come imperative on us all, in discharge of our Ordination vows, to make up our minds as well as we can, and endeavour to see our own way, on points which we should gladly, if we might, have taken on trust.

It cannot be safe to shrink from this duty, and say, as many seem inclined to do, that we could bear persecution itself better than the perplexity of considering such things, or the responsibility of deciding for ourselves, and agitating others, concerning them. We have put our hand to the plough, and we must not-we dare not-look back. It is too late for sworn and ordained Priests and Ministers in the Church of God to dream of drawing back from responsibility. The nature of the case contradicts the very thought. For what responsibility can be more fearful than his, who indolently and unthinkingly gives his assent to changes, which, for aught he knows, may prove not only ruinous in the event, but in theory and principle also opposed to the truths and ordinances wherewith Christ has put him in trust? Dismissing, therefore, as a snare of our great enemy, the false comfort which many of us, perhaps, are too much inclined to take to ourselves, from a notion that by not interfering we keep ourselves irresponsible, let us see whether the unprejudiced study of those parts of Scripture, which are obviously best suited to our case, may not supply us with a better and more genuine comfort, by furnishing some one clear

and unquestionable rule, which may go a good way in guiding us rightly, independent of all results: shewing us where our chief responsibility lies, and to which, among interests and duties apparently conflicting, we are bound always to give the preference.

It is natural, in such an inquiry, to turn immediately to the two Epistles to Timothy, especially the last. For undoubtedly it must have been to that holy Bishop a time of very great perplexity, when his guide and father in the faith was on the eve of departing from him: the heretics also, as appears from many passages, already beginning to infest the Asiatic Churches, according to St. Paul's own prophecy. It appears from the opening of the second Epistle, that when all doubt was taken away as to St. Paul's approaching martyrdom, his affectionate disciple was in danger of being overwhelmed by his sorrow for so great a loss, joined to his sense of the heavy burden which would be laid on himself, now left comparatively alone. To these two feelings in the breast of Timothy, the Apostle in his farewell letter addresses himself: remembering, as he says, the tears which Timothy had shed, perhaps when they had last parted from each other, and longing the more for the satisfaction of seeing him again. In the mean time, there are two words, which he seems studiously to repeat over and over, that he may leave them

Ch. iii. 4.

sounding, as it were, in his disciple's ears, for remembrancers of the two duties most pressing at the moment: KAKOПA®нZON, and ПAPAKATAHKH: "endure hardness," and "keep that committed to thy charge."

First, with reference to the dejection of mind, by which Timothy was then suffering: "endure hardness," says the Apostle, " as a good soldier of Jesus Christ;" "endure" affliction, make full proof of thy ministry;" "be thou" partaker of the affliction of the Gospel, according to the power of God." The drift of all which warnings is the same as where he reminds the Thessalonians', "When we were with you, we told you that we should suffer tribulation; even as it came to pass, and ye know." Affliction, hardness, trial, tribulation, is the very atmosphere of the Gospel ministry: we never had cause to expect any thing else. "Do not, therefore," (so the Apostle implies,)." do not shrink thus over-tenderly from the thought of losing me, which, you now see, comes into your ordained portion of trouble." "Be not ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner;" do not carry your affectionate regret so far as almost to cause an appearance of defective faith. Do not take it to heart so very bitterly, as if you in some sort regretted your Christian engagement, finding so much to be borne beyond your expectation; as if you were sorry that you had put so Ch. ii. 3. d Ch. iv. 5. Ch. i. 8. f 1 Thess. iii. 4.

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much confidence in me. But, instead of vain regret, take comfort in doing your duty; resort to that fountain of supernatural grace which was opened for you when you were consecrated to be an Apostle. "Remember that thou stir up the gift of God which is in thee by the imposition of my hands. For the Spirit which we both of us then received was not a spirit of fear," of unworthy sadness and cowardice; excessive, unreasonable dejection can be no fruit of it.

Such were the tender expostulations and chidings of St. Paul, well beseeming the kindest and most thoughtful of parents recalling his own son in the faith to a manly firmness. Then, in the temper of a noble and true soldier, he propounds his own example, teaches his younger comrade the way of consolation which he found most effectual for himself. "Because I am ordained a herald and apostle and teacher, I suffer these things: but I am not ashamed, for I know in Whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day." And elsewhere", "I suffer evil, as a malefactor, even unto bonds, but the word of God is not bound." What can be more animating, what more affecting, than to witness a person like St. Paul, full of conscious energy, power, and usefulness, thus devoutly reconciling himself to that which, humanly speaking, would have seemed the

* Ch. ii. 9.

most untimely interruption of his labours? It is clear, I think, that even St. Paul found this a severe struggle; but he cheers himself, as in his former imprisonment; when he wrote to the Philippians, that the taunts of his enemies on his confinement had turned out rather to the furtherance of the Gospel, causing his bonds in Christ to be spoken of in the palace of the Cæsars, and in all places: so that even those who in speaking of his sufferings meant nothing but envy and strife, did in a manner

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preach Christ;"-make His Gospel known, and draw popular attention to His Name". Such I take to be the true meaning of that often alleged text; far from conveying the encouragement, which some think they find in it, to irregular and schismatical efforts, but fraught with abundant consolation for those, who being anxious for the Church in evil times, feel themselves precluded from active exertions on her behalf. They can always say to themselves, "The Word of God is not bound: He can make even envy and strife involuntary heralds of His cause." Their fidelity in acting while they could is rewarded with the assurance of a strong faith, that when their work is over, God's eternal and glorious work is still in progress, although they cannot see how.

But we dare not take this comfort to ourselves, -we dare not, in those instances where we find the Church bound and fettered, mitigate our See Note (A) at the end of this Sermon.

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