Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you; but rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings, that And the Angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth, lifted up his hand to heaven, and sware by Him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven and the things that therein are, and the earth and the things that therein are, and SERMON 1. ON THE PROGRESS OF CHRISTIANITY*. ACTS XII. 24. But the Word of God grew and multiplied. THESE Simple words contain for the satisfaction of the believer a most interesting piece of information. They relate the happy progress of the Gospel under circumstances of seeming disadvantage, and, by manifesting the co-adjutancy of God with the Apostles, afford even to the present generation a mighty evidence to the truth of Christianity. The preceding verses in this chapter recount the just, but melancholy fate, of a powerful monarch, who had been through life a cruel persecutor of the Church, and who, a short time previous to his death, had punished with merciless severity the unoffending soldiers, from whose custody the apostle Peter had been delivered by miraculous interposition. "And upon a set day Herod sate upon his throne, arrayed in royal apparel, and made an oration unto the people; and they gave a shout, saying, it is the Preached before the Bermudas District Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge. B voice of a God, and not of a man; and immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory, and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost." It is with this awful event the Evangelist has chosen to contrast the eminent success of the Gospel. It is at this moment, when the Almighty with a breath had dissipated the prosperity, and blasted the pride of an impious mortal, that we are told, “The word of God grew and multiplied." - There is nothing in the whole compass of profane history at all correspondent with this important fact. The progress of Christianity is equally miraculous with its primary revelation. It is one of those simple but convincing arguments for our sacred faith, which amounts to almost a sensible evidence, which requires no extraordinary expansion of intellect to grasp, and no uncommon degree of learning to investigate. It remains a standing and all-sufficient monument of truth, which neither the artful ingenuity of scepticism can undermine, nor the open efforts of infidelity overthrow. The period of our Saviour's death, though productive of such inestimable benefit to mankind, spread a temporary gloom over the prospects of his followers in Jerusalem. Notwithstanding his preternatural conception had harmonised all that was discordant, and fulfilled all that was astonishing, in the singular prophecy which foretold it;-notwithstanding the testimony of the Angelic Host, at his extraordinary birth; notwithstanding the immaculate conduct of his life and the excelling purity of his doctrines; notwithstanding his stupendous miracles, in which almighty power was so beautifully blended with unlimited benevolence; notwithstanding every trait of character, and every exertion of omnipotent virtue, which might have avouched his divinity we learn, that, when he expired as a malefactor on the cross, and no immediate vengeance struck his persecutors, even the apostles themselves, the faithful companions of his ministry, and the close and constant observers of his conduct, began to "waver in the faith." They had "trusted it was he which should have redeemed Israel," but that trust was shaken by his crucifixion. They had professed themselves ready to follow him to prison and to death, but that death had disconcerted their confidence. They understood not the scheme of human redemption. They were yet in a state of blindness with regard to the atonement; nor was it till after they had witnessed his glorious resurrection and ascension, and had been illumined by the promised descent of the Comforter, that they fully comprehended the mysterious tenets of the faith which they were to teach, and the necessity of that crucified Emanuel, whose sufferings they voice of a God, and not of a man; and immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory, and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost." It is with this awful event the Evangelist has chosen to contrast the eminent success of the Gospel. It is at this moment, when the Almighty with a breath had dissipated the prosperity, and blasted the pride of an impious mortal, that we are told, “The word of God grew and multiplied." There is nothing in the whole compass of profane history at all correspondent with this important fact. The progress of Christianity is equally miraculous with its primary revelation, It is one of those simple but convincing arguments for our sacred faith, which amounts to almost a sensible evidence, which requires no extraordinary expansion of intellect to grasp, and no uncommon degree of learning to investigate. It remains a standing and all-sufficient monument of truth, which neither the artful ingenuity of scepticism can undermine, nor the open efforts of infidelity overthrow. The period of our Saviour's death, though productive of such inestimable benefit to mankind, spread a temporary gloom over the prospects of his followers in Jerusalem. Notwithstanding his preternatural conception had harmonised all that was discordant, and fulfilled all that was |