LXXXII.

They were stoned-they were fawn afunder-they were flain with the fword-being deftitute, afflicted, tormented.-Hebrews, xi. 37.

THE chriftian church glories in its noble army of martyrs, who bore fuch variety of torments for the fake of religion.

I do not fee much ground, fays the objector, for glorying on this occafion. I could bring various inftances from modern times, of perfons, who have fuffered torments and death with equal refolution; and yet without any connection with religion. Look into the accounts of North America particularly. There you will meet with many well-authenticated narratives of chiefs, who have braved the extremes of cruelty with as much fortitude as any of your boafted martyrs.

It is true. The mind of man can exert amazing fortitude, when it is fcrewed up by fome powerful worldly motive, as well as when it is actuated by religion. But the motive fhould appreciate

the action. If so, we fhall find the worldly motive very deficient; and of courfe the action.

What is the Indian's motive? The example of his ancestors--the customs of his country-the pride of his heart-the fhame of retreating-the glory of fuffering-all contribute to roufe his fortitude.Besides, as he knows he must fuffer, he may as well fuffer as a hero.-What recruits he may derive from inebriating liquors, I know not. I believe he is often obliged to them.

The cafe of the poor martyr was wholly different. So far from meeting the admiration of mankind, his fufferings were the object of contempt. He had nothing on this fide the grave, to keep up his spirits. His view into futurity was his only support. With ardent faith he raised his eye to heaven; and in filent fuffering refted upon invifible bleffings.Befides, martyrdom was his choice. His deliverance might have been obtained: but on fuch conditions, as would have brought him on a level with the world.

Then again, confider the demeanour of thefe two different fufferers.-The behaviour of the Indian is wild, noisy, frantic, boasting—as if he would deaden his feeling by feeming not to feel. -The chriftian, on the other hand, fuffers with mild

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mildness, patience, and meek refignation. His feelings are deadened only by a dependence on God.

Laftly, the worldly motive has no ftable dependence. Remove the motive, and the fortitude fubfides. The chriftian's motive cannot be removed.It refts on a stable foundation, and cannot fail.

After all however, continues the objector, we find many suffering heroically in defence of false opinions.

It is true: but these perfons may ftill be confidered as fuffering in the caufe of religion.

The martyrs of the gofpel, however did not suffer in confirmation of opinions; but of facts, in which they could not be deceived. The facts confirmed the opinions. Thus the refurrection of Chrift, was the grand fact, which they died to establish. On this fact the truth of christianity was founded.

LXXXIII.

Keep innocency, and do the thing that is right; for that fhall bring a man peace at the laft.Pfalm xxxvii. 38.

IF a man were to go a journey with a view of taking poffeffion of a large estate at the end of it, on what would his thoughts be chiefly employed? Would they dwell on the little conveniencies, and inconveniencies of his journey? or on the great conclufion of it? If he met with a bad inn, or a bad road, would it give him any great anxiety? Or would the best accommodations, or the most beautiful profpects divert his attention from the great object he had in view at the clofe of his journey.

In our worldly journey however we need no advice-in our eternal one, I fear we are too often difpofed to take none. Excellent as the advice of the text is, we fee people much more attached to the accommodations of their journey, than to the

end of it. We every where fee the great business of the world hurrying us on with restless importunity; while a general coldness prevails with regard to those things, which would bring us peace at the laft.

But I should rather wifh to draw the proof of this neglect from our own breafts, than from our observations on others. Let us leave others to themselves: let us judge our own hearts; and confider well, whether we lay the great stress on those things, which are to bring us peace at the last-or on those, which are to bring us comfort, at present?

The end of every thing is the great point we fhould aim at. Even in the mereft mechanic art, if the end be not kept in view, the labour is loft. In our paffage through this world therefore, unless we look up to thofe things, which bring us peace at the laft, we change what might otherwise be our happiness, into a state uncomfortable at present, and joyless in the expectation. A man may buffet the accidents of life, and fight his way through the world, while he is in health, and strength; and he may always find fome pleafing circumstance, to keep up his fpirits. But when he comes to the laft, all these joyous circumstances will vanish; and if he have