not grow licentious, and abuse our great privileges; but may he enable us so to value them, and live up to them, that he may be honoured for continuing them to us, and to our posterity.

In former times, also, believers were often forced to seal the testimony of Jesus with their blood. And even this did not stop them in their walk, nor hinder their communion with God. Hear one of his martyrs: "The Holy Ghost witnesseth, that bonds and afflictions wait for me in every city; but none of these things move me, neither account I my life dear unto myself, so that I may finish my course with joy, and the ministry which I have received of the Lord Jesus." This was not a vain brag. He spake it in humble faith, depending upon his master's promise, that he would stand by him when his blood should be shed, and would make him a happy conqueror in the hour of death. And he was more than conqueror; but the grace which made him so, was not peculiar to, or the privilege of, an apostle; the same was given to a noble army

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of martyrs, who overcame Satan, by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. What a triumph of patience was this! They were enabled to bear any thing, even the loss of life, rather than suffer the loss of the Lord's favour. Examine, O my soul, whether thy faith be like their's. Canst thou endure as they did? How is thy patience under the cross? Read what they went through, who are well reported of by the Holy Ghost for their faith, and remember the same grace is promised to thee, to carry thee patiently through all thy sufferings: "They had trials of cruel mockings and scourgings;→→→ yea, moreover, of bonds and imprisonments : they were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword; they wandered about in sheep-skins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented; of whom the world was not worthy: they wandered in deserts and in mountains, and in dens, and in caves of the earth; and these all obtained a good report, through faith."

They are celebrated by the holy Spirit, for having patiently endured, till they had run their race, and finished their course with joy. He sets their example before thee, that thou shouldst not be slothful in running the same race, but a follower of them, who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

Meditate seriously, O my soul, and reflect again and again upon the great need thou hast of patience. Remember the cross lies in thy way to the crown, and thou canst not avoid it. The Lord has appointed it to be thy portion, and it is entailed upon thee, as much as the kingdom is. When he exercises and tries thee with it, he does not act merely as a sovereign, but as a father. He deals with thee as with sons. His children want, and his children have correction. None are without it but they find it hard to bear. The will of the flesh is impatient under the cross. Self-love hates it. Carnal reason cannot be reconciled to it. If it be thus with sons, what must it be with bastards? The natural man, when he is brought into

great trouble, is like a mad beast. If his pains be sharp and acute, he rages, storms, and blasphemes: if they be also lasting, having no God to go to, he often gives way to despair, and dispatches himself with a pistol, running to hell for relief. O my

soul, marvel not at this. If God had left thee to thyself, the same trials might have brought thee to the same unhappy end. How necessary then is patience! without it, thou canst not bear the cross, nor hold on thy way under it, nor profit from it. And how necessary are the doctrines before insisted on for the practice of patience! No one can submit to bear the cross, unless he be first persuaded that God is reconciled to him, and loves him in his Son. When he is satisfied of this, he will see all things (the cross among the rest) well ordered for him in the covenant, and all working together for the best. The cross is mercifully sent to make a trial of these doctrines: by it God would manifest the truth, and bring forth the pow er of them, that it may appear they were not learned as notions, but experienced by his

almighty grace. His end is answered. The trial of faith establishes the peace of God in the conscience, and confirms the love of God in the heart, and thereby keeps patience waiting for strength to hold out, and for a blessed issue. The believer, made strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus, endures patiently. He knows from whom his cross comes. It is the appointment of his Father, who does not send it in hatred. He never afflicts his children, but in perfect love. He never put a heavy cross upon them, to break the back of their patience, but to strengthen it, and to train them up to bear greater burdens. He would teach them their weakness and his strength-their wants and his supplies-he would call forth their faith for the honour of his word—and their patience for the glory of his faithfulness. Lord, teach me these lessons. I want the experience of them every day. O my God, make me a humble disciple in the school of Christ. There only can I learn to suffer thy will; to thee I come for this grace. Assist me, O thou

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