their state. Another reason was, because that book appointed godfathers and godmothers in baptism to the exclusion of parents, who they thought were the properest persons to devote their children to God, and take care of them afterwards. Another was, the use of the sign of the Cross, which Christ had not appointed, and which tended to encourage superstition. Another was, being obliged to reject all from the Lord's Supper as would not receive it kneeling, which they could not in conscience do, because many excellent Christians might very conscientiously scruple to do it. Again, that book states the three distinct orders of bishops, priests, and deacons, as evident from Scripture and ancient authors; they thought the Scripture only pointed out two orders, bishops or pastors, and deacons, and therefore could not solemnly assent to this. Again, they could not consent to pronounce all saved that are buried, except the unbaptized, the excommunicated, and self-murderers; for though they thought themselves bound to judge with the utmost degree of charity of others, yet they could not in conscience thank God for taking to Himself the soul of a person who perhaps gave every evidence of a wicked life, and an impenitent death. They could not consent to read the Apocrypha as of the same authority with the Old and New Testament, because there is no evidence at all of its being. divinely inspired. They could not approve of the Athanasian Creed, which pronounced everlasting destruction on every one that could not just believe that form drawn up by fallible men. There were a great many articles in the canons, which I have not time and it might not be agreeable to you to mention, which they could not conscientiously swear obedience to. And they could not solemnly swear, that it was unlawful in all cases, and under any pretence whatever, to take up arms against the king. Upon these principles which I have mentioned, and many others which for want of time I have omitted, they thought it better to obey

God than man, and to give up their earthly all, and throw themselves and their families entirely upon Providence, than violate conscience, and go directly contrary to conviction; and therefore they did so. Few of them, comparatively, having private fortunes of their own to live upon, the greater part were thrown into a state of absolute dependance, not to say beggary. I remember reading that one of them, who had, I think, eleven children, told a relation that came to see him that he had but three pence in the world, and that he and his eleven children had nothing to live upon now, but the sixth chapter of Matthew— "Taking no thought for the morrow;" "and your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of these things." I cannot forbear adding, though it would have come in more properly in what I have to say in the afternoon, that that very day, before the relation left the house, a rich supply came in from an unknown, unexpected friend, that assisted them for many days. As most of them continued preaching after the ejectment, they were subject to very heavy fines and terrible imprisonments, so that those of them that had property were distrained upon again and again, and consequently greatly impoverished. If I mistake not, Mr. Philip Henry had thirty loads of grain carried off his ground in this way at one time, beside a quantity of cattle. After awhile, & law was passed subjecting them to very severe punishment if they came within five miles of any corporation or market town, or the town where they formerly preached; and every person above sixteen years of age that came to hear them was subject to an increased fine for every offence, and at last to transpor tation beyond sea. So that you see they not only resigned lucrative and comfortable livings, but they were so circumstanced that it was hardly possible for them to derive any advantage from their profession in any other way, it being an exceedingly hazardous thing to hear as well as to preach. And they did, literally, as the Apostle expresses it

in the text, "Wander about, in dens and caves of the earth, being destitute, afflicted, tormented;" separated from their families. And a great part of them stuck to their principles, and lived and died rejoicing that they were enabled so to do.

I now proceed to what I had chiefly in view, making some instructive and useful remarks on this case.

1. Such a case as this shows us that there is such a thing as principle in the world, bad as it is. And what an excellent, powerful, glorious thing it is! 'Tis an easy thing to talk when all is smooth, and prosperous, and easy;-and there is no great virtue in being attached to religion, as it has been sometimes expressed, when she walks in her golden slippers. But when conscience and principle are on one side, and all a man's prosperity and worldly interest on the other-there's the test; that shows what a man is; and if anything can be a true or decisive test of principle and character, this is,-giving up one's earthly all for the sake of truth and conscience, and encountering every external and formidable evil. As Peter said to our blessed Lord, "Lo, we have left all and followed thee;" and we can do no more, we can give no better proof of our attachment to principle. this was the most decisive and substantial evidence of the apostles' character, and, indeed, of the truth of Christianity, that they gave up their earthly all, and encountered every kind of external evil for the sake of truth and conscience. And if this does not prove what a man is, I know not what does.

