men's love of religion ; but to the protection afforded by human ! iws, and to t he prevalence of an idea, that toleration /';/ reli- gion is essentia] to civil liberty. It is however a ureal mercy to us to live in these days: and I call upon you to improve the
opportunities afforded you. Von can assemble together, none making you afraid : you can consecrate yourselves to the Lord, without any apprehension of being dragged for it to prison or to death. You must not however imagine, that '• the offence of the cross has ceased," or that you will not in your domestic and social circles have any thing to sutler. You may still have to make considerable sacrifices : your parents and governors may still act an unkind and oppressive part towards you ; and your friends may treat you with such contempt as is not easy to be borne. But, if you are not " called to resist unto blood," you have reason to be thankful: and, in this season of comparative peace, you must prepare to maintain, when called to it, a vigorous and active warfare. The roaring lion is as vigilant as ever to destroy ; and you also must be vigilant, if you would defeat his efforts'1.]
2. Let us, when persecution shall arise, act worthy of our high and holy calling —
[The command of our blessed Lord is, that we should be ready to lav down our lives for his sake. And he has plainly told us, that " he who will save his life, shall lose it; and he only who will lose his life for his sake, shall save it unto life eternal e." On no other terms can we be acknowledged as his disciples. Nor should we wish for any other terms than these. We should be ready to " rejoice in tribulation*";" and to " glory in the cross3" for our Lord's sake : yea, we should even " take pleasure in infirmities and distresses for his sake," in order that he may be glorified in us, and that " his strength may be per- fected in our weakness11." To all of you then I say, Prepare to approve yourselves " good soldiers of Jesus Christ." Who- ever you are, you are to " fight the good fight of faith1," and to stem the torrent against all the enemies of your salvation : and to you God says, as he did to the Prophet Ezekiel, " Be- hold, I have made thy face strong against their faces, and thy forehead strong against their foreheads; as an adamant, harder than flint, have I made thy forehead: fear them not, neither be dismayed at their looks, though they be a rebellious house k." " Be faithful unto death, and then will God give unto you the crown of life1."]
d 1 Pet. v. 8. e Luke xvii. 33. f Rom. v. 3.
6 Gal. vi. 14. h 2 Cor. xii. 10. ' 1 Tim. vi. 12.
k Ezek. iii. 8, 9. > Rev. ii. 10.