those flowers of Grace, which shall be fully blown in a blessed immortality. But there are also seen in the vernal months, thorns, and briars, which are nigh unto cursing, and whose end is to be burned. This, is as full of misery; as THAT of blessedness. My young Reader, say, what does thy spring produce? The fearful doom should deter; and the bright prospect encourage. Do you prefer the gulph of perdition to the paradise of God? think on these things. They deserve thy consideration; and the consideration will well repay thee.

The religion of Jesus was as necessary for the beautiful and elevated Perpetua, as for the SLAVES Recreatus and Felicitas, Saturnius and Secondulus. She with them had sinned, and there was only one Saviour, one common Salvation, which, like the sun its symbol, equally shone on all the brethren, whether of low or high degree. Their ruin was total, and their recovery was equal.

The zeal of Satur, though sincere, was ill directed. He unnecessarily and imprudently provoked opposition, instead of aiming by gentleness to soften the fierce; and to convince the prejudiced. There is a prudent precaution, which is consistent with the strictest integrity. But this is often overlooked or contemned. Holy

Paul was thankful to God, that he was de

livered from the mouth of the Satur chose to run into it. to the wise is enough."

lion; but "A word

What can be more affecting, than the interviews between Perpetua and her Pagan Father? He, overwhelmed with grief and prostrate, entreats her to forsake the CRUCIFIED; but she, though inwardly torn with filial and maternal affection, prefers a cruel death to the abandonment of him, who loved and gave himself for her, as an atoning sacrifice. Illustrious tri

umph! what cannot the power and consolation of the Holy Spirit effect? With such support multitudes of modern christians, would, if called to it, die for Christ. And with such support, every difficulty and every danger is to be encountered, rather than sacrifice truth and a good conscience: "If God be for us, who can be against us.'

The case of Felicitas, who was eight months gone with child, was peculiarly affecting. She feared more for the fruit of her womb, than for herself. But God was better to her than all her fears. This is the common experience of his people; and what it is their privilege to expect. United prayers prevailed. The Lord help us to believe the efficacy of prayer, and may he

help us properly to estimate the prayers of the faithful. Alas, after all our preaching, and all our hearing, our writing and reading on these subjects, we only half believe.

How truly christian, how worthy of faith, was the answer of Felicitas, to the question of one of the door keepers of the prison! he heard her piercing cries in travail, and tauntingly reminded her of her exposure to the wild beasts. "It is I" said she 'that suffer now: but then there will be another with me, that will suffer for me, because I shall suffer for his sake. This confidence was the consequence of her faith. She believed WHAT God had promised; and she trusted in God for the accomplishment. It was to her according to her faith; and so it will be with all those, who make him the object of their confidence.

PERPETUA, an accomplished Beauty, was not only unterrified at the prospect of being exposed to the wild beasts, but even pleasantly reproved her more savage persecutors. They had not only the animal rage of beasts, but the mental hatred of apostate spirits. Lord, what is Man ! "Why don't you," said Perpetua, “give us some relief? Will it not be for your honor that we should appear well fed at the spectacles." Her address had the desired effect. This spirit arose, not from

the noble blood which flowed in her veins, but from the reign of Grace in her heart. How wonderfully the Grace of God elevates the soul above itself!

"Observe well our faces, said the lively and triumphant Satur, that ye may know them at the day of Judgement.' Yes, opposers shall see the sufferers at the bar of Christ, and shall be blasted by the lightning of his eye.

"Thou judgest us, said the Martyrs, and God shall judge thee." These sufferers appealed from Cæsar to God. Their cause, and that of all his suffering saints will be reheard-reheard at a bar, from which there is no appeal-a bar, where the imperial purple will lose all its lustre; and where the Roman sceptre will be esteemed but as rotten wood. The truth of God, the relation in which he stands, and the infinite love which he bears to his people, insures for them a state of righteous retribution.

"The day of the shows is arrived." But it would be painful to dwell on the particulars of that bloody scene. The support experienced by those blessed martyrs may well leave an indelible impression on our memories and our hearts. They shew how seasonably and effectually God appears

for those, who are called to endure tribulation for his name's sake; and may well encourage hope in the day of trial. These pious sufferers beheld, and they sustained undismayed, all the terrors of a blood-thirsty persecuting rage. Their triumph was not an empty boast. They were more than conquerors through him that loved them. Their memorial is blessed. Companions in arms! our victory also is secure! faithful unto death-ours is the crown of life.

If

THE SURPRISE.

Eckius being sent by the Pope, legate into France, upon his return resolved to take Geneva in his way, on purpose to see Calvin; and if occasion were, to attempt reducing him to the Roman Church. Therefore, when Eckius was come within a league of Geneva, he left his retinue there, and went, accompanied but with one man, to the city, in the forenoon. Setting up his horses at an inn, he enquired where Calvin lived; whose house being shewn him, he knocked at the door; and Calvin