Again, the Church of Christ in her present state, "militant here on earth," is "black"-because of the heresies, and hypocrisies, and schisms, which like "spots in our feasts of Charity," destroy her beauty.

This has been so from the beginning. "Offences must needs come, but woe to that man by whom they come.

In all ages of the Church of God, her seamless robe has been rent in twain: and her spotless purity been sullied by the unclean touch of the hypocrite and the formal professor.

There was a Cain, even in Adam's family. An Ishmael, a mocker of the righteous, even in faithful Abraham's household. An Esau, a despiser of covenant mercies and privileges, in Isaac's A Miriam, a murmurer, even in the camp of Moses and Aaron. A Judas, even among the chosen twelve-the betrayer and murderer of the Lordthe rankest hypocrite that the world ever saw, or the Church ever nourished in her bosom. And even in the pentecostal age of the Church, there was an Ananias and Sapphira, who lied to the Holy Ghost "being lovers of money more than lovers of God." There was a Demas too, "who loved the present world." There were those over whom the godly Apostle St. Paul wept, and against whom he

1. Luke xvii. 1.

lifted up the warning voice. "Mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrines ye have learned, and avoid them." Why

avoid them?

"Because they are such as serve not the Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches, deceive the hearts of the simple."

Therefore marvel not if ye see the Church of Christ sitting by the rivers of Babylon, sorrowing in her humiliation! Marvel not if, in these latter days, you see the Church of Christ torn with contending passions of evil men, who consider not that they do evil. Thus it must be till the end come. The goats will still be with the sheep-and the wolves in sheeps' clothing. The tares will grow up with the wheat, until He shall come, whose fan is already in His hand-whose judgements are already "beginning at the House of God": the first droppings of that fiery shower, which shall consume the ungodly as CHAFF. After that He hath thoroughly purged his floor, then will He gather the righteous into His garner-but burn up the wicked in the flames of Hell.2

Again, in another sense, may the Church of Christ be said to be "black"-because of the persecutions and reproaches of the WORLD, which "every one who will live a godly life" must suffer. The

1. Rom. xvi. 18.

2. Mat. iii. 12.

days of reproach and shameful mockings are passed away from the Church of Christ. She is honoured, outwardly at least. St. Paul, were he to appear among men now, would be admired and courted by all. But yet it is as true now, as it was when he wrote to Timothy, "that they that will live godly in Christ will suffer persecution." The Apostle's remark is in the most general form. It is applicable, in an equal degree, to all ages. True, Christains now-a-days pass among men with but little reproach and persecution. But wherefore? Is it not because they do not live GODLY in Christ Jesus? They surrender their principles to the world—they yield up every point where the world really opposes them -they join in the world's fashions, and the world's amusements, and the world's vanities—they take up the world's language, and fall in with the world's schemes-until the world recognises in them its own children. It loves, and even sometimes rejoices over them. And though it crucified their Master and persecuted His Apostles, it sees in these modern Disciples of the lowly Jesus, so little resemblance to Him-so little conformity to His will and example -as to let them pass on, free from reproach and persecution. Is it not true? Do we not feel it, and condemn it in our own selves? Do we not see it, and lament it as one of the saddest marks of

1. II. Tim. iii. 12.

the present age, that the professing Church of Christ has come so near the world-joined in its unhallowed alliances countenanced its ungodly practices palliated its unscriptural views: and the world has come so near the Church-imitated so ingeniously its spirit learned so accurately its doctrines— clothed itself so deceitfully with mock garments of its Righteousness—that it needs a practised eye and a skilful discerner of real character, to distinguish the Worldly Professor from the Child of God.

Nevertheless the record is true, "They that will live godly in Christ Jesus must suffer persecution.' Yes, and it is equally true that such as do live godly in Christ Jesus, do suffer persecution, in one form or another, for Righteousness sake. Some may

suffer in one form-some in another. The peculiar situation of each in this life may be favourable or otherwise to the service of Christ Jesus. But all in some degree, who do truly aim at living godly in Christ, must "through much tribulation enter into the Kingdom."

Reader, possibly you are one of those who are just entering upon the service of Christ Jesus. In the real spirit of one "who loveth much," you will have many trials. Worldly friends will opposeworldly professors will mock-they do not understand your motive. They will tempt you by the world-or they will allure you by pleasures-or

make you ashamed with ridicule-to turn aside. from following Jesus. All this, and much more, you must expect to meet with; but count it joy because it is written, "Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him."1

If the world, and the professing Church, crucified your Master-wonder not that they despise His Disciple. It hates true gospel religion, be sure, with a most bitter hatred, Sit down, therefore, and count your cost, Believer. Heaven and Hell are before you! The way of Christ-the way of lifeis in the "strait and narrow way." Destruction from the presence of the Lord, is the certain result of walking in the broad way of the world! You will have trials in the way Christ would lead you. Reproach and scorn will be yours, more or less. Your name may be cast out as evil: your motives, perhaps, questioned—your sincerity doubted—your perseverance to the end, declared impossible. You may be told that you are "over-righteous"-doing more than you need: OVER-SCRUPULOUS going less unto the world than you might "overserious"—to an extent quite inconsistent with the joy of gospel religion. Heed them not. These are but a small part of the trials which Jesus

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1. James i. 12.

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