to act in direct opposition to the clearest commands of God. It was his indispensable duty, therefore, to depart from the promise, and repent of the rafhnessy from which it proceeded. Probably, the pretext was false. He perpetrated the crime, not to satisfy his conscience, but to preserve his credit among the courtiers, to filence the importunate clamours of his queen, and perhaps with a view of procuring ease to himself, by removing fo troublesome a reprover.

Here we remark the ruinous tendency and progress of fin. The gratification of lust iflued in murder ; and, we fear, it is no uncommon event. When men abandon themselves to the indulgence of their sensual desires, no bounds will be fufficient to restrain. them. They may be hurried from one bale action to another, and determined to persevere, even while they themselves recoil at every liep they take. Let us beware of yielding to those folicitations, which will be encouraged by our compliance to increase their demands upon us, and may produce the most tremendous consequences. We may be exasperated by the rebukes of a faithful monitor, and induced to adopt some violent measures against him. But, though we should succeed in that point, still we may not be able to fin without restraint : we may carry about with us an inward tormentor, and, like Palau, become “ Magor-misfabib,” a terror to ourselves*,

Herod was freed from John's reproofs, and perfifted in his iniquity; but he could not forget that innocent blood had been shed, and under that conviction was rendered miserable. Some time afterward, having heard remarkable accounts of Jesus, he was filled with many perplexing fears, left this should be the very person whom he had beheaded, now restored to life ; as if he expected a retaliation, or some fevere punishment to It should feem, the

* Jer. XX. 3, 4. + Matt. xiv. 1, 2. Mar. vi. 14--16. Ludix. 9-og

remembrance

remembrance of the Baptist haunted him as a continual accuser. How powerful is the voice of conscience! Amidst all the pomps of a pałace, it will speak, and make the king upon his throne tremble. The mind of Herod could not be quieted by all the blandishments of his amorous queen, nor by his own libertine principles. He is generally supposed to have embraced the Sadducean notion of the foul's mortality, and disbelieved a resurrection. But, in the present case, he could not act the infidel : recollecting the violence he had committed, he was troubled by the apprehension of John's returning to life. Let us learn to reverence that monitor, which we feel with in us; for, if we attend not to its dictates in due season, it may prove a severe tormentor.

The unealiness' of Herod had no good effect. As he afterwards threatened to destroy Jelus, it is obvious, that he remained an “enemy of all righteousness.” Our Lord despised his menaces, and, in reply calling him a Fox, has justified the conclusion, that the king poflefled the fubtle and voracious difpofition of that wild and detested animal *. It was the same Herod, before whom the Saviour stood arraigned as a criminal, just before his crucifixion +. He was glad of the opportunity to examine so remarkable a prisoner.; but his motive was no better than a curious desire of seeing fome miracle performed by this worker of wonders. He proposed a variety of questions, to which Jesus returned no answer. Our Lord well knew his cha. racter, what opportunities of information de had neglected, what convictions ke had refifted, and there. fore refused to afford him any further instructions. This circumstance conveys a folemn admonition. “ Behold, now is the acceped time; behold, now is the day of salvation 1.” The gracious offers,

# Luke xiii. 31, 32•

+ Luke xxiii. 7.-12.

which are yet made, if contemptuoufly rejected, may never be repeated.

Unhappy Herod! Had he been properly affected, even then, with a sense of his condition; had he porfessed an honest, humble, teachable disposition, that interview wich the Saviour would have been a blessing indeed. But, as the case stood, it tended only to aggravate his guilt and condemnation. He treated the Lord Christ with insolent contempt, as if his pretensions to royalty were absurd in the extreme. He « fet him at nought, and mocked him, and arrayed him in a gorgeous robe, and sent him again to Pin late.” Those two unrighteous governors, who had been at variance, were reconciled on that occafion, and then, probably, joined their counsels together, in opposition to the Redeemer. It is not uncommon for finners, who are incensed against each other, to lay aside their private quarrels and party distinctions, that they may unite with greater force against the Gospel. O Lord, “Of a truth against thy holy child lefus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate; with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together *."

At last the judgment of God overtook this proud offender. He suffered such a total defeat in battle from Aretas, king of Arabia, whose daughter he had married and divorced, that the Jews themselves conja fidered it as the effect of divine vengeance upon him, for the murder of John the Baptist t. He was af

. terwards driven from his high station with disgrace, and both he and his adulterous queen died in exile at Lyons in Gaul.

Such was Herod : but now, turning our attention to ourselves, let us enquire, What is our own character? Will any persons undertake to justify the

licentious conduct, which is here exhibito? Sintners, do you not perceive the ruinous tendency of your evil passions ? What fruit have you reaped, or are you likely to receive? Is not the faithfulfervant of Christ, under all his contempt and persecution, more truly honourable and happy than the king of Galilee? And if we look beyond the present scene, how tremendous a prospect opens upon all those, “ that know not God, and that obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ * !” O “ repent, and turn yourfelves from all your transgressions ; fo iniquity shall pot be ruin + !"

" Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world [:” “For God so loved the world, that he gave his onlyþegotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life ."

your

2 Thea, i. 8. Ezek. xviii. 30. John i. 29. § iii, 16.

SAINT SAINT STEPHEN.

CHA P. VIII.

Stephen chosen a deacon-his faith and zeal.confounded

certain disputants-arraigned before the Sanhedrim --jhone with a miraculous lustre entered on his defence-incensed the council-fuw heaven opened commended his soul to y ejus-prayed for his murderers--died-buried and lamented.

In different ages the Church of Christ has bad to struggle with extreme violence of opposition, This has tended to exhibit the enmity of the human heart against true religion ; but it has, also, given occasion to the brightest displays of the power, love, and faithfulness of God in administering support and comfort to his suffering people. In the mean time, the Gospel has received abundant confirmation, while many have cheerfully endured contempt and tortures, and laid down their lives in its defence. May every reader be encouraged "to follow the Lamb" through severeft difficulties, and learn from the present example to exercise prudence and meekness, as well as zeal and courage, in his service!

We are now called to contemplate the character of one, who imbibed much of the Saviour's fpirit, trod in his steps with fingular firmness, and, after eminent usefulness, obtained, before any others in the Christian Church, the honourable crown of martyrdom. Aniongst that illustrious company, who have fought and bled in a glorious manner, for the testimony of Jesus, none Thines with greater splendour than Saint Stephen. In his dying behaviour,

especially,