injuries which they themselves had sustained, and gloried in their sufferings as an honour conferred upon them, an honour ot which they deemed themselves utterly unworthy.]
2. They persisted unalterably and mdefatigably in the path of duty —
[Though they gloried at present in their sufferings, it might have been expected that they would be very cautious ot exposing themselves to the increased resentment of their persecutors. But they well knew that Jesus Christ was the only Saviour of the world, and that all must eternally perish who did not believe in him. They therefore lost no time, but instantly resumed their labours both in public and in private. They declared the death of Christ to have been an atonement tor sin; they testified of his resurrection and ascension to carry on his work in heaven; and they proclaimed a full, a free, an everlasting salvation to all that would believe in his name, lhis was the obnoxious doctrine which they were forbidden to preach : but they proceeded on this one principle, that they were bound to « obey God rather than men:" and they were determined to suffer the last extremities rather than swerve from the path of duty, or relax their exertions for the instruc- tion and salvation of immortal souls.
But it was not their perseverance that we admire, so much as the spirit and temper with which they conducted themselves throughout the whole of their trials: they shewed a firmness that was invincible; but without petulance, without an°-er without ostentation, without complaint. They acted, not from self-will, but from zeal for their Lord, and love to their fellow- creatures: and their glorying was, not from a proud conceit of bemg martyrs to their cause, but from a persuasion that to suffer any thing for Christ was the greatest honour that could possibly be conferred on mortal men ; since it gave them an opportunity of manifesting their love to Christ, and rendered them conformable to his blessed image.]
Such being the example which they have set us we would,
II. Recommend it to your imitation—
We are required to " be followers of them who through faith and patience now inherit the promises." Therefore let me commend to your imitation, The principle from which they acted, the determination of heart with which they obeyed that principle, their view of the sufferings they were called to endure, and the^ manner in zvhich they endured them.
That we may all resemble them,