the deep; in journeying often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; in weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness." It was not the least of his trials that those who professed friendship to him and the cause of religion should turn traitors, and become his enemies. How painful was the reflection of the pious apostle to think that many of the Galatians, who had given recent expressions of friendship to him, had so awfully departed from the truths of the gospel, and become inimical to him? See his affectionate expostulations, Gal. iv.: "I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain. Ye know how, through infirmity of the flesh, I have preached the gospel unto you at the first. And my temptation which was in my flesh ye despised not, nor rejected; but received me as an angel of God. Where is then the blessedness ye spake of? for I bear you record, that, if it had been possible, ye would have plucked out your own eyes, and have given them to me. Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?" When vindicating the cause of God against opposers, he complains that all forsook him at first, 2 Tim. iv., 16. When the professed friends of God forsake the ministers of Christ, it is attended with circumstances peculiarly aggravating. The sweet counsel and communion they have taken together are now interruptedmutual confidence destroyed-the parties exposed to peculiar temptations, which renders it difficult to retain that forgiving spirit manifested by the holy apostle when all men forsook him: "I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge."

י

David, the man after God's own heart, was tried in this particular, Psal. lv.: "For it was not an enemy that reproached me, then I could have borne it-neither was it he that hated me, that did magnify himself against me, then would I have hid myself from him

but it was thou, a man mine equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance. We took sweet counsel together, and walked unto the house of God in company." Above all, when the professors of religion take sides with the world against the servants of Christ, they then strengthen the hands of the wicked, and the Saviour is wounded in the house of his friends-which must excite painful sensations in the hearts of faithful ministers. The history of the preachers of the gospel, in every age of the world, affords distressing evidence in proof of the point before us. The imprisonment of a Rutherford, a Baxter, the sufferings of a Manton, Flavel, Whitefield, and their contemporaries, evince this truth, that opposition to the servants of Christ is not an accidental thing, but that it is congenial with the corruption or depravity of the human heart.

Should our own experience, or the consciences of any present prompt them to declare in favour of the sentiment that has engaged our attention, such evidence will be admitted without the imputation of perjury. To carry on their opposition against Paul, friendship to the gospel, or to the doctrines he preached, was pretended; that it was not religion or his preaching that excited their dissatisfaction, but the character of the man; and, could they be rid of him, they would be advocates for the same sentiments. This attachment to the cause of Christ was the motive by which they professed to be influenced. They would therefore employ and hear men who preached Christ, with a design to carry their point against Paul, and render him contemptible. Phil. i., 15, 16: "Some, indeed, preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of goodwill. The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds."

III. The wretched and dangerous state of unconverted sinners is another source of distress to the faithful servants of Christ: this caused great heaviness and continual sorrow in the heart of Paul, Rom. ix., 2. "The word is used to express the torments of hell," says Mr. Leigh, in his Critica Sacra. The history of

Moses, of David, and the prophets, yea, of the blessed Saviour of the world, affords painful demonstration in proof of the point under consideration..

All gospel ministers know experimentally, in some degree, the terror of the Lord, and are led to persuade men, 2 Cor. v., 11. That man that does not appreciate the worth of souls, and is not greatly affected with their dangerous situation, is not qualified for the sacred office. It was the saying of a pious minister, who would arise at midnight and retire for prayer, "How can I rest, how can I sleep, when so many of my congregation are exposed every moment to drop into hell!" The ambassadors of Christ have been called to sacrifice their property, ease, character, yea, their lives, for the salvation of men's souls; like Paul, suffer the loss of all things, not counting their lives dear unto them; being driven from town to town, and have no certain dwelling-place, 1 Cor. iv., 11. The requitals or returns made to the apostle for his benevolence to men, and his sacrifices for their good, was a bitter ingredient in the cup of affliction. He was cast among beasts at Ephesus to be torn in pieces-carried the scars of the whip on his back-and the more faithful, the more hated and abused, and the less beloved, 2 Cor. xii., 15.

