was Jehovah-nissi; they no longer conferred with flesh and blood, but set their faces as a flint against all the rage and malice of their enemies, " rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for the sake of Christ." Their hearts quailed not, even at the tribunals of kings and princes. The power of the Spirit within, testifying of Jesus, gave them a holy calm and heavenly peace, which could not be broken or destroyed by the malice of their enemies, though these were the chief men, and the powerful of their own nation, backed with all the authority of the Roman government.

"And ye also shall bear witness," adds our Saviour. Here was a still farther effect to be produced by the sending to them the Holy Ghost. He was first, as the Spirit of Truth, to act upon their hearts, testifying to the truth of Jesus. He was then to fill them with those holy joys and consolations, which would assuredly make them independent of the hatred of the world; and, finally, he was to enable them to bear their testimony to the truth, to speak boldly and freely in the name of Jesus, to rear the standard of the cross amid the lost sheep of Israel, and the benighted and idolatrous Gentiles, and to proclaim, with an unfaltering voice, with unshaken fortitude, and with abiding zeal, the great truths of the gospel "to every creature," whether "they would hear or whether they would forbear."

That this promise of the Saviour was realized to the letter, the whole record of their work and labour, as it is found in the Acts of the Apostles, most abundantly testifies. There we find these illiterate men, who but a short time before were wavering and uncertain in their minds, fleeing from persecution, hiding in corners from the rage of their enemies,―now united as one man, with one heart, with one

mind, with one purpose; "holding forth the word of life," as burning and shining lights, even in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation; and going forth in the strength of the Lord, and in the power of his might, to wage their warfare in the cause of Christ, not with carnal but spiritual weapons, and that, too, with such determined boldness, against all the opposition in their path, that their enemies" took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus."

Believer, you too, like the apostles, are set in the midst of many and powerful foès: though in the world, you are not of the world, and therefore exposed to its hate and its scorn. Where, then, can your soul rest in the midst of the boisterous elements around you?-where but on this promise of your Lord, that the Comforter shall be yours -shall be in you, to testify of him, and by the sweetness and the power of his constraining grace, to cast out of your mind all fear of those who "after having killed the body, have no more that they can do." Oh! what a blessed portion is yours, to have your souls possessed by such a gracious being! Who would not welcome the hatred of the world, to have the spirit of glory and of God resting on him! Who would not "glory in his infirmities," if the power of Christ might abide on him! Blessed indeed is he who hath the God of Jacob for his help-who can say from his inward experience of the Comforter, "Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident:" "For thou hast been a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shadow from the heat, when the blast of the terrible ones is as a storm against the wall."

But the inward witness is not only promised to you as

to the apostles, that you may bear up against all the discouragements and opposition of the world-you have also a testimony to bear, even as they had. The indwelling of the Spirit of Truth in their hearts, not only comforted them in the midst of the world's hate, it laid necessity on them to "bear witness" of Jesus and his gospel. The "fire burned within them, and they were constrained to "speak with their tongues." And so it must be with you. You are a debtor to the grace of the gospel, and you owe it to him that quickens you, not only to enjoy the blessing he conveys, but to "tell of all his wondrous works."

Now there was a peculiarity in the testimony which the apostles and first preachers of the gospel bore for the sake of Christ, and which does not belong to us. They wrought divers miracles, and spake divers languages; they were endowed with gifts of knowledge and prophecy, which have not been continued to us. By these, therefore, they gave a special and particular testimony to the truth as it is in Jesus. In this respect, then, our testimony must differ from theirs; but in all other points it ought to have a close resemblance. They testified to the truth by the blamelessness of their lives-by their holy consistency of life and conversation-by the spirit of love which pervaded all their words and all their works-by their steady and unwearied zeal in the cause of their Master-by their willingness to endure reproach and shame for the sake of the crucified Nazarene-by their faithfulness even unto death, in the service of their Lord. And doubtless, if many were convinced in the apostolic age, by means of the miraculous powers manifested by the disciples of Jesus, numbers also must have been assured, that "God was with them of a truth," when "they beheld their chaste

conversation coupled with fear"-when they looked on the united little band of "faithful witnesses," ready to give up all that the world holds most dear, but resolutely stedfast in their adherence to that faith, which by their daily walk was proved to "purify the heart," and "work by love."

Would that a similar testimony for the Lord Jesus Christ were raised now;-would that they who love him in sincerity might be careful to "keep the law of love," and careful to "maintain good works," and to let their light shine as a testimony before men. What is the use of the profession of a pure faith, if we fail to "adorn it in all things?"-what is the use of condemning the world by our words, if we assimilate ourselves to the world in too many of its works? This is, alas, in the Church of Christ, the age of profession; not, I mean, regarding the Church externally, but specially in the true Church. What fearful inroads has mere empty profession made in the spirituality, the vitality, the holiness of true members of Christ's flock! We think it sufficient to be able to give a clear statement of the reasons of the hope that is in us;we think it sufficient to make some stand, on some special and notable ground of difference between Christ and the world. But, alas! how little do we strive to bring every word, and work, and way into conformity with the mind and spirit of Christ;-how little do we strive to bring every thought into captivity to the obedience which is in Christ." We seem to be satisfied if we give some tokens, that we are not altogether barren or unfruitful in the work of the Lord; when our desire and aim should be, that "our profiting may appear unto all men." We are satisfied if we barely escape the charge of acting contrary to our profession, instead of desiring, with the full fervour

of a spirit that has been released from earthly motives, and filled with heavenly hopes, to adorn and to beautify it in all things. Would that we might evermore consider, that there is nothing of too little importance in our spirit and character to be moulded after the image of Christ;that to have a clear, convincing, and awakening testimony for Christ, we ought to exercise a godly jealousy over every thought, and word, and work, and earnestly endeavour to discharge the least as well as the greatest duties "to the glory of God."

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Were this spirit to pervade the "members in particular " of Christ's Church, what a heavenly glory would be shed upon the whole body. She is now in desolation, and fails to utter her testimony with convincing power against a godless world. And why? Not that she has been left powerless by her God, but because "her own backslidings reprove her "--because she has suffered the gold of the sanctuary to become dim. Oh that she might rise from the dust, and put on her beautiful garments-her glorious apparel of salvation-that she might really be for a praise in the whole earth, by each member of her communion bearing a clear and bright testimony, in oneness of spirit, and faith, and purity, to her Divine Redeemer. Stir up, then, I beseech every one of you, the gift of God that is assuredly in you, if you are the children of God; replenish your lamps with the oil of grace; kindle the flame of love afresh at the altar of your God; walk in the Spirit; declare by your every step, that you "seek a better country." "Let your light so shine," that "others seeing your good works, may glorify your Father which is in heaven." Let your testimony for Christ be so clear and explicit, that none shall hereafter be able to point to you, and say that the inconsistency of your practice confirmed them in their unbelief.

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