poverty;-poor in temporal possessions, and rich in spiritual; rich in good works, in faith, and love, and hope, and charity; rich in the promises of God, in the graces of the Spirit, in the reversionary wealth of the kingdom of heaven. In this view of the subject, how grossly does the term "rich" appear to be misapplied in the vocabulary of the world! You are the poor man, who, "though clothed in purple and fine linen,” are hovering on the brink of perdition; who are "sowing to the wind," or "feeding on ashes;" who have never dug in the mine of the Divine promises, and filled your coffers with the immeasurable riches of the grace of God; who, amidst all the prodigality of heavenly mercies, are suffering a dearth and famine of the word of God, of the grace of Christ, and of the communication of his Spirit. This, this my brethren, is the only genuine poverty; this poverty of the soul, this destitution of all the best of God. On the contrary to be tried occasionally, and to be always comforted; to be ill clothed in body, but to have on the vesture of a Saviour's righteousness; to be badly fed, but to be always contented; to have a hovel upon earth, but a throne in heaven; to be forgotten of men, but to be known and honoured of God, and lifted above the atmosphere of this world's trials and wants, by the presence of a Saviour and the power of the Spirit of God;-this, this is such poverty as no wise man would change for the riches which "make to themselves wings and flee away;" or which, if they remain to the impenitent, remain only to "choke the seed" of the word, or "witness by their rust" at the bar of God against the guilty possessor. How solemn is the declaration of

our Lord as to this point, " It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God!"

III. But consider, thirdly, the further TRIALS PREDICTED TO THE CHURCH OF SMYRNA. "Behold," it is said, "the devil shall cast some of you into prithat ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation

son,

for ten days."

No point, my brethren, can be more strongly established in Scripture, than that an exemption from outward trials is not promised to the servants of God whilst upon earth. It is the general language of the book of God, "In the world ye shall have tribulation." "Ye shall have it," that is, if ye need it; and, as almost all appear to need the purifying fires of this furnace, let few expect to escape them. But consider the nature, the author, and the end of the trials thus predicted to the Church of Smyrna in the text.

"Ye shall have tribulation," it is said, "for ten days." These words may be supposed to refer either to the ten persecutions of the church under the Roman emperors; or, as days are often put for years in the language of prophecy, to the last and most terrible of these persecutions, under Dioclesian, which lasted for ten years.

"The de

Of this trial the devil is the author. vil," it is said, “shall cast some of you into prison." It might often serve, my brethren, to stay the hand of persecution in religion, to consider who, in fact, sharpens the axe of the executioner, lights the fires of cruelty, or kindles the still fiercer flames of bigotry and theological hatred in the soul. It is his work who is the "father of lies," and therefore the natural enemy of truth, and the author of every plot for its destruction.

Consider, therefore, if you discover even a spark of intolerance and harshness in your own heart, in what flame that spark is kindled, and make haste to extinguish it in the waters of love.

It is added, with regard to these trials and afflictions of the Church of Smyrna, “He shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried." -Here, then, my brethren, if you are the children of God, is the real end and object of your trials. They are permitted, not in anger, but in love; not to destroy, but to sanctify, to prove your sincerity, to try your patience, to ascertain your deficiencies, quicken your zeal, and stimulate you to confidence, and trust, and prayer, and love to Him who is "able to save to the uttermost all who come unto him." It is thus, my brethren, that our Heavenly Father frustrates the devices of the devil. The very fires lighted by the enemy of souls, serve only to cherish the graces of the true Christian; to melt down the irregularities of temper; to burn in, and fix, if I may use the image, all those qualities which were perhaps hitherto sketched but in light and fading colours on the character.

In this view of the trials of the true Christian, well may it be added in the text, "fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer." Shall we grieve for trials which are not merely useful, but necessary? Will you "fear," when the Lord himself presides over the instrument of suffering, and weakens its force, or increases your strength to endure it, or renders it subservient to your eternal good; when not merely "one like unto the Son of Man," but the Son of Man himself, walks amidst the flames of the furnace, to shel

ter his servants and to consume their adversaries?

IV. But consider, fourthly, THE DUTY ENJOINED UPON THE CHURCH OF SMYRNA IN THE TEXT. "Be thou faithful unto death."

The grand difficulty in religion, after all, my Christian brethren, is perseverance,-fidelity to the cause we have chosen, constancy and courage in our Master's service. It is comparatively easy, under the grace of God, to make resolutions; the difficulty is to keep them. It is comparatively easy to set out well. But when resistance increases; when the enemies of the Cross multiply, and its friends fall away; when interest and passion take the side of indifference and neutrality; when novelty has ceased, and many condemn, and few applaud; then it is that the treacherous heart needs no power short of Omnipotence to sustain it. Hence the injunction of the text, "Be faithful." Covenanted to God as you are in baptism, by your daily vows, by your Christian profession, "be faithful." Coldness, in your case, is treason; disobedience, treason; worldliness, treason.-And, moreover, "be faithful unto death." Ye have borne something; "but ye have not yet resisted unto blood." The storm may thicken, fresh terrors may darken around you: " be faithful." Live for your Lord while you are permitted to live; and, if needs be, stand prepared to die for him, as for the Saviour who lived and died for you.

Would you, my Christian brethren, have a specimen of the holy courage and constancy required in the text? You may find it in the truly splendid history of the sufferings and death of that ancient Bishop of this very church, to whom

6

I have already referred. How impressive is the following statement, taken from an authentic history! "When Polycarp," it is said, "was brought to the tribunal, the proconsul asked him if he was Polycarp; to which he assented. The proconsul then began to exhort him, saying, Have pity on thine own great age; swear by the Fortune of Cæsar; repent; say, Take away the Atheists,' (meaning the Christians.) Polycarp, casting his eye solemnly over the multitude, waving his hand to them, and looking up to heaven, said, Take away these Atheists,' (meaning the idolaters around him.) The proconsul, still urging him, and saying, 'Swear, and I will release thee-reproach Christ.' Polycarp said, Eighty and six years have I served him, and he hath never wronged me, and how can I blaspheme my King, who hath saved me?' I have wild beasts,' said the proconsul, and will expose you to them, unless you repent.' Call them,' said the martyr. I will tame your spirit by fire,' said the Roman. • You threaten me," said Polycarp, • with the fire which burns only for a moment; but are yourself ignorant of the fire of eternal punishment, reserved for the ungodly."" "Soon after," it is added, "being bound on the burning stake, he exclaimed, O Father of thy beloved and blessed Son Jesus Christ! O God of all principalities and of all creation! I bless Thee that Thou hast counted me worthy of this day, and this hour, to receive my portion in the number of the martyrs, in the cup of Christ. I praise Thee for all these things. I bless Thee, I glorify Thee, by the Eternal High Priest, Jesus Christ, Thy well-beloved Son: through whom,