cate him from so perilous a situation, he may be excused; since, even after the event, when it is commonly easy to correct all errors, one is at a loss to determine what conduct, in his circumstances, could have maintained the authority of the crown, and preserved the peace of the nation. Exposed to the assaults of furious, implacable, and bigoted factions, it was never permitted him, without the most fatal consequences, to commit the smallest mistake; a condition too rigorous to be imposed on the greatest human capacity." In a word, then, we may conclude, that had this prince lived in better times, and reigned over a people uninfected with insinuating, inflating, and souring leaven of fanaticism, he had been the delight of mankind, and his kingdom the joy of the whole earth. it was in his power, because he had given his word to the parliament, although he knew certain death the consequence-confined, I say, to the frightful solitude of a prison, and cut off from all intercourse with earth, being denied the attendance of his very chaplains to minister to him in his spiritual necessities, he kept the communication with Heaven still open, and from thence received supplies the more abundant for his exclusion from the ordinary means of grace. Here he experienced the benefit of having been conversant in the Scriptures in the days of vigor and prosperity, when he walked in the garden of God; and from the divine precepts and promises, which are the flowers of that garden, extracted those lessons of eternal wisdom, which But so had God ordained, that he was proved his support and consolation when to be eminent in another way, and to the dark and stormy winter of adversity set be "made perfect through sufferings," in upon him; and which will ever continue like his blessed Master, of whose passion to afford both instruction and comfort to and behavior under it he certainly held the afflicted soul that shall make her abode forth the most lively portraiture that ever in his inimitable meditations-a book infewas drawn in the fainter colors of mere hu- rior only to the sacred writings, and which manity. Therefore it pleased the Almighty it were much to be wished were the comto cast this choice and most precious piece panion of every son and daughter of the of royal gold into the burning fiery furnace church of England. A writer who cannot of adversity, where he is universally al- be suspected of any partiality on the side lowed to have shone to the last with unri- of the king's religion, yet speaking of his valled and undiminished lustre. The same amiable deportment during his imprisonDivine Person, who came down to the three ment, bears this testimony to its power in children in the Babylonian furnace, evi- him-"The great source, whence the king denced his presence with this his faithful derived consolation amidst all his calamiservant in all his afflictions, by that uniform ties, was undoubtedly religion;" let us be equanimity, that absolute resignation, that permitted to add, it was the Christian reliinvincible patience, that winning meekness gion, as professed in the church of England; of love, by which he is said to have gained" a principle which, in him, seems to have as many hearts as he conversed with per- contained nothing fierce or gloomy, nothing sons. Men thought they could never suffi- which enraged him against his adversaries, ciently admire the unaffected ease and or terrified him with the dismal prospect cheerfulness with which he descended from of futurity. While every thing around him his regal dignities, and passed through all bore a hostile aspect; while friends, family, the various scenes of his pitiable calami- relations, whom he passionately loved, were ties, the heaviest of which seem never to placed at a distance, and impotent to serve have excited any emotion in his mind, but him; he reposed himself with confidence that of compassion for his infatuated perse-in the arms of that Being who penetrates cutors. It was observed particularly by and sustains all nature," let us add, who redeemed the his curious and prying attendants, that the likewise in Jesus Christ letter which brought him the first news of world, "and whose severities, if received his being sold by the Scotch to his implaca- with piety and resignation, he regarded as ble enemies in England, produced not the the surest pledge of unexhausted favor."* Thus prepared, he had nothing to do, but least alteration in his countenance; being only "sorry," as himself expresses it, "that to wait with patience, and obey with joy, they should do it, and that his price should the divine summons to quit the "wilderbe so much above his Saviour's." Con- ness," and "pass over Jordan" into "that fined to the frightful solitude of a prison, from which, so great was his sense of honor and probity, he would not escape when † Hume, p. 422. Hume, p. 469. good land," to those "everlasting hills," the prospect of which had long been the solace and delight of his soul" in the house Hume, p. 446. of her pilgrimage." During the solemn a portrait from such an original had been mockery of his unheard-of trial, the auda- in other hands, for my own I cannot but cious insolence of his pretended judges, the greatly rejoice at being called upon to bear barbarous and brutal insults, the revilings a testimony, poor as it is, to a character and the spittings of his merciless soldiers, which, however traduced by base and "his soul," as the aforementioned writer | worthless men, and none but such can trabeautifully expresses it, "without effort, or duce it, does, and for ever will do, as much affectation, seemed only to remain in the honor to the church, as the usage this prince situation familiar to it, and to look down met with reflects dishonor on the people, of with contempt on all the efforts of human England. malice and iniquity."