104 TI12 WOitLD TO COiit. praise, honour mitt glory of the suffering saints, and of Christ himself at his appearance. Behold that ilhrstrious troop of martyrs, and some among thein'of the feeblest sex, and of tender age ! now that women should grow bold in faith, even in the sight of torments, and children, with a manly courage, should profess the name of Christ in the face of angry and threatening rulers ; that sonie of these should become undaunted confessors of the truth, and other.k triumph in fire and torture, these things shall be a matter of glory to Christ in that day ; it was his power that gave them courage and victory in martyrdom and death. Every christian there, every soldier in that triumphing army, shall ascribe his conquest to the grace of his Lord, his leader, and lay down all their trophies at the feet of his Saviour, with humble ackuow= ledgments, and shouts of honour. Almost all the saved number were, at some part oftheir lives, weak in faith, and yet, by the grace of Christ, they held out to the end, and are crowned. " I was a poor trembling creature', shall one say, but 3 was confirmed in my faith and holiness by the gospel of Christ, or I rested on a naked promise, and found sup- port, because Christ was there, and he shall have the glory of it." In him are all the promises yea, and in him amen, to the glory of the Father ;" 2 Cor. i, 20 -22. and the Son shall share in this glory, for he died to ratify these promises, and he lives to fulfil them. " Oh, what an Almighty arm is this, shall the believer say, that has borne up so many thousands of poor sinking creatures; and lifted their heads above the waves !" The spark of grace that lived many years in a flood of temptations, and was not, quenched, shall then shine bright to the glory of Christ, who kindled and maintained it. When we have been brought through all the storms and the threatening seas, and yet the raging waves have been forbid to swallow us up, we shall cry out, in raptures of joy and wonder, 'what manner of man is this, that the winds and the seas have obeyed him? Mark. iv. 14. 'J'hen'shall it be gloriously evident, that he has conquered Satan, and kept the hosts of hell in 'chaihs, when it shall appear, that he has made poor mean trembling believers victorious over all the powers of darkness, for the prince of peace has bruised him under their feet. Fifthly, There is more work for our wonder and joy, and more glory for our blessed 'Lord; when we shall see, that to many dark and dreadful providences were working together, in mercy, for the good of his saints ; it is because .Jesus Christ had the management of them all put into his hands ; and we shall 'acknowledge he has dene all things well; Mark vii. 37. 411 things have wrought together for goad; Idom. viii. 28. It is the
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