nature against his adversaries, and, with one flash of heaven's lightning, have laid them dead at his feet, he has said: "Put up the sword."

In pursuing our Lord's character on this point, it remains but to observe his perfect and beautiful conduct at the period of death. His enemies, shouting for his blood, smote and buffeted him ; they crowned him with thorns, and, in mockery, threw around him a purple robe. They laughed him to scorn, and defied him. He was made to bear the cross, and he was nailed to the wood between two thieves: they crucified him, and gave him gall to drink, as if the cup which he had drained to the very dregs, had not been sufficiently bitter: they murdered him; and yet when bleeding and expiring, a pure and spotless victim to crime, his spirit bade farewell to the scene of blood in the Divine exclamation: "Father, forgive them; they know not what they do!"

Yes! our Lord himself has proved to us that his doctrines are not merely cold and barren speculations, but that they are capable of affording support in the most trying and painful events of life. He has shown us that they are not to be regarded as the delusive imagery of a dream, which fades away before the waking realities of existence, but that they are themselves real, themselves practicable, and intended to form and influence every thought, desire, and action. The conduct of Jesus

G

at the last moment of his brief earthly career, when he was about to crown our faith, completes the unity of his character, and perfects the harmony of the whole picture.

That it is incumbent on every professing Christian to follow the example of his Saviour, will not be disputed. The disciples eagerly embraced the inviting model set before them. "Let this mind be in you," says St. Paul," which was in Christ Jesus," Peter, exhorting his brethren to endure evils, gives as a reason, "because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example that ye should follow in his steps." "He that saith he abideth in him," observes John, "ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked."* And their practice agreed with their professions. We have already seen their numerous exhortations to endurance; and we find that they suffered every affliction without an attempt at violent resistance or revenge. When persecuted and beaten, they rejoiced that they were "counted worthy to suffer shame for his name."+ "We both hunger and thirst," say the disciples, "and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwelling-place; and labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it; being defamed, we entreat."‡

* 1 John ii. 6.

+ Acts v. 41.

See Acts xx. 19, 23; xxi. 13. 1 Cor. iv. 11-13. 2 Cor. xi. 24, &c. Heb. xi. 36, &c.

When the infuriated populace were hurling stones at Stephen, he said, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit;" and then, as if filled with the influence of his holy Master, "Lord, lay not this sin to their charge!" With these forgiving words on his lips, "he fell asleep."

In fact, the early followers of Jesus willingly underwent the most lingering tortures, and were emulous of becoming martyrs for his sake."* They knew, "Blessed are they that die in the Lord," and had reason to exclaim : "O Death, where is thy sting? O Grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; but thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."

CHAPTER IX.

OPINIONS AND PRACTICE OF THE PRIMITIVE

CHRISTIANS FOR THE FIRST THREE

CENTURIES.

We now come to the important evidence afforded by the character, the opinions, and the practice

*For a full account of their sufferings, and their patient endurance, both from scriptural and profane testimony, see the first five chapters of Paley's "Evidences of Christianity."

of the primitive Christians. We believe the following proposition to be capable of proof: That not only the fathers of the church held it unlawful for Christians to go to war, but that all who embraced the Christian religion, abstained from the use of arms, while the faith itself was pure and inviolate; and that not until it became corrupt, did its professors become soldiers.

Every narration* concerning the early lovers of Christianity, gives them a character composed of those attributes which were so zealously commended by our Saviour. They met together: they joined in prayer, they sang hymns in concert. Their love, their humility, their forgiveness, and their endurance, were admired and celebrated in the heathen world. We are informed by a learned writer on this subject, that-"Whenever they were sought for in order to condemnation, they were not solicitous for opportunities to escape. And if they did not run away from suffering, much less did they oppose it, and make tumults and parties to defend themselves. No! they were led as lambs to the slaughter; and as the sheep before the shearers are dumb, so opened they not their mouths, but committed their cause to Him that judges righteously, and who has said, 'Vengeance is mine; I will repay it."". "They did not

* Paley's Evidences. Pliny's Letter to Trajan, &c.
+ "Primitive Christianity." By William Cave.

think it enough not to return evil for evil, or barely to forgive their enemies, unless they did them all the kindness that lay in their power." "They did not confine their bounty within the narrow limits of a party, this or that sect of men; but embraced an object of love and pity, wherever they met it. They were kind to all men, even to their bitterest enemies, and that with a charity as large as the circles of the sun, that visits all parts of the world, and shines as well upon a dreary prospect, as upon a pleasant garden."*

A preliminary objection may here be advanced, and it may be said, that the Christians refused to fight, not because of their aversion to war, but because of the idolatry connected with the military service of Rome; that the oath which every soldier was obliged to take, was full of idolatry; that the standards had divine honours paid to them; and that images of the emperors were to be worshipped.

+ We at once admit that the Christians shunned every vestige of idolatry, and that this was one cause of their refusal to bear arms, and indeed it is so stated by Tertullian himself. But this

* By the rules laid down for their conduct under persecution, flight was allowed, but not resistance.

+ See "Doctrines and Practice of the Early Christians," a most able treatise, by Thomas Clarkson, M. A. The writer of the above pages begs to acknowledge that he is indebted to this work for much of the following information.