to an issue: but perhaps, also, during the every age, temptations of adversity, tempta- course of the crime, he will pronounce the sentions of prosperity, temptations of health, temp- tence it deserves. What repose can you enjoy tations of sickness, temptations of company, I in the night preceding a day destined to a comand temptations of solitude: and who is able plication of crimes, saying to yourself, perhaps fully to enumerate all the sins which so easily I shall see the day devoted to so dreadful a beset us in the various ages of life? How should purpose: but perhaps this very night "my soul one be rich without pride, and poor without shall be required:” what delight can you take complaint How may one fill the middle rank in a tour of pleasure, when it actually engrosses of fortune, without the disgust naturally conse- the time you have devoted to search your conquent on a station, which has nothing emulous science, to examine your state, to prepare for and animating; which can be endured by those death, to make restitution for so many frauds, only, who discover the evils from which they so many extortions, so many dissipations. What are sheltered, and the dangers from which they satisfaction can you take, saying to yourself, are freed? How can one enjoy health without perhaps I shall see the day devoted to so great indulging in the dissipations of life, without a work, but perhaps it will never come? immersion into its cares, or indulging in its Ah! my brethren, have you any proper idea pleasures? How can one be sick, without ad- of the shortness of life: have you any proper mitting complaint against that gracious Provi- idea of the eternity which follows, when you dence, which distributes both good and evil? start the objection, What! always pray, always How can one be in solitude, without being cap- fight, always watch? This life, the whole of tivated with reveries and corrupt propensities which we exhort you to devote to your salvaHow can one be in company, without receiving tion; this life, of which you say; always-althe poison which is there respired, without re- ways; this is the life, on the shortness of which ceiving a conformity to every surrounding ob- you make so many exaggerated declamations: ject? How see one's self obscure in the world, I mistake, the shortness of which can scarcely and unknown to our fellow-creatures, without be exaggerated. This life, of which you say, indulging that anxiety, which is less exercised when we exhort you to devote it entirely to in the world for the love of virtue, than to your salvation; this life of which you say, avoid the odium consequent on an open viola- What! always—always; this life, which is but tion of its laws How can one enjoy reputa- a vapour dissipated in the air; this life, which tion without ostentation, and blending some passes with the swiftness of a weaver's shuttle; grains of incense with what we receive of this life, which like a flower blooms in the others' Every where snares, every where dan- morning, and withers at night: this life, which

like a dream amuses the fancy for a night, and From the truths we have delivered, there of which not a vestige remains at the dawn of necessarily arises an objection, by which you day:—this is the life which is but like a thought. are struck, and many of you, perhaps, already And eternity, concerning which you regret to discouraged. What are we always to be think be always employed; that abyss, that gulf, are ing about religion, being in constant danger of those mountainous heaps of years, of ages, of losing it, should we suffer it to escape our millions and oceans of ages, of which language minds? What! must we always watch, always the most expressive, images the most sublime, pray, always fight Yes, my brethren, always, geniuses the most acute, orators the most eloat all times. On seeing the temptations of quent, I have almost said, the most audacious, youth, you should guard against those of riper can give you but imperfect notions. age. On seeing the temptations of solitude, Aħ life of fourscore years! A long duration you should guard against those of company in the estimation of the heart, when employed On seeing the temptations of adversity, you in wrestling against the flesh; but a short period should guard against those of prosperity. On when compared with eternity. Ah! life of seeing the temptations of health, you should fourscore years, spent wholly in watchfulness, guard against those of sickness. And on see- prayer, and warfare; but thou art well spent ing the temptations of sickness, you should when we obtain the prize of a blissful immorguard against those of death. Yes; always tality! My brethren, my dear brethren, who watching, always fighting, always praying. can live but fourscore years,- What do I

