his scourges and his sword, ready to execute his nod. Near him, in chains, is "Paul the aged, a prisoner of Jesus Christ." Hear his last words! They are apostolical music to all his followers, who will not obsequiously bow down and worship that image of the Beast, a Church Court. Thus he warbled forth his dying, heaven-inspired chaunt:-"I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith; henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness." There, in all its sublime and most impressive attributes, appears personified "the spirit of glory and of God," which rests upon them who "suffer and are reproached for the name of Christ." It is the same invincible fortitude which in every age and country, where the war has been carried on against "the dragon and his angels," has characterized the good soldiers of Jesus Christ. Whether under the tyranny of imperial, heathen Rome,—or among the ravages of that eastern Abaddon, the impostor Mohammed, or in the midst of the unceasing massacres of the crusading descendants of the harlot "woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus," or encircled with stripes, confiscation, penury, and a prison,-or scorn and banishment by Church Courts,-faithful Christians have exhibited the same inflexible moral courage, and the same persevering steadfastness to their supreme Master's law and cause.— "In honor and dishonor; by evil report and good report; though buffetted, and having no certain dwelling place, and made as the filth of the earth and the offscouring of all things, and troubled on every side, and perplexed, yet they are not in despair. They are persecuted, but not forsaken; and cast down, but not destroyed." That truth which they all believed and proclaimed survives them, for it is immortal. Their obedience to their Prophet and Legislator, Jesus Christ, is emblazoned in deathless records. Their fortitude in peril will be remembered as long as Christian annals shall perpetuate their hallowed memorial. Their obedience in "holding forth the word of life," and in confessing the Redeemer before men, is their living epitaph, for "their works do follow them." All are left to us an "example, that we be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises." With all disciples "who love the Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity," I have gospel fellowship. To all Christian churches of every denomination, I bear unfeigned affection. For every minister of the New Testament, who glories "only in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ," and who is not a "lord over God's heritage," I have heart-felt, fraternal regard. To all Christian assemblies and consociations who are united to promote the salvation of mankind, and the reign of Immanuel, I most fervently bid, "God speed !" But against Church Courts, who claim and exercise legislative and judicial authority, as they are antichristian in their origin, and the contrivance of popish apostates, to obtain and perpetuate unhallowed supremacy over the consciences of men; and as they have constantly exhibited those lamentable qualities of the human heart which L* Jeremiah describes,-being "deceitful above all things and desperately wicked,"-I sternly and resolutely pro test. A faithful minister of the New Testament is a totally opposite personage to a haughty Jesuitical Rabbi, and some modern protestant "Ecclesiastical Judicatures" are just as different from a Christian church, as the "Mother of Harlots" is adverse to "the Woman who fled into the wilderness." I "hold to the one and despise the other," for I cannot serve God and Mammon." THE CRAFTSMEN. A SERMON. BY JAMES GORDON. "By this craft we have our wealth." |