judges. How then is he to defend himself on this trial? He must endeavour to defend himself as Paul did, by the wisdom of truth, and by innocency of life. No other defense will be of avail. Accordingly this is the advice which St Peter gives to the first Christians. He tells them (1, ii. 15) with well-doing to put to silence the ignorance of foolish men. And again (iii. 16) he exhorts them to have a good conscience,-that is, in St Paul's words, a conscience void of offense toward God and toward men,-" that, whereas they speak evil of you as of evil-doers, they may be ashamed, that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ." And again (ii. 12) he says to them, "abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, having your conversation honest among the gentiles; that, whereas they speak against you as evil-doers, they may, through your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation."

This is just what St Paul did. He not only put to silence the ignorance of foolish men, and the malice of wicked and cruel men; but by his diligence, his zeal, the strength of his faith, and the purity of his life, he converted numbers of the Gentiles, founded many churches among them, and led them to glorify God. Even Felix, the Roman governor, was so struck by what he saw and

heard, that, after the trial was over, he sent for Paul privately, that he might hear him speak of Christ and his doctrine. And who knows but that we too,-if we exercised ourselves, like St Paul, to keep a conscience void of offense both toward God and man,―might be the blessed means of awakening some relation, some friend, some neighbour, or even some enemy, to take more thought about God, and to set a higher price on heavenly things, than he has hitherto been wont to do? "Cast your bread upon the waters (says the Preacher ;) for thou shalt find it after many days." (Eccl. xi. 1.) "Blessed (says the prophet) are they that sow beside all waters.' (Isaiah xxxii. 20.) We are to sow, you see, beside all waters. And what are we to sow? We are to sow the A word in season, for instance,-that

good seed.

is good seed.

A word in season,

A kind action, or a mild answer,— that again is good seed. But the best and most fruitful seed of all is the quiet example of a holy and godly life. Sow that seed then beside all waters. Whithersoever you go, whatever you do, in your hours of work, in seasons of business, in times of leisure, at home with your families, abroad among strangers, in all your goings, and all your dcings, leave behind you the trace of a good example: shew by your life that you believe in Christ; live according to your belief: let people

see that herein you exercise yourselves, to have a conscience void of offense, not only toward God, but also toward man, nor only toward man, but also toward God. You must serve them both: you must do your duty to both: you must love both. You must love and serve God for his own sake: you must love and do your duty to man for God's sake;-because God has commanded it,— because you are all children of the same Father,because you are all bought with the same price,— because you are all fellow-servants of the same Saviour.

This is what St Paul did, when he exercised himself to have a conscience void of offense. Do you suppose that he is sorry now for having thus exercised himself? Do you suppose that he wishes now he had not exercised himself so much? that he wishes he had not taken so much pains to do his duty? Do you suppose he grudges the labour and selfdenial it cost him during his life, to keep himself in all things pure and holy? Even in this world they who sow plenteously reap plenteously; and still more plenteous is their harvest in the next world. St Paul sowed plenteously he was in labours more abundant: and so there was laid up for him a crown of glory. Would

we receive a crown like his? we must first be like him in his labours. We are not indeed called

upon to suffer hunger and thirst and persecution and nakedness, as he did. From all these trials, so hard to the infirmity of our flesh, God has mercifully spared us. Nor are we called to bear the brunt of an accusation from Jews, and of a trial for our lives before heathens. But we too have our trials to bear and to stand: and if we bear them and stand them as he did,-if we abound in faith, in love, in long-suffering, in patience, in all the work of the Lord,-if we are diligent in exercising ourselves as he did, to have a conscience always void of offense both toward God and toward man, we shall find, when the end comes, that God has not overlooked our endeavours to serve and please him: we shall find, unworthy as we are, that for us also has his goodness laid up a crown of reward.

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SERMON XXVI.

SHAKE IT OFF;

OR,

ST PAUL AND THE VIPER.

MARK XVI. 18.

They shall take up serpents.

WE read in St Mark, that, when our Saviour, after his resurrection, commanded the apostles to go and preach the gospel to every child of man, he promised that certain blessed signs should follow those who were converted to him. They were to have the power of casting out devils, of speaking with new tongues, of healing the sick; and among these signs was the one mentioned in the text: They shall take up serpents." Believers were to have the power of handling venomous snakes,

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