I do not say, if you should happen to relax say? Who among us can expect to see the age a moment from the work; I do not say, if you of fourscore years Christians, who are already should happen to fall by some of the tempta- arrived at thirty, others at forty, others at fifty, tions to which you are exposed from the world, and another already at fourscore years. My that you are lost without resource, that you dear brethren, some of you must die in thirty, should instantly go from sin to punishment, some of you in twenty, some of you in ten from the abuse of time to an unhappy eternity. years, and some in a single day. My dear Perhaps God will grant you a day, or a year, brethren, let us consecrate to eternity the remfor repentance; but perhaps he will not. Per- nant of our days of vanity. Let us return to haps you may repent; but perhaps you may the testimonies of the Lord, if we have had the not. Perhaps you may be saved; but perhaps misfortune to deviate. Let us enter on the not. Perhaps hell—perhaps heaven. What race of salvation, if we have had the presumprepose can you enjoy in so awful an alterna- tion to defer our entrance into it to the present tive? What delight can you enjoy in certain period. Let us run with patience the race, if vices, the perpetration of which requires time? I we have already made a progress; and let the

gers, beset us!

thought, the attracting, the ravishing thought person of St. Paul. He preached Jesus Christ, of the prize, which terminates the race, dispel, at the very moment he was persecuted, for from our mind, every idea of the difficulties having preached him. He preached, even which obstruct the way. Amen! May God when in chains. He did more; he attacked give us grace so to do. To whom be honour his judge on the throne. He reasoned, he enand glory, dominion, and magnificence, now forced, he thundered. He seemed already to and for ever. Amen.

exercise the function of judging the world, which God has reserved for the saints. He

made Felix tremble. Felix felt himself borno SERMON LXXXIV.

away by a superior force. Unable to hear St. Paul any longer without appalling fears, he

sent him away. SAINT PAUL'S DISCOURSE BEFORE

“After certain days, when

Felix came with his wife Drusilla, he sent for. FELIX AND DRUSILLA.

Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in

Christ," &c.
Acts xxiv. 24, 25.

We find here three considerations which And after certain days, when Felix came with his claim attention. An enlightened preacher, wife Drusilla, which was a Jewess, he sent for who discovers a very peculiar discernment in Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in the selection of his subjects. A conscience Christ. And as he reasoned of righteousness, appalled, and confounded on the recollection of temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trem- its crimes, and of that awful judgment where bled, and answered; Go thy way for this time; they must be weighed. We find, in fact, a when I have a convenient season, I will call for sinner alarmed, but not converted; a sinner who thee.

desires to be saved, but delays his conversion; My brethren, though the kingdom of the a case, alas! but of too common occurrence. righteous be not of this world, they present, You perceive already, my brethren, the subhowever, amidst their meanness, marks of dig- ject of this discourse; I. That St. Paul reasonnity and power. They resemble Jesus Christ. ed before Felix and Drusilla, of righteousness, He humbled himself so far as to take the form temperance, and judgment to come; II. That of a servant, but frequently exercised the rights Felix trembled; III. That he sent the apostle of a sovereign. From the abyss of humilia- away: three considerations which shall divide tion to which he condescended, emanations of this discourse. May it produce on your hearts, the godhead were seen to proceed. Lord of on the hearts of Christians, the same effects St.

ure, he commanded the winds and seas. Paul produced on the soul of this heathen; but He bade the storms and tempests subside. He may it have a happier influence on your lives. restored health to the sick, and life to the dead. Amen. He imposed silence on the Rabbins: he embar- I. Paul preached before Felix and Drusilla, rassed 'Pilate on the throne; and disposed of “on righteousness, temperance, and judgment paradise, at the moment he himself was pierced to come.” This is the first object of discussion. with the nails, and fixed on the cross. Behold Before, however, we proceed farther with our the portrait of believers! “ They are dead. remarks, we must first sketch the character of Their life is hid with Christ in God,” Col. iii. this Felix, and this Drusilla, which will serve

“If they had hope only in this life, they as a basis to the first proposition. were of all men most miserable,” i Cor. xv. After the sceptre was departed from Judah, 19. Nevertheless, they discover I know not and the Jewish nation subjugated by Pompey, what superiority of birth. Their glory is not the Roman emperors governed the country by so concealed, but we sometimes perceive its procurators. Claudius filled the imperial throne lustre; just as the children of a king, when , while St. Paul was at Cesarea. This empeunknown and in a distant province, betray in ror had received a servile education from his their conversation and carriage indications of grandmother Lucia, and from his mother Anillustrious descent.

