the seven brethren, who, in succession, were married to one woman. The question was, "Whose wife she would be at the resurrection'+" Admiring their ingenuity, they would, no doubt, suppose that, by one stroke, they had completely destroyed the foundation of the Christian's hope. But our Saviour shewed, that the triumph which they enjoyed was only

for a moment.

Many objections against the gospel, equally ridiculous and absurd with the specimen here proposed by the Sadducees, have been brought forward by our modern Infidels; but whatever be the form of the objection, the origin of it is to be found in the human heart, which is, by nature, diametrically opposite to the character of the gospel. Opposite principles in nature must conflict with each other. they who are after the flesh, persecute them who are after the Even so it is, that Spirit. The conduct of the righteous is a practical condemnation of the conduct of the wicked. This they cannot patiently endure the pain which it occasions, they are disposed, by all means, even the most unjust and oppressive, to remove. As long, therefore, as this difference of character between the righteous and the wicked remains, the Christian may expect to have his principles and conduct attacked, and think it not strange; attacked by men of learning, of genius, and of wit; by men professing the most liberal sentiments, and the most diffusive benevolence. Why? Because such men there have been, and such may still be, who know not the Scriptures, nor the power of God.

Christians should, therefore, always be prepared for the defence of their hope. They ought to be ready always to give an answer to every one that asketh them a reason of the hope that is in them. This does not mean, that they are to give an answer to every foolish and impertinent question which may be asked them, with regard to their religion; for this would frequently do more harm than good. "Answer not a fool," is the advice of Solomon," according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him "

There is a time to be silent, and a time to speak; and it is necessary to observe the one as well as the other. Of this our divine Master hath afforded us a Frequently he remained silent when questions were asked him most illustrious example. by his adversaries, or avoided a direct reply, by calling their attention to some more important and useful subject.

Thus you are not always to give an answer to every one that asketh you a reason of your hope; but if possible, however, to be prepared to give it. If the question be altogether senseless, be prepared to shew its folly; in specious and deceiving, be prepared to detect its fallacy; if threatening and abusive, be pre

Luke xx. 27-33.

+ Prov. xxvi. 4.

APOLOGY FOR THE CHRISTIAN'S HOPE.

207

pared to display your superiority to such treatment, by un-
shaken firmness in the cause of God and truth. Thus you
will be enabled to repel the charge of ignorance, or of delusion,
which your adversaries may bring against you.

Christians ought to defend their hope in the spirit of meckness. The friends of truth have been frequently stigmatized with being ill-natured and contentions; and, no doubt, their own spirit has sometimes appeared too conspicuous in their religious disputes; but while true Religion admits of honest and ardent zeal, it discourages every malignant and angry passion. In contending earnestly for your hope, avoid all bitterness and strife;" for the wrath of man worketh not the righteousIf you would be successful in convincing and ness of God." persuading your opponent, shew that you are not easily irritated; that you are slow to resent injuries, and ready to forgive. With perspicuity and strength of reasoning, display calm perseverance, and arm yourselves with offices of love and kindness. Then he will be induced to consider you as a friend, and your arguments will possess a tenfold force: your actions will plead for your sentiments, and be a presumptive proof of their excellence. But, if you be addicted to wrath, clamour, and evil-speaking, though your arguments for the truth may be good, you are diminishing their force; for you are giving too much evidence to believe that you breathe not the spirit for which you contend. Learn, therefore, of Christ, Put on, as the elect of who was meek and lowly in heart. God, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, long-suffering, forbearing one another, and forgiving S. one another; and, above all these things, put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness Airshire.

* Col. iii. 12, 13, 14.

Mr. Editor,

REMARKABLE CONVERSION.

The following Narrative I well remember to have received, some years ago, from a gentleman of respectability in the religious world; and I have thought that it might prove an acceptable and useful article for your Magazine.

A PIOUS Dissenting Minister, whom I shall call Mr. X. was travelling on horseback, one Saturday afternoon, towards a large town, where there were many religious professors of different denominations. Thinking it probable that he might be requested to preach on the following day, he employed the solitude of his journey in meditating on a subject for a sermon.

REMARKABLE CONVERSION.

The text to which his thoughts were directed was the language
of the Dresser of the Vineyard, in our Lord's beautiful para-
ble of the Barren Fig-Tree:
till I shall dig about it, and dung it; and if it bear fruit, well;
"Lord, let it alone this year also,
and if not, then, after that, thou shalt cut it down 1.'

At rather a late hour in the evening, he arrived at an inn in the town; and it was not known that he had arrived, till he appeared on the Lord's Day morning as a hearer in a Dissenting place of worship, where he was well-known and highly respected. The minister of the congregation, who was in the pulpit when Mr. X. entered the place, conducted the service. Mr. X. was struck with his text: it was the awful denunciation of the Lord of the vineyard, respecting the barren fig-tree, in the above mentioned parable, " Cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground?" The leading idea of his sermon, which he entered into with great seriousness, was, That when the patience. of God towards sinners has long been abused and perverted, we are warranted to expect that it will be exchanged for merited displeasure and wrath, if not in this world, yet in the next. Having illustrated his subject in a very impressive and edifying manner, he drew this inference: That the divine procedure with sinners should be considered as a pattern for the imitation of Christian churches; and that, although it was their duty to exercise great forbearance towards sinners, and to adopt every mode of expostulation, admonition, and reproof, yet that, when they had withstood all, and appeared incorrigible, it became equally their duty, however painful the task, to cut them off, as cumberers of the ground; at the same time, recommending them to the mercy of the Lord of the vineyard.