* On the fatal morning-fatal, alas! to England, not to himhe arose with sprightliness and alacrity from that sweet sleep which a good cause and a good conscience can procure in the most perilous seasons, and which the noise of workmen employed in framing the scaffold for his execution, though resounding continually in his ears, had never been able either to prevent or disturb.† Exulting as a strong man, strong in faith, to run his appointed race, he desired to be dressed and adorned with more than usual care, as if it had been his bridal day, which indeed, in one sense, it was, when his soul was to be "called to the marriage supper of the Lamb," and to go forth, as one of the "wise virgins, to meet the Bridegroom." Having trimmed his lamp, therefore, with the proper preparatory devotions of that church which was ever so dear unto him, his mild spirit terminated its earthly course with an act of the highest charity to his enemies, and taking the wings of the pure and peaceful dove, flew away to that blessed place, where, and where only, as he found by experience, "the wicked cease from troubling, and the weary are at rest." Thus lived and thus died CHARLES THE FIRST, KING AND MARTYR. And though for your sakes I could wish the task of drawing And now, what remains, but that, while we detest, and use our utmost endeavors to eradicate out of the minds of men those diabolical principles of resistance to government in church and state, which brought his sacred head to the block, we testify our regard for his precious memory by an imitation of his godlike virtues; setting before us, and copying, as well as we can, his unfeigned piety, his strict temperance, his spotless purity, his indulgent affection towards his relations, his tender love for his friends, his compassionate forgiveness of his enemies, his inviolable attachment to the church of God. And in the day of affliction, when it shall please our heavenly Father to lay on any of us that cross which every Christian must bear at some time or other of his life, "let us remember, if our little misfortunes trouble us, that the best of kings and the best of men was publicly murdered by his own subjects ;" and let us follow him in the steps in which he followed Christ; that so having lived the life of this righteous person, our last end may be blessed like his, and that having patiently and cheerfully endured our appointed portion of sorrow in this miserable world, and sent forth our latest breath in expresSions of faith and charity, we may be numbered, as he is, "with the children of God, and our lot be among the saints." * Taylor's Holy Living, sect. 6. 316 DISCOURSE LXI. MERCY TO THOSE WHO ARE OF THE HOUSEHOLD OF FAITH RECOMMENDED AND ENFORCED. LAMENTATIONS, v. 3. We THE holy Jesus, who came forth from the bosom of his Father to teach us the way of salvation, was himself pleased to go before us in that way. Heavenly was the knowledge in which he instructed us, while in his blessed example we behold every jot and tittle of it realized and consummated in perfect charity. To convince us that the only use of learning is to make men good, and that every article of faith ought to terminate in a duty, the same divine Person, who appeared as the well-spring of uncreated wisdom, manifested himself to be the fountain of everlasting love. "Never man spake like this man," and never man acted like this man. His doctrine was, that God "loved the world;" as a comment thereon, he "gave himself for us ;" and therefore laid it down as an axiom in the evangelical philosophy, that "it is more blessed to give than to receive."* As he came into the world to proclaim and to show mercy, so his law was the law of kindness, and his religion the religion of love. and encouragement in the reflection, that his subject is one which needeth not the skill of the orator and rhetorician to amplify and adorn it. It requireth only to be set forth in its native and artless address :"We are orphans and fatherless, our mothers are as widows." The state here described is one so full of distress and so void of comfort, that we cannot be surprised at the effect naturally produced in the minds of the compassionate by the words which describe it. The eye of Heaven seemeth to drop a tear of pity over persons in this condition; the Almighty frequently acknowledgeth himself to be, as it were, overcome by their cries, and necessitated to take them under his immediate patronage and protection. The same God, who, in one verse of the lxviiith Psalm, is described as gloriously "riding upon the heavens," appeareth in the very next verse, as "a father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows."* "For as his majesty is, so is his mercy."