tonia; and, having been brought up in obseWe might illustrate this truth by numerous quious meanness, evinced, on his elevation to instances. Let us attend to that in our text. the empire, marks of the inadequate care There we shall discover that association of which had been bestowed on his infancy. He humility and grandeur, of reproach and glory, had neither courage nor dignity of mind. He which constitutes the condition of the faithful who was raised to sway the Roman sceptre, while on earth. Behold St. Paul, a Christian, and consequently to govern the civilized world, an apostle, a saint. See him hurried from tri- abandoned his judgment to his freed-men, and bunal to tribunal, from province to province; gave them a complete ascendancy over his sometimes before the Romans, sometimes be- mind. Felix was one of those freed-men. “He fore the Jews, sometimes before the high-priest exercised,” and these are the words of a Roof the synagogue, and sometimes before the man historian (Tacitus,) “he exercised in Juprocurator of Cesar. See him conducted from dea, the imperial functions with a mercenary Jerusalem to Cesarea, and summoned to ap- soul.” Voluptuousness and avarice were the pear before Felix. In all these traits, do you predominant vices of his heart. We have a not recognise the Christian walking in the nar- proof of his avarice immediately after our row way, the way of tribulation, marked by his text, where, it is said, he sent for Paul,—not Master's feet? But consider him nearer still. to hear him concerning the truth of the gospel Examine his discourse, look at his countenance; which this apostle had preached with so much there you will see a fortitude, a courage, and a power;—not to inquire whether this religion, dignity, which constrains you to acknowledge against which the Jews had raised the standthat there was something really grand in the Jard, was contrary to the interest of the state;

3.

but because he hoped to have received money | class of men. He might have discussed some for his liberation. Here is the effect of avarice. of those subjects which would have flattered

Josephus recites an instance of his voluptu- the governor. He might have discoursed on ousness. It is his marriage with Drusilla. She the dignity of princes, and on the relation they was a Jewess, as is remarked in our text. King have to the Supreme Being. He might have Azizus, her former husband, was a heathen; said, that the magistrate "beareth not the and in order to gain her affections, he had con- sword in vain,” Rom. xiii. 4. That the Deity formed to the most rigorous ceremonies of Ju- himself has said, “ye are gods, and ye are all the daism. Felix saw her, and became enamoured children of the most High,” Ps. lxxxii. 6. But of her beauty. He conceived for her a violent all this adulation, all this finesse, were unknown passion; and, in defiance of the sacred ties to our apostle. He sought the passions of Fe which had united her to a husband, he resolv- lix in their source. He forced the sinner in his ed to become master of her person. His ad- | last retreat. He boldly attacked the governor dresses were received. Drusilla violated her with the sword of the Spirit,” and with "the former engagements, preferring to contract hammer of the word.” Before the object of his with Felix an illegitimate marriage, to an ad- passion, and the subject of his crime, before herence to the chaste ties which united her to Drusilla, he treated of “temperance.” When Azizus. Felix the Roman, Felix the procura- Felix sent for him to satiate his avarice, he tor of Judea, and the favourite of Cesar, ap- talked of “righteousness.” While the goverpeared to her a noble acquisition. It is indeed nor was in his highest period of splendour, he å truth, we may here observe, that grandeur discoursed "of a judgment to come.” and fortune are charms which mortals find the Preachers of the court, confessors to princes, greatest difficulty to resist; and against which pests of the public, who are the chief promothe purest virtue has need to be armed with all ters of the present persecution, and the cause its constancy._Recollect those two characters of our calamities! O that I could animate you of Felix and Drusilla. St. Paul, before those by the example of St. Paul: and make you two personages, treated concerning “ the faith blush for your degeneracy and turpitude! My in Christ;" that is, concerning the Christian brethren, you know a prince;-and would to religion, of which Jesus Christ is the sum and God we knew him less! but let us respect the substance, the author and the end: and from lustre of a diadem; let us venerate the Lord's the numerous doctrines of Christianity, he se- anointed in the person of our enemy. Examlected “righteousness, temperance, and judg- ine the discourses delivered in his presence; ment to come."

read the sermons pompously entitled, “ SerHere is, my brethren, an admirable text; but mons preached before the king;” and see those a text selected with discretion. Fully to com- other publications, dedicated to—The perpeprehend it, recollect the character we have tual conqueror, whose battles were so many given of Felix. He was covetous, luxurious, victories--terrible in war-adorable in peace. and governor of Judea. St. Paul selected You will there find nothing but fattery and three subjects, correspondent to these charac- applause. Who ever struck in his presence, teristics. Addressing an avaricious man, he at ambition and luxury? Who ever ventured treated of righteousness. Addressing the go- there to maintain the rights of the widow and yernor of Judea, one of those persons who think the orphan? Who, on the contrary, has not themselves independent, and responsible to magnified the greatest crimes into virtues; and, none but themselves for their conduct, he treat- by a species of idolatry before unknown, made ed of judgment to come.”

