shewn themselves unable to endure the scorn and contempt that universally attach to religious charac- ters : so true is that declaration of Solomon, " The fear of man bringeth a snare h." But righteousness emboldens the soul ; and enables it to meet the hatred and menaces, or (what is still worse) the sneers and ridicule, of an ungodly world with a holy indifference ; yea, it causes the soul to rejoice in these things as tokens for good1, and as testimonies of the Divine favourk. Behold the astonishing change that was wrought on Peter! When he had incon- siderately laid aside his armour, he was intimidated by the voice of a maid-servant, and induced to deny his Lord with oaths and curses. But when he had put on his breast-plate, he was undismayed in the presence of the whole council of the Jews : he boldly charged upon the rulers that were before him, the guilt of murdering their Messiah : and when they endeavoured to silence him with threats, he un- dauntedly replied, " Whether it be right to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye : for we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard1." Such was the courage also of the Hebrew Youths, who, unawed by the fiery furnace, and un- moved by the example of a whole nation, disdained to comply with the royal edict ; and resolutely ex- posed themselves to a cruel death, rather than violate the dictates of their conscience™.
Thus wherever the soul is clad with righteousness, it is emboldened both to do and suffer the will of God : and, consequently, Satan's engine of per- secution, whereby he has destroyed myriads, being divested of its power to intimidate the righteous, his dominion over them must for ever cease.
Lastly, righteousness will turn our weakness to strength. The powers of man, independent of divine grace, remain the same after conversion as before : of himself he can do nothing". But that divine
h Prov. xxix. 25. ' Luke xxi. 12, 13.
k Phil. i. 29. and 1 Pet. iv. 14. and Acts v. 41.
1 Acts iv. 18—20. ra Dan.iii. 18. » John xv. 5.