† yea, and his wisdom is infinite." But the chorus in which sinners most chiefly delight to join is this: "His mercy endureth for ever:"§ that mercy which employed his infinite wisdom to contrive, and his great power to execute, the plan of our redemption: that mercy which delivered the miserable, and thereby laid an obligation on all men to do likewise. What pleasure, then, must this day afford" Great is our Lord, and great is his power, to every intelligent mind! with what joy must it fill every Christian heart, when our eyes are blessed with the sight of so illustrious an assembly of persons, bent upon convincing the world of the relation they bear to the Redeemer, by submitting to that test which himself hath appointed! "By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another." And as your attendance upon this occasion is a proof that much of the task devolved upon the preacher is already done to his hand, by the preparation and disposition of your hearts, towards the good work which it is his province to recommend to you; so he cannot but feel great comfort The poor aflicted orphan, thrown upon the wide world, there to wander without house or home, in hunger and thirst, in cold and nakedness, in pain and sickness; craving of those, who pass by the way regardless of his complaints, and not at leisure to be troubled with his pitiable story, *Psal. lxviii. 4, 5, † Ecclus. ii. 18 Psal. cxlvii. 5. § Psal. cxxxvi. one morsel of bread for the love of Jesuswhat is he but a picture of fallen man, cast out of Paradise, and doomed to wander a stranger and a sojourner upon the earth; hungering and thirsting after something that might satisfy his empty soul; incessantly beat upon by cares and sorrows, imploring, for the love of the same Jesus his daily bread; entreating forgiveness of his sins, and deliverance from evil. But thanks be to God, the importunity of the petitioner is never complained of by him with whom we have to do. No angry frown bids the sinner be gone from the gate of heaven. There let him relate at length the story of his woes. It is as music to him who first prepareth the heart" of the penitent for prayer, and then "his ear hearkeneth there to." The church, considered in that state in which she was left by the fall and death of of the first Adam, is frequently represented in Scripture as a widow surrounded by fatherless children. And to her is applicable that apostolical description," She that is a widow indeed, and desolate, trusteth in God, and continueth in supplications and prayers night and day."* In this condition the second Adam, the Lord from heaven saw her, and had compassion on her: He exhorted her to refrain her voice from weeping, and her eyes from tears: He "called her as a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit, to remember the reproach of her widowhood no more." She became the spouse of the King of Heaven, and all her children were made the sons of God. In him "the fatherless found mercy," and he caused "this widow's heart to sing with joy" everlasting hallelujahs to her benefactor and Saviour, her Lord and her God. The persons, therefore, for whom I am this day an advocate, though unworthy, have a claim to your compassionate regard upon this consideration, which was once the only plea of all the children of Adam at the throne of grace: "We are orphans and fatherless, and our mothers as widows." This consideration, I say, might prevail in favor of the widows and orphans of those who had been your greatest enemies; which is not the case at present. Even Nabal's objection cannot now be made, were there any here disposed to make it, which I am well assured there are not: "Shall I take my bread and my flesh, and give them to men whom I know not whence they are?" || The husband and fathers of those who solicit your charity were not even strangers; they were your "brethren and kinsmen according to the flesh." Persons of the best families in the nation have not disdained to eat the bread of the church, but have esteemed it an honor to serve at the altars of their God. The clergy are no otherwise divided from the laity, than as they are taken out of them to be placed in a nearer relation, by their office, to the common Saviour of all; a circumstance which, instead of estranging, cannot but infinitely endear them to all who love the Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. The Redeemer is, indeed, no longer upon earth in person, to receive good at the hands of men, as once in the highly favored land of Judea; when, hungry and thirsty with long fasting, weary with journeying from place to place, and wellnigh exhausted with his labors for the salvation of the world, he vouchsafed to eat bread at the tables of sinners, and asked water to drink of the woman of Samaria. But, says good King David," is there yet any that is left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan's sake?" * Are there none left of the house of God, that we may show them kindness for Jesus' sake? Although Christ be in heaven, hath he no connections upon earth, no poor relations left behind in the world? The present assembly is a proof that he hath. All the kind expressions, relative to the sons and daughters of affliction, who are styled friends and relations, nay, members of the body of our Lord, are more emphatically applicable to the objects of your present attention, the widows and orphans of his indigent ministers. who instructeth these ignorant ones may be said with Joseph and Mary to educate the child Jesus. He who giveth food and raiment to these needy ones, with Martha and Mary receiveth and entertaineth Jesus. And he who comforteth these afflicted, refresheth the bowels of Jesus. By such offices of love performed to your brethren and the brethren of the Lord, ye do show forth a remembrance of him "who though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich." What he said in the character of the good Samaritan to the host in whose hands he left the wounded traveller, he saith now to you-" Take care of them, and whatsoever ye spend, when I come again I will repay you." "For he that hath pity upon these poor, without all doubt lendeth unto the Lord; and look what he layeth out, shall infallibly be paid him again."