Jesus Christ himself subservient to the vanity My brethren, when a man preaches for pop- of a mortal man? ularity, instead of seeking the glory of Christ, Oh! but St. Paul would have preached in he seeks his own; he selects subjects calculated a different manner! Before Felix, before Druto display his talents, and flatter his audience. silla, he would have said that, “ fornicators Does he preach before a professed infidel, he shall not inherit the kingdom of God," 1 Cor. will expatiate on morality; and be ashamed to vi. 9, 10. In the midst of an idolatrous peopronounce the venerable words—covenant-sa- ple, he would have painted, in the liveliest cotisfaction. Does he address an Antinomian au- lours, innocence oppressed, the faith of edicts dience, who would be offended were he to en- violated, the Rhine overflowing with blood, force the practical duties of religion; he makes the Palatinate still smoking, and buried in its every thing proceed from election, reprobation own ashes. I check myself

; we again repeat and the irresistibility of grace. Does he preach it; let us respect the sacred grandeur of kings, in the presence of a profligate court, he will and let us deplore their grandeur, which exenlarge on the liberty of the gospel, and the poses them to the dangerous poison of adulaclemency of God. He has the art,-(a most tion and flattery. detestable art, but too well understood in all This suggests an important reflection; a reages of the church,)-he has the art of unit- flection concerning the necessity which should ing his interests and his ministry. A politi- induce sovereigns to have ecclesiastics about cal preacher endeavours to accommodate his their persons, who would address them with preaching to his passions. Minister of Christ, frankness, and prompt them to the recollection and minister of his own interests, to express of their duty. Grandeur, power, and applause, myself with this apostle, he “makes a gain of (we are obliged to make the observations in godliness:" on this principle had Felix express- our pulpits, in places where decorum requires ed a desire to understand the gospel, St. Paul attention; for we are of no consideration in had a favourable opportunity of paying his the bustle of a splendid court;) grandeur, powcourt in a delicate manner. The Christian re- er, and applause, are charms against which it ligion has a favourable aspect towards every I is very difficult for the human mind to retain

m

" He

its superiority. Amid so many dangers, if a man | not lawful for thee to have thy brother Philips have no guide but himself, no preacher but his wife," Luke iii. 12–14. You are not higher conscience; if, instead of attending to the so- than Felix, neither are we in chains like St. ber dictates of truth, he is surrounded with Paul. But though we were yet more deeply flatterers, how can he resist so many attrac- abased; and though the character we sustain tions? And, if he do not resist, how can he seemed to you get more vile; and though to be saved? For in fact, the same laws are given the rank of Jewish governor, you should suto the high and the low; to the rich and the peradd, that of Roman emperor, and sovereign poor; to the sovereign and the subject. of the world; despising all this vain parade,

In society, there is a gradation of rank. One we would maintain the majesty of our Master. is king, another is a subject; one tramples a So St. Paul conducted himself before Felix carpet of purple and gold under his feet, ano- and Drusilla. “He reasoned of righteousness, ther leads a languishing life, begging a preca- temperance, and judgment to come.” rious pittance of bread: one is drawn in a su- But who can here supply the brevity of the perb carriage, another wades through the dirt. historian, and report the whole of what the But before the judgment-seat of Christ, all apostle said to Felix on these important points these distinctions will be no more. There will It seems to me, that I hear him enforcing those then be no respect of persons. The same no- important truths he has left us in his works, thing is our origin; the same dust is our end; and placing in the fullest lustre those divine the same Creator gave us being; the same Sa- maxims interspersed in our Scriptures. viour accomplished our redemption; and the reasoned of righteousness.” There he mainsame tribunal must decide our eternal destiny. tained the rights of the widow and the orphan. How very important is it, when a man is ele- There he demonstrated, that kings and magis vated to dignities, inaccessible, so to speak, to trates are established to maintain the rights of reflections of this nature, -how very inipor- the people, and not to indulge their own catant is it to have a faithful friend, a minister price; that the design of supreme authority is of Christ, a St. Paul, fully enlightened in the to make the whole happy by the vigilance of knowledge of the truth, and bold enough to one, and not to gratify one at the expense of declare it to others!