And

And this great event which I am now commemorating had a great effect in those days. It did afford a most striking proof to the nation, to the Christian church, and to the world, that there was an illustrious body of men in the English church, who really believed what they preached, who were men of sterling principle, that valued conscience above all the world;—the memory and the savour of it has remained to this day, and I question whether the example

that was then set, has not had a most important and permanent effect on many even in the Established Church, as well as to the Dissenters. As an eminent person in those days very justly remarked, "Had all the ministers conformed, people would have thought that there was nothing in religion,that it was only a thing to be talked of in the pulpit, and to serve a State design; but these men giving up their living, and exposing themselves and their families to outward evils, rather than conform to things imposed, as they apprehended, not agreeable to the Gospel they preached, has convinced men that there is a reality in religion, and given a check to atheism and impiety." And, after all, making sacrifices out of regard to God and conscience, is the great test of a man's profession. You and I must try ourselves that way. Talking, professing, and attending worship, and things of that sort, will prove nothing. What do we give up for God? What right-hand sin do we mortify? Wherein do we deny ourselves for our Maker and our Master? What Cross do we take up in order that we may follow Christ? "He that cometh after me, must comparatively hate father and mother, and wife and children," i.e., he must love me beyond them all, and when they come into competition be willing to give them up. This is bringing matters to a point.

2. Such a case as this gives us a lively view of the comprehensive wisdom and grace of God in His dealings with His

creatures and His people.—If we were to give way to our own tempers, we might enlarge on the cruelty of such a proceeding as this, and the inhumanity and injustice of such laws. But I shall not say one word of this kind. I shall only say, as Joseph did on another occasion, though they might mean it unto evil, God meant it unto good, and to bring to pass much good as it is this day. It not only gives a most important blow at the root of infidelity and irreligion, by showing the reality and excellency of it; but it gave scope,

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and called forth into most eminent exercise, some of the richest graces of the Christian spirit-such as faith and trust in Providence and God's promises, patience and resignation to the Divine will, meekness and forgiveness; all which admirable graces would, comparatively speaking, have lain dormant, if it had not been for these events. It likewise was the means of most eminently promoting the piety and spirituality of these excellent men, and qualifying them for more signal usefulness. It called forth those excellent practical works of theirs which are transmitted to us, and in which experienced Christians now find a fund of improvement, and a sweetness, a Divine savour, that is peculiar almost to persecuting times, and that modern days very sparingly produce. It likewise opened a most wonderful field of very remarkable and signal appearances of Providence, many of which are recorded in the Nonconformists' Memorials," and gave these excellent men such an enlarged experience of the gracious and seasonable interpositions of Providence, as they could not have known if living quietly on their livings; and it made the word of the Lord doubly precious in those days. Men would go miles and miles in the rain, and in the night, to some wood, or private corner, to hear the word of God; and the scarcity of it made it sweet. And I believe there were few dull preachers, or sleepy hearers, in those days; it was like marrow and fatness,-the joy and rejoicing of their heart. Because it was not cheap, they paid dear for it; and it was deemed a high privilege to get at a single spiritual meal. And then I really think that a great deal of the piety that has appeared in the Established Church, as well as amongst us, may, under God, be traced to this grand stand on the ground of conscience, and this glorious exhibition of principle. So that, considered as a providential event, it is an illustrious display of the comprehensive wisdom, and goodness, and faithfulness of God, and a display

of the infinitude of His understanding; the mysterious, comprehensive way in which He brings His mercies down; and shows us, by what we call experience, that our best blessings come in this indirect, circuitous, humbling, and seemingly frowning way. "He plants His footsteps in the sea, and rides upon the storm."

