had wings as a dove, then would I flee away and be at rest," was still not that waiting spirit which finds its strength renewed, and able to struggle with the daily cross. Were we to judge, we might say, it would have been better perhaps to have waited the time of the Lord; and though, to use Mr. Renton's idea, they might by their death desire to bequeath that great possession of faith in Christ to their survivors, yet might they have thought it desirable to live in order to disperse those riches they possessed with a bounteous liberality, in preaching, teaching, exhorting, and living the examples of the life of faith. Thus to strengthen the weak hands and confirm the feeble knees.'

'I believe,' Henry answered, there is such a thing as a spirit of Martyrdom, a real desire of it, and which is urged to go before the Lord, rather than to follow, waiting his appointment. Some we have seen accomplish this desire with a courage that was triumphant over every suffering; but others, as if to warn us against this rank self-dependence, have been affecting instances of the weakness of the flesh, when unsupported by the power of the Spirit. Spiritual sacrifices must be made in and by the Spirit; the natural man cannot perform them: he may give his body to the sacrifice without the Spirit, but it will be the unprofitable act of the carnal mind, notwithstanding the greatness of the gift.

'However,' Mr. Renton said, 'I suppose you do not wish to quench that ardent flame, but only to give it its proper direction, and put it in subjection to the will of God.'

By no means, to quench: but it is an act of no common kind, and knowing both our natural weak

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ness and the power of temptation to presumption, I feel it to be one of those sacred subjects which, in humility and prayer, should be referred to God alone. We remember Peter, when ignorant of himself, said, Lord, why cannot I follow thee now, I will lay down my life for thy sake." The honour is great to be called of God to such an act, and we should endeavour to look upon it, so as that few are found worthy to lay down their lives for his sake, or to be distinguished by a record such as we find " even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you where Satan dwelleth." Or as to Stephen, in the hour of yielding his life, to have the heads of the heavenly gates lifted up to show him that King of Glory, who had entered in, and stood ready to receive his martyred servant.'

'You meet an idea of my own, dear friend, that it is presumption so to give or make an offering of ourselves, and must be far from an acceptable sacrifice, unless first called for by the Lord. And when he calls, he will prepare the sacrifice, he will make it such as he would have it, and perform for it all that the cleansing blood and sanctifying Spirit undertake. Like that demand and surrender so beautifully written: "When thou saidst, Seek ye my face, my heart said unto thee, Thy face Lord will I seek." Such a surrender is in a day of power," for it is the Lord himself who makes his people willing.'

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'Just so,' he replied, and here is the difference, the being willing and the being forward. It is clearly exemplified in the apostles themselves. Their lives were taken by the persecutors, and they yielded them joyfully. But they strictly observed the Lord's rule: If they persecute you in one city, flee ye into

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another." As long as they could do this, so long they saw their life uncalled for; but when overruling providences prevented, and they were in the power of the human persecutor, they were ready. We always see this disposition expressed by them. When Paul was told that bonds and imprisonment awaited him, he declared, "I am ready, not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus;" and yet to save his life he appealed to Cæsar.'

'In the apostle we have bright evidences of the true spiritual love, for with the declaration you have just mentioned, of his object, love to the name of Jesus, we have the corresponding one of love to the brethren, where he expresses the fullness of his affection to the Philippians: "Yea, and if I be offered up upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy and rejoice with you all." This is giving the body in the truest sense of spiritual sacrifice; and we know whence he derived it, and whom he desired to follow by that affecting expression, Rom. ix. 3: "For I could wish that myself were accursed from," or, according to, or after the example of "Christ," (as it should be rendered,)" for my brethren my kinsman, according to the flesh." "Greater love hath no man than this that a man lay down his life for his friends." Such a love will be indifferent to the manner of the death, whether of fire, or sword, or wild beasts. The body is surrendered, and the Lord will do as he sees fit, and support the sufferer as he knows how.'

Here Mrs. Reynolds with her usual mildness, said, Allow me to interrupt for a moment the view we are taking, by presenting another. However highly I estimate the martyr principle in the great act of

abstract sacrifices, and for which, were I appointed to it, I should earnestly pray to be prepared, well remembering the words of our Lord: "Whosoever shall seek to save his life, shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life, shall preserve it,”—yet I think there can be no greater demonstration of the love of God, than in that daily suffering which some have to endure, in bearing the cross and reproach of Christ. Look at the account St. Paul gives of himself, 2 Cor. xi. 22, 23, when he is compelled to boast in order to avow his right to the due estimation of his ministry. There is described a life of deaths, if I may so speak, as “in death" oft he bore in his body the marks of the Lord Jesus; and had he actually died, when left for dead, how many sufferings in the body he would have escaped.'

'You remember, doubtless, what was spoken of him by the Lord: " I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake," and this will direct us to consider what that slow and sure sacrifice is of a life of faith. “They that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution." Our Liturgy says, 'The holy church throughout all the world doth ACKNOWLEDGE thee.' They must confess him, and therefore must suffer persecution; they cannot deny, and therefore must give the body if taken, and thus thousands have suffered, and do suffer a martyrdom, without having had their lives formally taken by cruel murderers, because they acknowledge the Lord in their life and conversation.'

'But persecution is not martyrdom,' Maria Evans said: 'I must confess I should be more ready to suffer the one than the other, for there is a certain gratification very pleasing to the mind, to feel that one is

doing right, though wicked men should treat you as if doing wrong.'

'But if that were all, dear Maria, it would lose the value of being sacrificial. Your motive would be only self-satisfaction, which I own is pleasant, but that is not the end we should seek;-the end should be to commend the gospel by glorifying Christ, as being the "living epistles" of the Spirit seen and

read of all men."'

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'Well, I am a novice you know, perhaps I may in time see the difference, but I do not now. I like a good conscience, and would strive to keep it. There is cousin Sandford, who is about to give himself up to the work of the gospel; ask what he thinks on the subject, for it is not impossible he may be put to the trial.'

I do not wish you, Maria, to put me into prominence,' he said, in a tone of chagrin, 'for I feel at this moment somewhat ashamed to find I have not been prepared to meet the subject with any personal experience. I hope I should die if I were called to it; but I fear I am wanting in the true feeling which is, I perceive, more than courage, more than party feeling, more than selfish fame, more than honourable adherence to a profession.'

Henry, turning a complacent eye upon Mr. Sandford, said with affection, Much more,—it is to be treated as the filth and the off-scouring of all things; and though the world was really not worthy of them they persecuted unto death, yet the fact was the world did not think them worthy to breathe its atmosphere. "Away with such a fellow from the earth!" Nor were Paul's talents, and tongues, and learned education sufficient in their estimation to