all; that it is meanness of mind to oppress the The coinmission is arduous to execute. It wretched who have no defence but cries and is difficult in the ordinary course of life to give tears; that nothing is so unworthy of an enadvice to equals. The repugnance which men lightened man as that ferocity, with which evince on being told of their faults, occasions some are inspired by dignity; and which obtheir being seldom cautioned. How much structs their respect for human nature, when more difficult then to speak impartially to those, undisguised by worldly pomp; that nothing is in whose presence our minds are mostly assail- so noble as goodness and grandeur, associated ed with intimidating bashfulness, and who hold in the same character; that this is the highest our life and fortune in their hands?

felicity; that in some sort it transforms the soul It behoves, notwithstanding, the ministers into the image of God; who, from the high of Christ to maintain the dignity of their cha- abodes of majesty in which he dwells surracter. Never had orators a finer field for com- rounded with angels and cherubim, deigns to manding attention. Never were subjects sus- look down on this mean world which we inceptible of a more grave and manly eloquence, habit, and "leaves not himself without witness, than those which they discuss. They have mo- doing good to all." tives the most powerful to press, and passions “He reasoned of temperance.” There, he the most impetuous to move. They have an would paint the licentious effects of voluptueternity of glory to promise, and an eternity ousness. There he would demonstrate how of misery to denounce. They are ambassadors opposite this propensity is to the spirit of the of a Potentate, in whose presence, all the kings gospel; which every where enjoins retirement, of the earth are but " as the small dust of the mortification, and self-denial. He would show balance." Behold St. Paul, fully impressed how it degrades the finest characters, who with the grandeur of his mission. He forgot have suffered it to predominate. Internperthe grandeur of Felix. He did more; he made ance renders the mind incapable of reflection, him forget himself. He made him receive ad- It debases the courage. It debilitates the mind, monition with reverence. “He reasoned of It softens the soul. He would demonstrate the righteousness, temperance, and judgment to meanness of a man called to preside over a

great people, who exposes his foibles to public Ministers of Jesus Christ, here is our tutor, view: not having resolution to conceal, much who prepares us for the sanctuary. And you, less to vanquish them. With Drusilla, he Christians, here is our apology. You complain would make human motives supply the defects when we interfere with the shameful secrets of divine; with Felix, he would make divine of your vice; consider St. Paul. He is the motives supply the defects of human. He model God has set before us. He requires us would make this impudent woman feel that to speak with freedom and force; to exhort nothing on earth is more odious than a woman “in season and out of season;" to thunder in destitute of honour; that modesty is an appenour pulpits; to go even to your houses, and dage of the sex; that an attachment, uncementdisturb that fatal security which the sinner en- ed by virtue, cannot long subsist; that those joys in the commission of his crimes. He re- who receive illicit favours, are the first, acquires us to say, to the revenue-officers, "ex- cording to the fine remark of a saered historian, act no more than that which is appointed;" to to detest the indulgence: “ The hatred wherethe soldiers, “ do violence to no man, and be with Amnon, son of David, hated his sister, content with your wages;” to Herod, “it is after the gratification of his brutal passion, was

a

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ST. PAUL'S DISCOURSE BEFORE (SER. LXXXIV. greater than the love wherewith he had loved of these extraneous aids: behold him without her,” 2 Sam. xiii. 15. He would make Felix any ornament but the truth he preached. What perceive, that however the depravity of the age do I say, that he was destitute of extraneous might seem to tolerate a criminal intercourse aids? See him in a situation quite the reverse;among persons of the other sex, with God, a captive, loaded with irons, standing before who has called us all to equal purity, the crime his judge. Yet he made Felix tremble. Felix was not less heinous.

