by fair means and threatenings to make them conceal themselves from being known to be christians, yet can I not preserve them from persecution."

And when they were condemned, though it was by a most unjust sentence and to a most horrid death, they were so far from repining, that, instead of bitter and harsh reflections, they gave thanks to their enemies for condemning them. No more joyful message could be told them than that they must die for the sake of Christ. Babylas, the martyr,* commanded that the chains which he had worn in prison should be buried with him, to shew that those things which seem most ignominious, are, for the sake of Christ, most splendid and honourable; imitating therein the great apostle, who was so far from being ashamed of, that he took pleasure in, bonds, chains, reproaches, persecutions, distresses for Christ's sake, professing to glory in nothing but the cross of Christ.

Whenever they were actually under the bitterest torments, they never discovered the least sign of a furious or impatient mind. Cyprian,† exhorting the martyrs to courage and constancy, tells them, that "those who had gone before them never stirred in the hottest conflict, but maintained their ground with a free confession, an unshaken mind, a divine courage, destitute indeed of external weapons, but armed with the shield of faith." They were ambitious of no gift but the crown of righteousness, nor sought after any other glory but what was heavenly;

Chrysost. lib. de Bab. tom i.

+ Ep. 8

they feared no torments but those of hell, and that fire that was truly terrible. Such was the temper, such the support of these christian soldiers these true champions of the christian faith! Indeed this consideration was one of the greatest cordials that kept up their spirits under the severest sufferings, that they were assured of a reward in heaven, "Amongst us," says Cyprian, "there flourishes a strength of hope, firmness of faith, a mind erect amongst the ruins of a tottering age, an immoveable virtue, a patience serene and cheerful, and a soul always secure and certain of its God."

REFLECTION.

Blessed martyrs and confessors! Who can imitate the patience of the saints? Who can possess so firm, so pure a faith, as to tread, even remotely, in your steps? I look with awe on these great examples, and depress myself even to the earth, under the conviction of my inadequacy to follow or to adopt such illustrious marks of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Yet even to this am I called as a christian disciple. My disposition, at least, should be to take up this cross. also in Christ Jesus! He will accept my mind, though my body may not suffer. But, blessed Lord! make me ready to suffer,-and my spirit, soul, and body shall be thine.

Let the same mind be in me which was

* Ad Demet.

Even in modern days, many blessed martyrs have fallen-fallen, even as their primitive masters fell: and at this hour, the true christian is often called, if not to similar sufferings, to a painful endurance of the truth. How many still suffer reproach for the cross of Christ! How many have the sentence of death in themselves! How many labour through honour and dishonour, through evil report and good report! But, happy and consistent christian! go on your way rejoicing;-be thou faithful unto death, and in death, and the Spirit of glory and of God will assuredly give you rest !—Amen.

PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY;

OR, THE

RELIGION OF THE ANCIENT CHRISTIANS IN THE

FIRST AGES OF THE GOSPEL.

Part Third.

CHAPTER I.

Of the Justice and Honesty of the primitive Christians.

HAVING Considered the religion of the ancient christians, both as it respected their piety towards God, and their sober and virtuous carriage towards themselves, we proceed, in the last place, to examine it in reference to their conduct towards others, which the apostle describes under the title of righteousness. Under this head, he comprehends all that duty and respect which we owe to others, and which we shall consider in the following instances; namely, their justice and integrity in matters of commerce and traffic; their mutual love and charity to one another; -their unity and peaceableness;-and their submission and subjection to civil government.

1. With respect to their just and upright carriage in their outward dealings. One great design of the christian law is, to establish and confirm that great principle, which is one of the prime and fundamental laws of nature, to hurt no man, and to render to every one his due; to teach us to conduct ourselves as becomes us in our relations towards men. Next to our duty towards God, the gospel obliges us to be righteous to men, sincere and upright in all our dealings, "not going beyond nor defrauding one another in any matter, to put away lying, and to speak truth to each other, as fellow members of the same christian brotherhood and society. It settles that golden rule as the fundamental law of all just and equitable commerce, that "all things whatsoever we would that men should do to us, we should even so do to them, this being the sum of the law and the prophets;" as no rule could have been more equitable in itself than this, so none could possibly have been contrived more short and plain, and more accommodate to the common cases of human life.

So strong an impression did these excellent precepts make upon the mind of Alexander Severus, the Roman Emperor, that he resolved to build a temple to our Saviour, and to receive him into the number of their gods. This was not executed; but his historian says, he placed the image of Christ in his private chapel, amongst those of noble heroes and `deified persons, to whom he paid religious adoration、