"Deep in unfathomable mines Of never-failing skill, He treasures up His bright designs, And works His sovereign will." That sublime passage (Isaiah lv. 8, 9) applies to these cases, and ten thousand more:-"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways, saith the Lord; for as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts." Again,

3. These facts are capable of being applied to the purposes of personal gratitude. Though God can sovereignly and gloriously bring good out of evil, yet we are never required to court or to wish for evil that good may come. Though Christ foretells His disciples that they should be persecuted for His sake, and that they should be recompensed a hundred-fold, yet He exhorts them to avoid persecution where they consistently and lawfully could. "If they persecute you in one city, flee to another." Upon this principle, though we can see much good that Sovereign Wisdom brought out of these awful times, yet we have great reason to be thankful that those times, in respect to us, are no more. descendants from these venerable men, and professing to have similar views with them in regard to our separation from the National Church, we have unspeakable reason for thankfulness that we are exempt from the dreadful penalties and evils of the "Uniformity Act;" that the expulsion of a papist prince from the throne, and the exaltation of the illustrious and ever-memorable friend to true liberty and religion, King William III., made way for the passing of that important law which is commonly called the "Toleration Act;" by means

As

of which, while we are peaceable and loyal subjects, we are authorized to worship according to the dictates of conscience, our places of worship are taken under the protection of the law, our ministers are acknowledged by the State, and exempted from many burdensome and troublesome offices, and, in short, to which, under Providence, we owe all our present safety, peace, and privileges. This is matter of the warmest gratitude, that God raised up such a deliverer; and that since the present illustrious family has been placed upon the throne, these mild times have been extended to us, and these mild laws continued in force, and indeed enlarged. Think how our forefathers would have prized such a law as the "Toleration Act," and what we enjoy consequence of it. What should you think of an assembly being liable to be broken in upon this moment by armed soldiers? to see me dragged down from the pulpit and thrown into prison, and stripped of my property; and every person here, above sixteen years of age, liable to be fined for the first and second offence, and then banished to Botany Bay. And yet it is by the "Toleration Act," and the mildness of the existing laws, that this is not the case. May God inspire us with true gratitude, and as an expression of it enable us to lead quiet and peaceable lives, in all godliness and honesty, praying for this purpose, for our rulers, and all in lawful authority over us,

in

4. How ambitious should we be, in our spirit and life, to keep up the credit of those noble principles, which actuated and

adorned these venerable confessors. True honour and dignity lies not in partaking of royal or noble blood as such; not in the pomp, and glitter, and parade of life. Much baseness and real wretchedness may lie under imposing robes of human majesty and greatness. Human dignity lies in descending from the godly, the just, and good, inheriting their virtues, and adhering to their principles, and supporting their cause, with all the purity of truth, the strictness of conscience, and the sweetness of the Christian spirit. In proportion as we inherit their views, and emulate their conduct in these respects, we reflect more honour on ourselves than a coronet or a throne could do. True worth is dignity, and vice is baseness. And we may say, in this respect, as an eminently excellent man once did, a lineal descendant of one of these men: says he, "I esteem it a greater honour to descend from one of these noble confessors than to have had a coronet or a garter in the line of my ancestors. I look with joy to the approaching happy day, when that glorious list of heroes will shine with distinguished honour, and rise to thrones of power, while their titled and enrobed persecutors will sink into shame, and be glad to hide their faces in the deepest obscurity." And, O what will it be to join the general assembly and church of the first-born, the multitude whom no man can number, who came out of great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb; who are now before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple! Amen.

just closed had had its peculiar features and its peculiar successes, and the results were on the whole satisfactory. The total circulation in France now amounted to 4,670,000 copies. In Belgium there was an obvious change in the public mind with regard to the Bible, and the fear of receiving and reading it was becoming weaker. 9,300 copies of the Scriptures were circulated in the past year, making