equal danger (m). With refpect to friend fhip, our Saviour confirmed its obligations by the fanction of his own example. His whole conduct to his difciples is a pattern of tender friendship. St. John is particu larly diftinguished as "the difciple whom "Jefus loved." Lazarus, who was not one of his difciples, is called by Christ himfelf his friend (n); and was one of the very few perfons whom Chrift raised from the dead. The affectionate regard of our Saviour to Lazarus and his fifters is beautifully expreffed in the fimple and touching language of the evangelift: "Now Jefus loved "Martha, and her fifter, and Lazarus (0).” Confider, too, the remarkably kind attention of our Saviour towards Peter; who, after his shameful denial of his Lord, might justly apprehend that he fhould no longer be owned as a disciple. One of the angels, who appeared to the women at the fepulchre on the mornings of the refurrection, addreffed them, conformably, we may pre (m) Luke, iv. 16-30. Matt. xiii. 54-58. fume, fume, to the injunction of Chrift, in thefeterms: "Depart, fay to his difciples, and "to Peter, he goeth before you into Gali"lee (p)." To St. Peter, and to him only, Christ fhewed himself separately on the very day on which he arofe. And afterwards, in the prefence of fix of his other difciples, he confirmed St. Peter, with marks of great confidence and distinction, in the apoftolical office (q). Finally, it was in the very act of bleffing his difciples that Chrift afcended into heaven (r). To the inftances which have been produced of different virtues fo gloriously exemplified in our Saviour's actions, many circumstances of his life evincing the fame and other virtues might have been added (s). Far from wishing to exhauft, had it been (p) Mark, xvi. 7. (9) Luke, xxiv. 34. 1 Cor. xv. 5. (r) John, xxi. 15, &c. (s) Luke, xxiv. 51. A very copious felection, accompanied with many excellent obfervations, may be found in Archbishop Newcome's Obfervations on our Lord's conduct. poffible to exhauft, the fubject; my defire is to lead you to apply habitually to the facred fource, from which the preceding examples have been derived. Study the life of your Saviour, in his thoughts, words, and deeds. By prayer and exertion endeavour to be conformed to his image upon earth, as you hope to be conformed to it in heaven. Take for your guide, imitate as far as human weakness can imitate, this perfect pattern of perfect holiness. Far as you will ever remain fhort of it, labour ftill to approach nearer to it. The more earnestly you ftrive to be a faithful disciple of your Lord, the more of " that mind "will be in you, which was in Christ " Jefus (†).” (t) Philipp. ii. 5• CHAP. IX. THE HISTORY OF CHRISTIANITY TO THE SUBVERSION OF THE WESTERN EMPIRE. WHEN the divine author of Christianity. had withdrawn his vifible prefence from the earth; his religion speedily experienced, according to his predictions, the encreasing enmity of a world whofe practices it condemned, whofe forms of worship it fuperfeded. The pure gold was to be tried in the furnace of adverfity. Scarcely had the apoftles of Chrift opened their commiffion, when a violent perfecution, commencing with the martyrdom of Stephen, was raifed" against the church which was "in Jerufalem: and they were all featt red "abroad throughout the regions of Judea "and Samaria, except the apostles (a)." This fudden difperfion of the Chriftians was rendered by the overruling hand of God the cause of an immediate and extensive diffufion of the true faith. " They, which were scattered abroad upon the perfecu"tion that arose about Stephen, travelled 46 as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and An"tioch, preaching the word (b).” The implacable hatred of the Jews remained undiminished. Some few years afterwards "Herod the king ftretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church: and he "killed James, the brother of John, with "the fword. And, because he faw it pleafed "the Jews, he proceeded further to take "Peter alfo (c)." The virulence with which St. Paul was conftantly oppofed, and his life repeatedly attempted, by the Jews both in Judea and in diftant countries, atteft the rooted inveteracy with which that nation beheld Chriftianity and its preachers. From this enemy, however, the faith of Chrift was in a great meafure delivered by the victories of Titus. But an enemy far more terrible remained; the idolatrous empire of Rome. From his (b) A&s, xi. 19. (c) Acts, xii. 1-3. throne |