by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people and nation !" It is impossible to dwell on such scenes as these, without feeling that time is nothing,-eternity is all. This life is but the infancy of our existence: we are born. with immortal destinies, and soon all the realities of the unseen world will be discovered to our view. Where will then be all the earthly interests which have agitated us so much? where all the frowns or smiles of man, which we have dreaded, or sought so eagerly? And what shall we say in the presence of the noble army of Martyrs, who boldly confessed their Saviour God with the certain loss of all their property,-their home, and their dearest friends, in view of the rack, and all the multiplied tortures, which fiendish or human malice could invent,-in view too of (what was still more dreadful) the close confinement of the dark and loathsome dungeon,-oh! what shall we say, when their faithfulness unto blood shall be proclaimed before the assembled universe, if we have been ashamed or afraid to confess our God, surrounded as we are by every blessing, in the midst of ease, security, and peace, because we shrunk from the cold look, the smile of contempt, or a few words of chilling disapprobation! Oh! we may well be humbled as we think on these things. We may well tremble, when we recal our Lord's most solemn and awful and just words. Matt. v. 32. Mark viii. 38. There is nothing which more completely makes me feel that my place is in the dust, than the remembrance of such unworthy, grovelling, and despicable fear of my poor sinful fellow creatures. And arresting indeed are the words of God, "Who art thou, that thou shouldst be afraid of a man that shall die, and of the son of man who shall be made as grass; and forgettest the Lord thy Maker, that hath stretched forth the heavens and laid the foundation of the earth ?" But dear friend, we must not despond. "Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Christ," the anointed of God to save us; our Saviour. This thought, this feeling, blest by the Holy Spirit, will make us courageous for the time to come; but may we ever remember the direction, to speak "the truth in love," in a humble, but not a selfrighteous spirit, not merely to deliver ourselves, but so as to save the soul of our brother. And let us be animated with the consideration, that in one of the books of God's remembrance, which will be opened at the solemn day of judgment, will be written, every edifying word * we have spoken, every holy, reverential thought we have cherished,—every self-denying effort we have made, every successful struggle against temptation, every instance of overcoming our natural indolence and slothfulness in duty,-every confession of our God, every act of gratitude,-every soul felt praise, and the smallest token of kindness to our fellow creatures from love to his name! Then let us be encouraged, and press on in the path that leadeth to Jesus, and to glory. Soon all our trials will be ended; soon a glorious, blissful eternity will open before us! Our Saviour hath lighted our dark spirits with his grace, and is saying to us from His throne, "Arise, shine, for thy light is come." Let us diligently use the means of grace * Malachi iii. 16. and dread nothing so much as luke-warmness, Rev. iii. 15. 16. Yet let us not be discouraged if even that be our present sad state; but rather be aroused immediately to pray, and to strive against it. And these efforts will be crowned with success, for "if we ask any thing accordto his will, he heareth us ;" and it is according to that blessed will, that we should be delivered from what he so justly hates. And now, beloved friend, adieu. I have constantly referred you to the Word of God, because nothing else is satisfactory; the opinion of a poor fellow creature would have had but little weight with you. Your's ever, with the truest affection. T. C. JOHNS, Printer, |