beneficence in which "life and immortality are brought to light," in which the Lord of life has himself submitted to the lot of mortals in order to redeem them to the prospect of another life, where there is no fading, decline, or dissolution!

Let us not then, absurdly turn from the view because it is grave and gloomy, but dwell upon it, often and intensely for the great purpose of exciting our spirits to a victory over the vanity of our present condition;-to gain from it, through the aid of the Divine Spirit, a mighty impulse toward a state of ever-living, ever-blooming existence beyond the sky. A man who feels this would accept no substitute consolation against the gloomy character of this mortal life; not the highest health, not the most exuberant spirits,-nor early youth itself, if it were possible for that to be renewed.

No, rather let me fade-let me languish-let me feel that mortality is upon me, and that the terrestrial scene is darkening around me, but with this inspiration of faith and hope -this rising energy-which is already carrying me out of an existence which is all frailty, into one of vigour, and power, and perpetuity!"

1825.

LECTURE XLVIII.

PETER'S DELIVERANCE FROM PRISON.

ACTS xii.

"Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hand to vex certain of the church," &c.

ALL devout believers in Revelation rejoice in a confident expectation that this world will, at length, become a place favourable to the servants of God. The view forward is the consolatory and animating one; it is seen occupied, in the listance, with beautiful and glorious imagery. The pro

phetic light over it is, indeed, somewhat of the nature of twilight; but, the prospect is most unequivocally that of a season, and a long season, in which the saints shall, literally, 'possess the earth," and shall have all things in their favour. Through a vast space of past time, there has been only a most diminutive number, on the whole earth, of such as truly knew, and feared and served God. And during periods in which they have been a somewhat more perceptible portion of the race, think how the world has often treated them; as if they were foreigners and intruders, occupying a place to which they had no right. A very considerable portion of the history of the world is a record of the persecutions that have raged against them. Monarchs, with the co-operation of their counsellors, captains, priests, and the ignorant brutish multitude, have even sought to make it a chief disdistinction and glory of their reigns that they zealously endeavoured the destruction of the saints of the Most High. This, however, has often been a fatal course for the perse

cutors themselves. The history of the church abounds with instances of Divine judgments, on both states and individuals, for their violence against the people of God.

The kingdom of God on earth is in real, vital, connexion with his kingdom in heaven; so that there is-shall we say? -a sympathy between them; so that, when a saint is smitten on earth, there is, as it were, a sensation conveyed to the upper sky. The Lord of saints and angels says, "Saul, why persecutest thou me?" a strange expression of the union of the "King of Glory" and his humble mortal friends! The mighty spirits that he has on high, in his service, doubtless, take their share of interest in his kingdom below. Throughout the Scriptures we see them prompt to come down, in aid and in avengement of his oppressed saints.

In the short chapter before us there is an account of the angel of the Lord coming twice-once to deliver Peter -then to smite Herod. Herod, who, having persecuted the apostles of Christ, filled up the measure of his wickedness by willingly accepting the title of a God from the base courtiers and people. They were worthy to have such a king, and even to share his fate; for what was the way for him to render himself so popular with them, that they should be ready to call him "a god?" It was, to kill the Christians. He had killed James," and because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also." Here was what had been the peculiar people to God, of all the people of the whole earth, sunk to the last barbarous depravity of the pagan nations. The most effectual expedient for the chief of their nation to gratify them was, to give them a show of human victims; especially provided the sufferers were the disciples and advocates of true religion. So it was among the Romans, and other heathen nations. But so, too, has it since been in nations bearing the Christian

name; as in the horrid spectacles exhibited by the Inquisition. These things "pleased the people;" and their rulers, secular and spiritual, were most forward and liberal in affording them such pleasure,-especially in the way of religious persecution. The malignity of human nature has appeared tenfold malignant, when vented in the direction of nostility to true religion. It has then glared out a fiend, delighting and luxuriating in savage barbarity.

Killing James with the sword" had so captivated the people, that Herod thought he had fallen on the very best method of courting the favour of his subjects. And it was fortunately one which cost no self-denial of his own royal disposition. He could at once" please" them and himself, and therefore "proceeded to take Peter also." One flagrant crime facilitates the perpetration of the next. Herod probably issued his command for the apprehension of Peter with as little repugnance as he would have ordered a courtfestival. In his recollection of James, no such idea obtruded itself in his mind, as that the martyred apostle had ascended as a "swift witness" against him to the throne of Heaven. Whither he might suppose the departed saint did go, we cannot conjecture; but he thought he might send another the same road without danger of ever hearing of it again, except in the demoniac applauses of his mob.

Peter would be easily found, and taken. He, we may believe, had not absconded from affright at the fate of his fellow apostle. Cowardice in behalf of his Lord had been shown once before; but that was the last time. The death of his great Master, and the love manifested toward Peter after he rose again, had devoted Peter to die for him, whenever fidelity to his cause should require the sacrifice. He might even wish that the life which, as a mortal, he must at all events surrender, should have the advantage of being surrendered as an act of testimony, rather than as a mere

passive loss under a natural law. On a sober calculation, the act of dying for Christ might be held equivalent to very many acts of living service. As the death of Samson was, in one single act, a greater achievement for the Israelites than all he had performed during his previous life. The martyrs have, in the history of religion, and in the glories and rewards of heaven, this eminent precedence of the other faithful, that they performed, in dying, a great action, of as much value, probably, in the Divine account, as the zealous labours of many years of life. May we not venture to say, that the man who, at the age of fifty, died a martyr, lived virtually, in the value of service, to the age of sixty or seventy? However, the Great Judge can estimate the proportion right, and accordingly will be his award.

We can

But we return to Peter. He was conveyed to prison. Do we follow him thither with compassion? imagine him looking-(if there was a sufficient glimmer of light)-looking round on the walls of his new abode, of impregnable thickness, with strong bars,-a dreary, dismal shade, ominous sounds; and chains on his limbs. "This it is," he might say, "to be an avowed and faithful servant of Him that died for me." But what if he said further"Well I would rather be here and be thus, for such a cause, then be the lord of Herod's, or of Cæsar's palace." And can any one doubt, that if he did feel and say so, he was right? While the body is in a palace, the soul may be in prison; whereas, while his body was in a prison, his soul was as in a palace. And even externally, he was soon to have such attendance there as the dwellers in royal and imperial

mansions have not.

There was the most formal precaution, on the part of the tyrant, to secure his intended victim. "He put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers,” (four times four,) who took their stations, in arms and