A GROUP OF MARTYRS.

117 lived and died on battle-fields. And that is not the highest courage which exhibits itself on a battle-field; it is difficult to be a coward in the midst of the noise and tumult of strife. When the blood pours madly through the veins, and every passion is in excitement, a man will fight then if he has the least spark of manhood in him. But there have come times in the lives of some men when they have had calmly and deliberately to choose between two paths, the one leading to wealth and worldly honour, and the other to death. That is the time to test courage. "Whoso looks undauntedly upon death is no coward,' says the proverb.

"The history of most countries, and the history of the Church in all ages, abound with instances of men who have done this, and not only men, but weak women too. Grand old Luther, the lion of Reformers, did it when he went to Worms; Anne Askew did it when she disputed with the wily priests; John Rogers did it and was burned at Smithfield; that simple English maiden over there at Colchester, Rose Allen, did it, and was burned in the courtyard of the castle. In all times of persecution how numberless the instances in which men, women, and even children, have chosen death rather than life-in our own country when Queen Mary reigned; in France, when the Huguenots were massacred; in the Netherlands, when cruel Philip of Spain sentenced the inhabitants to death; and in that country, and at that time, we

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A BOOK OF HEROES.

have a marvellous instance of this in a poor servant girl who had the courage to endure death rather than deny her Saviour.

"She would not renounce her faith, although her mistress had done so, and the Jesuits denounced her, and she was condemned to be buried alive. And one fine summer morning she was led into a hayfield outside of Brussels, where a pit was already dug for her, into which she descended, the earth being shovelled in after her, heaped upon her, and the executioner stamping on it all to make it firm. Where can you find truer heroism than that?

66

"All history, I say again, is full of noble examples of heroism and true courage. Indeed, you boys have but to read your Bibles, and you will find it a book of heroes and heroism. There we have the record of the greatest act of heroism ever performed. Heroes! why, the sacred pages teem with them. Think of King David in battle, with the war-spirit on him; think of his mighty captains, and of those who fought their way through the hosts of the enemy to procure him some of the water from the well outside by the gates of Jerusalem. Picture to yourselves Daniel praying, with his window open, and his face turned towards the Holy City; and the three young men who were cast into the fiery furnace. Then there is Isaiah in his dungeon, and the brave slave who procured his relief. And when you come to the New Testament, think what the apostles endured and.

COURAGE IN ENDURANCE.

119

suffered, and then tell me whether the Bible is not a book of heroes?

"I am sadly afraid boys do not read their Bibles enough in this age. They think it dull and uninteresting, whereas it is the most interesting book in the whole world, and is as suitable for youth as it is for old age. Read your Bibles!

"But perhaps you boys may never have your courage so strongly tested as in many of the instances I have mentioned. This is not an age of martyrdom ; I sometimes like to think of it as an age of worry, in which people fret their life away, because they cannot endure petty trials and troubles. There is as much courage and heroism in quietly enduring as there is in active fighting; nay, I sometimes think more, for in action you have something for eyes, head, and hands to do, but in enduring you have to sit and patiently wait; there are few who do this-it is a method of fighting to which most people object. But God can be served in that way as truly as in any other. 'They also serve who only stand and wait,' says the poet. The prayer should constantly go up to heaven, ‘Lord, give me the power of patiently enduring; give me the power to wait !’

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You, boys, who will soon have to go out into the world, if you are Christians, and I hope you are, will have much to endure-slander, contumely, ridicule, scorn, and contempt. This you ought patiently to endure for your Saviour's sake; it is a grand way of

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A BRAVE SAILOR LAD.

fighting, and remember, Only they that fight are crowned. You have a grand example ever before you of One Who when He was reviled, reviled not again!'

"I remember a lad, on board a ship I once served in-who I think was the only Christian among the crew-who during a long voyage out and home was the butt and target for all his messmates' wit, ridicule, and laughter. He must have been a good lad, for he endured it all bravely and calmly, never returning an angry word, although I doubt not sorely tried and tempted to do so. This meekness made many call

him coward--for there are men in the world who can't distinguish moral courage when they see it manifested, this was the hardest trial the lad had to bear, and one day I found him between decks crying. I asked him how it was he bore all so patiently, and he replied, 'How can I be a coward to my Saviour when He was so brave for me?'

"One day one of the boy's most cruel tormentors fell from the mast into the sea, and was in danger of being drowned, for he could not swim. The lad, seeing the man must perish if help did not speedily reach him, sprang from the vessel, and, swimming to him, held him up until a boat could be lowered to their assistance. I shall never forget the expression which flushed into the lad's face as he stepped on board, and, looking round, said, 'Am I a coward now?' Patient endurance is sometimes a proof of

THE KNIGHTS OF OLD.

highest courage. endure !

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Learn to endure, boys; learn to

"Years and years ago now, when England was young among nations, knights used to encase themselves in armour, mount their war-horses, and, spear in hand, go forth through the land, to succour those who were in distress, to redress the wrongs of those who were cruelly oppressed, and to fight for truth. Many were the adventures which these knights encountered, many the dangers and perils they endured, and many the hardships and grievous wounds they suffered; some never again returned, dying valiantly while fighting against error and wrong; for sometimes wrong seems more powerful than right. The Hindoos have a true proverb, which says, 'Truth will conquer, but falsehood will kill,' and error is a mighty giant who has slain many victims. It was not the knight who came back with polished armour and unnotched sword who slayed error and wrong; but he who returned with rusted and dinted armour, and notched and blunted sword.

"It would not exactly do in our age to mount a horse and go forth in search of adventures, or run a tilt against wrong with a lance; but each boy who commences the real, earnest business of life, can do a knight's work in another, but not less practical, way. There is a possibility for each boy making himself a hero; wrong, aggression, and error are as prevalent now as ever they were, and every one ought,