66

of my present feelings, O what a precious comforter is a good conscience." The Lord Henry Otto, a Bohemian, who suffered in the late persecution, said to the minister, "I was troubled, but now I feel a wonderful refreshment. O now I fear death no longer, I will die with joy;" and on the scaffold cried out, Behold I see the heavens opened, pointing with his hands at the place where others observed a certain brightness that did dazzle their eyes; and thus died with great cheerfulness. I shall but add the last words of that holy, and great Mr. Wishart, who thus spake amidst the fire, "This flame doth torment my body, but no whit abate my spirits."

From Flemming on the fulfilling of the Scriptures, third Edition, page 332.

REFLECTIONS.

Blessed, and holy men-ye more than men, your deaths shewed the fullness of your convictions of the truth and excellency of the Gospel; the sincerity of your motives; and your noble-your divine superiorty to the love of life, and the dread of death. Unbelief, for a while, disquieted some of their souls. This is the common infirmity, the constitutional sin of many of the Lord's dear children. Fiducial faith, determined them for the sacrifice; but it

was the assurance of hope, that carried them triumphant in a fiery car to glory.

Their death was not that of the Indian prisoner, wrought up to the highest pitch of frenzy, and national hate, cursing his enemies, by the God's of his country-No, in patience they possessed their souls; they sank into self abasement; they rose into supreme love to God; and died, breathing forth good will to men. Nor did they die like the self-righteous merit-monger, expecting future blessedness, as the debt due to him for present sufferings.--No, they died grounding their hope of salvation, upon the alone merits of Christ Jesus their much loved Redeemer. By their union to him, they were dignified in his dignity; and by his love to them, they were moulded into his likeness. O mighty love! O wonderous transformation!!

Have the triumphs of the cross ceased? They have not, Jesus, though enthroned above the heavens, now carries his followers through a fearful conflict. He manifests by them, the truth of his word, "My grace is sufficient for thee." Jesus is the same in every period-"a very present help in time of trouble." Those worthies of old, conquered through faith in the one, only, living, and all--sustaining Head of the Church; and it is now the duty and privi

lege of the Faithful to believe, also shall conquer through him. not called to the torturing rack, flaming pile, yet in the words of

"Saints, who feel the load of sin,

"Yet come off victorious;

Suffer Martyrdom within,

"Tho' it seem less glorious."

that they Though nor to the the poet,

What, though the enemies of the faith be whetting afresh their instruments for the war, let the children of Zion be joyful in their King; for he has promised the perpetuity of the church "On this rock will I build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. Overturn it? As soon might the sun be plucked from his orbit-the angels from their seats, or God from his throne. Overturn it? No, it shall stand till the trumpet of the archangel shall sound the dissolution of the globe.

THE HOPELESS YOUTH.

When Mr. Welsh was prisoner in the Castle of Edingburgh, the Lord Uchiltree was captain, whose sister was Mr. Welsh's mother in law, being John Knox's

wife. Yet being much taken up in King James's court, he took not time to be so comfortable to his cousin Welsh as he should. But being convinced of his own unkindness, he caused Mr. Welsh to sup with him one night, in the Castle, where were also several other gentlemen, and aamongst them, a Popish youth sate toward the lower end of the table, Mr. Welsh being by the Captain set at the upper end, entertained the company with grave and edifying discourse, which all delighted to hear him, save this young Papist; who, with laughter and derision, laboured to silence him; which was little regarded by Mr. Welsh. But after supper, while the guests sate a little, this youth stood up at the lower end of the table, and while Mr. Welsh proceeded from grave to gracious entertainment of his company, the youth came to that height of insolence, as with the finger to point at him, and with the face to make flouting grimaces; whereby he grieved the holy man so, as on a sudden he was forced to a silence.

The whole company, who had heard him with delight, were silent with him. Within a little Mr. Welsh, as moved by the Spirit of God, broke forth into these words; Gentlemen, the Spirit of God is provoked against us; and I shall entreat you not to be afraid to see what God

shall do among you, before you rise from the table; for he will smite some one of you with death before you go hence. All were silently astonished, waiting to see the issue, with fear. And while every man feared himself, except the insolent youth, he fell down dead suddenly at the foot of the table, to shew the power of God's jealousy against the mockers of his spirit, and the offers of his grace.

From Flemming on the fulfilling of the Scriptures; 3 Edit. p. 374.

REFLECTIONS.

Admit the truth of the relation, and many such instances of Divine judgements are on record, then follows the existence and providence of God. Deny the truth of the relation, then demonstrate its impossibility or falsehood. Say it is not to be credited, because merely founded on human testimony, the result then is, a complete abandonment of all faith in history, because that belief is founded on credible testimony. Reject it because not to be comprehended-give up then to the moles and to the bats, all that you cannot comprehend-even God and yourself.

Let no one deem the judgment on this insolent scoffer undue severity. This was a time of sore suffering to the Church in Scot

E