318 THE IV? 



out new fingers, as I called them, to take a stron- 

 ger hold on its bulwark. This might be very apt- 

 ly illustrated by the past history of a Church, 

 where faith might have become dead, as regarded 

 a race of individuals ; but where, by that aid from 

 without which may God in his mercy ever dispose 

 the State to extend in the Church ! better days 

 were provided for ; and the visible branch restored 

 to its pristine beauty and strength, through faith 

 newly infused into the members, enabling them to 

 cleave wholly to Christ. But my present business 

 is with the Ivy in its mature state, upheld by the 

 might of its immoveable supporter — with the per- 

 secuted men of whom it is a lively type ; who, in 

 the midst of all that renders the present agonizing, 

 and the future terrific, can adapt the language of 

 inspired Paul, " None of these things move me;, 

 neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I 

 might finish my course with joy, and the ministry 

 which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testi- 

 fy the gospel of the grace of God." Herein lies 

 the mystery of that patient endurance, the deep 

 and general silence of which made the very exis 

 tence of their distress questionable among ufe. 

 " To testify the gospel of the grace of God," was 

 the object and end of all their labours ; and their 

 willing task it was, after Paul's example, to learn 

 in whatsoever state they were, therewith to h? 

 content — they would know both how to be abasel. 