After the service, Mr. X. went into the vestry; was requested by his brother minister to preach in the afternoon; and readily consented. The morning sermon, though founded on the same parable, had not pre-occupied his ground: he did not, therefore, deem it necessary to alter his plan; but considering the coincidence as one of those unforeseen events, which Providence often over-rules for good, he preached, as he before intended, on the plea of the Dresser of the Vineyard. On the forbearance and long-suffering of God displayed towards sinners, through the intercession of the great Mediator, he expatiated with great affection. he was led to hint at the long-extended forbearance which In the application of his sermon, the disciples of Christ, in imitation of such an example, should exercise towards those who have offended; not knowing, but that, by delaying the awful sentence of exclusion, they might be happily instrumental in leading them at length to " forth fruits meet for repentance." If so, it would be well in bring

REMARKABLE CONVERSION,

deed; and if not, the excluding sentence would be more ob-
viously and satisfactorily the requisition of duty.

The minister of the place thanked his brother for the ser-
mon, acknowledged the truth and excellence of the doctrine
contained in it; but expressed a fear that, undesignedly, it
might be the occasion of some trouble to the church. He then
proceeded to relate the circumstance which had directed him
to his morning subject:--A man, who, for some years, had been
an exemplary member of the society, had now, for a considerable
time, been addicted to the sin of drunkenness, which had been
followed by the breach of the Sabbath, the love of irreligious
company, the neglect of domestic duties, and, as a result of
the rest, an awful hardness of heart, which resisted every effort
to produce salutary impressions. He had been admonished
repeatedly by the minister, the deacons, and many of the mem-
bers; and from the time that his apostacy had been discovered,
he had been suspended from the Lord's Supper: but all ap-
pearing to be in vain, the church had been summoned to meet
that evening, for the awful purpose of totally "putting away
from among themselves that wicked person." To prepare then
for this painful though necessary service, the morning-sermon
had been preached; and the good man expressed a fear, that
the kind conciliating doctrine of the afternoon, though by no
means in reality opposed to the others, might operate unsca-
sonably, on the minds of some of the members, to urge a fur-
ther delay, which, in this case, was not likely to answer any
valuable end. Mr. X. with great sincerity, avowed his previ-
ous ignorance of these circumstances; stated the manner in
which the subject of his discourse had occurred to him the pre-
ceding evening; and added, that he had been confirmed in
his design to preach on it by the morning-sermon, thinking
the contrast between the two, while both were equally consist-
ent with evangelical truth, might render each more bene-
ficial. Had he previously known of the peculiar reason
which influenced his friend's choice, he should have deemed
it a call to turn his thoughts into some other channel; but
as he did not know it, he could not but regard it as wisely
ordered by Providence for some good end, which did not
yet appear.

In the evening, when the church met, the pastor soon found that he had not inistaken the probable tendency of his friend's sermon; for when the sad evidences of the unhappy man's apostacy, and the methods which had been unsuccessfully tried with him to bring him to repentance, had been recapitulated, and the vote of exclusion was solemnly proposed, several of the members strongly urged the expedience of a little longer lenity; and mentioned the general impression produced by Mr. X's sermon in the afternoon: an impression the more to Dd

be regarded, as it could not be supposed that he knew any thing previously of the affair before the church. After a long and interesting debate, some pleading the necessity of maintaining the purity of the church by an immediate excommunication; others arguing, from the example in the parable, in favour of longer suspense. The latter arguments prevailed; and the sentence passed by the majority of the members was, "Let him alone once more. If he bear fruit, well; if not, then after that, let him be cut off." A deputation was also appointed to acquaint the man with this result; and to endeavour to impress his mind with a sense of his guilt on the one hand, and of the compassion of God and the Redeemer on

the other.

On

The members, who were commissioned on this important errand, found, when they visited the offender, what they little expected. They met with a cordial reception; which no others who had visited him from the church had done. briefly relating their business, and declaring the continued forbearance of the church, he received the communication with tears; and called on them to join in adoring the wisdom and grace of that kind Shepherd, who has such various methods of bringing back his wandering sheep into the fold which they had deserted. He then informed them that his wife, a serious woman, who had maintained her stedfastness, on returning from public worship in the morning, had, contrary to her expectation, found him at home,-a heavy rain having prevented him from joining a Sabbath-breaking party, to which he had engaged himself. In her way home, she had been informed by some friends, that Mr. X. was to preach in the afternoon. The unhappy man having been very partial to his preaching in his former and better days, she persuaded him, as the day continued wet, and he could not go out on his pleasure, to accompany her to the meeting. Reluctantly he complied. The text, "Let it alone this year," &c. powerfully struck him. The display of divine compassion melted his stony heart, shewed him the heinousness of his guilt, and led him to apply for pardoning and sanctifying grace to Him who is " exalted on high as a Prince and a Saviour, to give repentance and remission of sins."

In this frame of mind the messengers of the church found him. The lenity of Christian friends, so like the compassion of a Saviour's heart, completely overcame him. The impression was deep, and it was lasting. He became once more a consistent professor of the gospel, walking more stedfastly and more humbly than ever with his God; and continued, at the time when I heard the story, after the expiration of many years, to" adorn the doctrine of God his Saviour!"

W. J. W.