opportunity to return" to their own country and kindred : but they accounted the trial as nothing, because " they looked for a better country, that is, an heavenly ;" and expected in due time to arrive at " a city that hath foundations, whose builder and maker is Godq." Many women also who were tor- tured by the most ingenious cruelty even unto death, yet declined accepting deliverance upon dishonour- able terms, that they might be accounted worthy to obtain a better resurrection1. St. Paul too, that bright pattern of all virtues, assigns this as the reason why he did not faint under his unparalleled afflictions: " his outward man decayed ; but his inward man was renewed day by day :" and his afflictions appeared to him light and momentary, because he looked from the vanities of time and sense to the invisible realities of eternity8.
Thus shall our trials rather confirm, than weaken, our hope, provided it be scriptural and genuine : " our tribulation shall work patience ; our patience, experience; and our experience, hope'."
Once more : true faith will bring, us victorious through our conflicts. The Lord Jesus Christ him- self in this respect fully verified the prophecies respecting him ; and set us an example, which it is our privilege to follow. The Prophet Isaiah repre- sents Jesus as speaking in these triumphant strains : " The Lord God will help me; therefore shall I not be confounded : therefore have I set my face like a flint ; and I know that I shall not be ashamed. He is near that justifieth me ; who shall contend with me ? let us stand together ; who is mine adversary ? let him come near to me. Behold, the Lord God will help me ; who is he that shall condemn me ? lo, they all shall wax old as a garment ; the moth shall eat them upu." Thus will hope enable us also to anticipate the victory, while yet we are fighting on the field of battle : through it, we may defy all
9 Heb. xi. 8 — 10, 13-
-16.
1 Heb. xi. 35.
s 2 Cor. iv. 16—18.
» Horn. v. 3, 4.
u Isai. 1. 7—9.