protection.-With a believing reliance on this promise, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord: "Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is. Of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together, for to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done. And now Lord, behold their threatenings and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word. And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together: and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.

It may well be said, that the prayer of faith moves the hand that moves the world.

Happy, thrice happy would it be for the Christian Church, if all her ministers were men of a kindred spirit, who, in the fulness of their faith and love, could sacrifice reputation, ease, wealth, yea, even life itself, for the Gospel's sake.-But alas ! the spirit of the world has made sad inroads into the visible Church of Christ; for many are slumbering on the lap of ease, who should be watchmen on the walls, and champions in the camp, of Zion.

Still, there are many blessed witnesses, who are valiant for the Truth, whose light shines in the midst of darkness, and whose labours are rendered effectual in spreading the knowledge of Christ. May their numbers be abundantly in

creased, till Zion shall become a praise in the earth.

To every such faithful labourer, St. Paul gives this most important charge: "Be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity. Give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them, that thy profiting may appear unto all. Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine ; continue in them; for in doing this, thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee."

How rousing was the Divine commission given by Jehovah to his servant Jeremiah: "Gird up thy loins, and arise, and speak to them all that I command thee: be not dismayed at their faces, lest I confound thee before them. They shall fight against thee; but they shall not prevail against thee, for I am with thee, saith the Lord, to deliver thee."

With equal force is the command to Ezekiel : "Son of man, be not afraid of them, neither be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns be with thee, and thou dost dwell among scorpions: be not afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their looks, though they be a rebellious house. Thou shalt speak my words unto them, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear; for they are most rebellious."

The great Apostle of the Gentiles entered fully into the spirit of these Divine charges. He was no timid, no time-serving shepherd of His character is beautifully described

the flock.

by Mala chi, under the general description of faithful pastors: "The law of truth was in his mouth, and iniquity was not found in his lips: he walked in peace and equity, and did turn many away from their iniquity. For the priests' lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth, for he is the messenger of the Lord of Hosts."

May all the friends of Christ be stirred up to fervent prayer at this eventful period, that a spirit of revival may be poured out on all our Churches, lest the Lord, in righteous judgment, should fulfil on us, his threatening to the church at Ephesus: "Remember from whence thou art fallen; and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.

"In pity to a dying world,

Almighty Father, send thy grace;
And let thy banner be unfurl'd,

And faith's slow triumph speed its pace.

"What millions of immortal souls,
Still live unmindful of thy sway!
And as death's fearful torrent rolls,
Hundreds are daily swept away.

"O Lord, must creatures be undone,
Who from thy hand receive their breath?
Shall they be lost, for whom thy Son,
Came down to suffer shame and death?

"Let sovereign mercy interpose,

To rescue sinners from their doom:

D

And send thy word to heal their woes,
And light their passage to the tomb.

"O spread thy truth through ev'ry clime, Teach stubborn souls to weep and pray; Let this be the accepted time,

And this, salvation's glorious day."

CHAPTER IV.

AN ACCOUNT OF THE PERSECUTIONS WHICH ST. PAUL ENDURED FOR THE SAKE OF THE GOSPEL.

WHEN Daniel stood before Nebuchadnezzar to explain his dream, he shunned not to declare the whole counsel of God, however galling it might be to the ambition of this haughty conqueror. He told him of the fleeting nature of his own dominion; that empire would succeed empire, till the period of the fourth monarchy should arrive, when the God of Heaven would set up a kingdom which should never be destroyed; that it would break in pieces and consume all the former kingdoms, and that it should stand for ever.

This kingdom was represented to Nebuchadnezzar by a stone cut out without hands, to signify, that it would be established in the earth by an Almighty Power, and not through human skill. While other empires were to pass away, this stone was to increase, till it should become a great mountain, and fill the whole earth.

In another vision, Daniel saw one like the Son of Man, coming with the clouds of heaven; he came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him