trembled! Whence proceeded this fear, and “He reasoned,” in short, "of judgment to this confusion? Nothing is more worthy of come.” And here he would magnify his min- your inquiry. Here we must stop for a moistry. When our discourses are regarded as ment: follow us while we trace this fear to its connected only with the present period, their source. We shall consider the character of force 1 grant is of no avail. We speak for a Felix under different views: as a heathen, imMaster, who has left us clothed with infirmities, perfectly acquainted with a future judgment, which discover no illustrious marks of Him, and the life to come: as a prince, or governor, by whom we are sent. We have only our accustomed to see every one humble at his voice, only our exhortations, only our entrea- feet: as an avaricious magistrate, loaded with ties. Nature is not inverted at our pleasure. extortions and crimes: in short, as a voluptuous The visitations of heaven do not descend at man, who had never restricted the gratification our command to punish your indolence and of his senses. These are so many reasons of revolts: that power was very limited, even to Felix's fears. the apostles. The idea of a future state, the First, we shall consider Felix as a heathen, solemnities of a general judgment supply our imperfectly acquainted with a future judgment, weakness; and St. Paul enforced this motive; and the life to come: I say, imperfectly ache proved its reality: he delineated its lustre, quainted, and not as wholly ignorant, the heahe displayed its pomp. He resounded in the thens having the “work of the law written in ears of Felix, the noise, the voices, the trumpets. their hearts,” Rom. ii. 15. The force of habit He showed him the small and great, the rich had corrupted nature, but had not effaced its man and Lazarus, Felix the favourite of Ce- laws. They acknowledged a judgment to come, sar, and Paul the captive of Felix, awoke by but their notions were confused concerning its that awful voice; “ Arise ye dead, and come to nature. judgment."

Such were the principles of Felix; or rather, But not to be precipitate in commending the such was the imperfection of his principles, apostle's preaching." Its encomiums will best when he heard this discourse of St. Paul. You appear by attending to its effects on the mind may infer his fears from his character. Figure of Felix. St. Jerome wished concerning a to yourselves a man, hearing for the first time, preacher of his time, that the tears of his audi- the maxims of equity and righteousness inculence might compose the eulogy of his sermons. cated in the gospel. Figure to yourselves, a We shall find in the tears of Felix occasion to man who heard corrected the immorality of applaud the eloquence of our apostle. We pagan theology; what was doubtful, illustrated; shall find that his discourses were thunder and and what was right, enforced. See a man, lightning in the congregation; as the Greeks who knew of no other God but the incestuous used to say concerning one of their orators. Jupiter, the lascivious Venus, taught that he While St. Paul preached, Felix felt I know must appear before Him, in whose presence not what agitations in his mind. The recollec- the seraphim veil their faces, and the heavens tion of his past life; the sight of his present sins; are not clean. Behold a man, whose notions Drusilla, the object of his passion and subject were confused concerning the state of souls of his crime; the courage of St. Paul; all terri- after death, apprised that God shall judge the fied him. His “heart burned,” while that world in righteousness. See a man, who saw disciple of Jesus Christ expounded the Scrip- described the smoke, the fire, the chains of tures. The word of God was quick and power- darkness, the outer darkness, the lake of fire ful. The apostle, armed with the two-edged and brimstone; and who saw them delineated sword, dividing the soul, the joints, and the by one animated by the Spirit of God. What marrow, carried conviction to the heart. Fe- consternation must have been excited by these lix trembled, adds our historian, Felix trem- terrific truths! bled! The fears of Felix are our second re- This we are incapable adequately to comflection.

prehend. We must surmount the insensibility, II. What a surprising scene, my brethren, acquired by custorn. It is bui too true, that is here presented to your view? The governor our hearts, instead of being impressed by these trembled, and the captive spoke without dis- truths, in proportion to their discussion-our may. The captive made the governor tremble. hearts are the more obdurate. We bear them The governor shivered in presence of the cap- without alarm, having so frequently heard them tive. It would not be surprising, brethren, if before. But if, like Felix, we had been brought we should make an impression on your hearts up in the darkness of paganism; and if another (and we should do so indeed, if our ministry Paul had come and opened our eyes, and unis not, as usual, a sound of empty words:) it veiled those sacred terrors, how exceedingly would not be surprising if we should make should we have feared? This was the case some impression on the hearts of our hearers. with Felix. He perceived the bandage to This sanctuary, these solemnities, these groans, drop in a moment, which conceals the sight this silence, these arguments, these efforts,- of futurity. He heard St. Paul, that herald all aid our ministry, and unite to convince and of grace, and ambassador to the gentiles. He persuade you. But here is an orator destitute heard him reason on temperance, and a judg