§ And whereas men are wont to glory in the multitude of their debtors, it is observed that Christ rejoiceth in the multitude of his credi He tors, and loveth those best to whom he oweth | founded and endowed, with their unnumbermost. The clergy, therefore, might entreated private charities, do abundantly testify for your friendly aid in the day of trouble, them not unmindful (when they had wherefor the sake of their Master, had they no services of their own to plead. withal) to relieve their poor brethren of the laity; whose kind help and assistance their afflicted widows and orphans humbly hope they may now in their turn, without offence, solicit and implore. But the case of the reformed clergy of the church of England merits a more particular consideration. For certainly, if to reinstate the Scriptures in their rightful throne, and to place the pure light of evangelical truth upon the holy candlestick; if to clear the faith from the corrupt traditions of men, and to reduce practice from spending itselt in idle fopperies and unprofitable pilgrimages to works of piety and charity; if to free devotion from ignorance, superstition, and idolatry, and to render it intelligible, rational, and acceptable to God; if to give to saints the honor due unto them, without robbing the master to adorn the servant; if to pull down the usurpations of human pride and policy, and to exalt the holy Jesus, as head of his church, and justifier of his people; if to restore to the king his subjects and sovereignty, But may I not be allowed to say, they have? or will it be taken amiss, if I affirm them to have been your friends and benefactors-friends and benefactors to all mankind? The sons of Levi blew the silver trumpets, and caused a joyful noise to be heard. Through their preaching, the word of salvation sounded forth, and glad tidings came to the inhabitants of the world. Who can express the labors and the sufferings undergone by the twelve illustrious leaders of the Christian armies, and their immediate followers, when, marching into the field of battle under the standard of the cross, they overthrew the strong holds of Paganism, and effected the conversion of the Roman empire? Nor hath the faith thus planted at the beginning been under God supported and defended in all ages since, but by the incessant toils of those who from time to time have been called to the exercise of the ministerial office. The sun at rising hath often found them intent upon their studies for the edification of their peo-to the laity that cup which is the communple; and the moon and the stars in their courses by night have been witnesses of the fervent prayers put up to the throne of grace, that their instructions might have the desired effect, and the work of their hands be prospered upon them. Millions of souls, who by the pious sermons, the holy writings, the seasonable reproofs, and the kind exhortations of their spiritual guides, were reclaimed from the error of their ways, and led in paths of righteousness to the mansions of glory, are now employed in making those mansions to resound with the praises of their great Creator and Redeemer, who instituted such an order of men, and wrought his wonders of mercy by them. And since there was a Judas among the twelve apostles, whose treason was never accounted any impeachment of the loyalty of the other eleven; nay, since there was a Lucifer even among the angels in heaven, whose fall could never be supposed to sully the brightness of them that stood; let not the failings of some be imputed to a whole body of men, who have so evidently been the instruments, in the hands of a gracious God, of bringing many sons to glory. But the benefactions of the clergy have been by no means confined to the church and to the souls of men. They have formerly, with fidelity to their sovereign, emolument to the public, and honor to themselves, discharged the most important trusts of the state. And the colleges, the hospitals, and the alms-houses by them ion of the blood of Christ, and to all the due and proper use of reason enlightened by revelation in matters of religion; and lastly, if to free the nation from the exorbitant impositions of the court of Rome; if there be any merit in all this, the clergy cannot be without their share of it, who preached, and wrote, and suffered, in the cause of the reformation. And in one respect, through an original neglect at that time, they have suffered ever since. The tithes of many livings had been seized by the Pope, and appropriated to the maintenance of his creatures in the monasteries, while the person officiating was forced to take up with the scanty pittance which they thought proper to allow him. Upon the dissolution of the monasteries, those tithes, instead of reverting to the parochial priests, whose they were by all the laws of God and man, became a prey to the rapacious courtiers of king Henry VIII. and king Edward. So that the clergy of the church of England obtained indeed at the reformation the liberty of increasing their families, but were unhappily deprived of the allowance necessary to maintain them. A clergyman, after having spent a little fortune in his education, by the unwearied exertion of all the interest he is able to make, is at length so successful, as to be presented to one of these impoverished vicarages. Perhaps (as is frequently the case) his lot falls in a market-town, where his cure is large, and his |