ACTS VII.

With such a friend as Jesus, near,

No form of death could make him fear Calm, midst showrs of stones he kneels And only for his murdrers feels

SAINT STEPHEN STONED.

They drag him through the gates without the walls,
And stone him; on the Lord of life he calls,
Prays for his murderers; his faith exprest,
Then down he calmly lay, and slept in endless rest.

WHEN the church of Christ was greatly multiplied and increased, there arose some disputes among its members as to the distribution of the public charity: but this disagreement was soon settled by appointing proper officers to attend to money-matters, while the apostles still pursued the most important work of preaching the gospel. They chose seven men, properly qualified, to attend to this business; and among them was Stephen, “a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost." (Acts vi. 5.)

What a striking description is this of a good man! He was likely to be a blessing

in the sphere in which he was called to act: happy are they who are blessed as he was! While Stephen was faithful in the discharge of the duty allotted him, we also find that he was zealous in the cause of Christianity, which procured him many enemies among those who hated and opposed the spread of the gospel; but they were unable to resist the wisdom and spirit by which he spake. When they found themselves defeated by his argument, they stirred up the people, and scribes, and elders against him, and laying hold of him, hurried him before the council upon the charge of blasphemy. Such is the rage of persecutors; they care not what they do, or what lies they tell, to procure the death of the saints; and all because they are faithful to God, and reprove them for sin. But does not the Almighty know

these things? Yes: be assured he does; and woe be to them who persecute his people.

While Stephen stood before the council, his face shone like that of an angel, and all present beheld it; by which God put honour upon him; and if the council had not been infatuated, they must have been sensible that he could not be a blasphemer, on whose countenance so much heavenly glory shone. When the high-priest questioned him as to the truth of the charges alleged against him, he entered on a long defence, in which he related the dealings of God with the Jews for many ages past; and pursued his narrative till he came to the time just gone by, in which Jesus had been crucified; and for which he boldly charged his persecutors in so pointed a manner, that they would no longer listen