and of the day." The state of profession was very different then from what it is at this time : people did not embrace Christianity unless they had been strongly convinced of its truth ; and the moment they did embrace it, they strove to " walk worthy of their high calling," and to stimulate each other to " adorn the doctrine of God their Saviour in all things." The persecutions they suffered obliged them to have constant recourse to God in prayer for his support ; and to watch carefully over their own conduct, that they might not give any just " occasion to their adversaries to speak reproachfully." Hence their religion was vital and practical, and very dif- ferent from that which obtains among the professors of Christianity at this day. Now men are reputed Christians, though they have their affections alto- gether set upon the world, and their habits differing but little from those of heathens. A man may be a Christian, though he drink, and swear, and commit evils, which ought scarcely to be so much as named amongst us. A man may be a Christian, though he have no real love to Christ, no sweet communion with him, no holy glorying in his cross and passion. But " ye have not so learned Christ, if so be ye have heard him, and been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus." The distinction between light and dark- ness is the same as ever : and those only who walk according to the example of the primitive Christians, can be called " the children of the light and of the day." But those, whoever they be, are prepared for death : to them, though it may come suddenly, it cannot come unlooked for : it "cannot overtake them as a thief."
And such was that exalted character, whom it has pleased our God so suddenly to take from the midst of us. In whatever light we view him, he was a bright and consistent character, an ornament to his profession, an honour to his God. It is the peculiar excellence of religion, that it operates in every de- partment of human life, and stimulates to an exem- plary discharge of every duty. It is superfluous for
z 2