The consequences that often attend a minister's leaving a people are distressing: God frequently gives them up to divisions and carnal dissipation, to heresy, and an awful contempt of divine institutions; or, if the externals of religion are attended to, it is often to keep themselves in countenance, and support a character among men, and they often sink into a state of mere formality. Oh! how affecting to a pious minister to see the flock that was the delight and joy of his heart, and once committed to his charge, become an easy prey to the enemy of their souls! How bitter was this reflection to our apostle! Acts xx., 29, 30: "For I know this, that after my departure shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. And of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them."

The analogy between cause and effect suggests the idea that the servants of Christ may expect to meet with trials and opposition wherever they go. They will continue to preach the same soul-humbling doctrines, perhaps with greater and greater degrees of perspicuity and zeal; they will still testify the grace of God; they will have the same kind of hearers, whose hearts are enmity against God; and so may expect to meet with similar treatment. Paul preached the same gospel at Jerusalem, at Macedonia, Rome, &c.

In a word, there is no place in this world that either ministers or people can find a peaceful asylum; 'tis compared to the rolling sea.

"No, 'tis in vain to seek for bliss,

For bliss can ne'er be found,

Till we arrive where Jesus is,

And dwell on heavenly ground."

IV. In following the method proposed, I am to show, that whatever trials the servants of Christ meet with in finishing their course, they ought not to fear or be moved out of the path of duty, but persevere in their work. None of these things move me: "I look on them as mere trifles, and make no account of them."

He did not account even his life dear unto him: He argues from the greater to the less. If the dearest thing, even life, was of no value compared with the cause of God, how diminutive those afflictions that were only for a moment; especially when we consider,

That they suffer in obedience to the commands of God. Ezek. ii., 6: "And thou, son of man, be not afraid of them, neither be thou afraid of their words, though briers and thorns be with thee, and thou dost dwell among scorpions; nor be dismayed at their looks, though they be a rebellious house." Jer. i., 8: "Be not afraid of their faces; for I am with thee, to deliver thee, saith the Lord." Acts xviii., 9, 10: "Then spake the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak and hold not thy peace; for I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee." Luke xii., 4: "And I say unto you, my friends, be not afraid of them

that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do." Obedience to the commands of God will as effectually secure his people from eventual harm, as the high and adamantine walls of the New Jerusalem will the inhabitants of heaven.

The example of him that spake as never man spake, should be a powerful incentive to encourage his servants in their work. 1 Pet. iv., 1. With what persevering diligence did he prosecute his ministry in the face of earth and hell, until in dying accents he could exclaim, "IT IS FINISHED!" The cause in which ministers of Christ are engaged may well excite them to persevering faithfulness and fidelity in their work. "Tis that dear interest for which all things were created, and the cause of the ever blessed God in three persons; for which the glorious Redeemer shed his precious blood, and is now pleading. A cause in which all the dispensations of Divine providence are subservient, and in which all heaven are engaged. The character, oath, life, yea, all the perfections of the Deity, are pledged for its defence. "Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen," Matt. xxviii., 20, is a promise, that, to all faithful ministers, at all times, even to the second coming of Christ, is as replete with encouragement and support as can be given by the pen of inspiration.

By being steadfast and unmoved under trials, the servants of God can bear an honourable testimony in favour of religion. This is one way by which God has furnished the advocates of the gospel with peculiar arguments in defence of the truth, and has made them rejoice and glory in tribulation. It is not a stoical apathy that reconciles God's people to sufferings; not because they are not susceptible of injuries, and ignorant of abuse; but God is glorified by their patiently enduring. Therefore it is that the language of the persecuted apostles was so appropriate. Acts v., 14: " And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were accounted worthy to suffer shame for his name." From hence it was that our blessed Lord says to his disciples, Matt. v., 11, 12, "Blessed are ye when