by being deprived of the melancholy satisfaction of interring our friends. Neither the darkness of the night could befriend us, nor could we prevail by prayers or by money. They watched the bodies with unremitting diligence, as if to deprive them of sepulchre had been an object of great importance. The bodies of the martyrs, after being exposed for six days, and treated with every indignity, were burnt to ashes, and scattered by the wicked into the Rhone, that not the least particle of them might appear upon earth any more.'

After a reign of nineteen years, Marcus Antoninus died of the plague, A. D. 180; and with his death closed that period of more than fourscore years speaking of which, Mr. Gibbon says, 'If a man were called to fix the period in the history of the world, during which the condition of the human race was most happy and prosperous, he would, without hesitation, name that which elapsed from the death of Domitian to the accession of Commodus. During a happy period of more than fourscore years, the public administration was conducted by the virtues and abilities of Nerva, Trajan, Adrian, and the two Antonines.' We have seen, in the case of Christ's people, the words He spoke unto them fulfilled; "Ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice." You have seen that, happy, and great, and glorious as this period may be in the judgment of the wise of this earth, weighed in the balances of plain truth, these titles sink into nothing; and, to one

who looks to the history, not of mighty conquerors, or proud philosophers, but to the history of that church which Christ shed his precious blood to purchase, the false lustre that has been thrown over it by those who have not kept "God in all their thoughts" is taken off, and we see it in its true colours, and learn to shrink from the impiety of those who would talk of the happiness and prosperity of the human race, while all that portion of it, who bore the name of Christ, were treated as the off-scouring of all things-were made a spectacle to men and angels.

CENTURY II.

CONCLUDED.

COMMODUS-PEREGRINUS-CLOSE OF THE SECOND

CENTURY.

AND now, my dear children, I am to relate to you any events of importance that may yet remain to be mentioned in the second century of the Christian Era.

Commodus succeeded his father, Marcus Antoninus; and never had father a son more widely differing from himself in manners, habits, and dispositions. The reign of Commodus was cruel and miserable; and as much as his father is said to have exalted human nature, so much did he debase it. From this period Gibbon dates the decline of the Roman empire. That proud empire, which had stood so long, which had spread its sway over all nations, in the providence of God, was to sink from its wondrous elevation, and by degrees crumble into nothing.

Commodus was a wicked tyrant and a bad man ; yet he acted mercifully towards his Christian

subjects. Under his government, violent and miserable as it was in other respects, they were protected and at peace. This may seem strange to you but when you recollect that the hearts of all men are in the hands of the Lord, and that he can employ the most worthless instrument to promote his work, or to accomplish his will, it will not, I think, seem strange, that, seeing His faithful people had long enough felt the rod, he made use of the wicked, weak, and cruel Commodus, to release them from it: and while their persecutors were perhaps groaning under his tyranny, the hitherto persecuted Christians enjoyed a season of rest. It is said, the favour shown them by Commodus was owing to the influence of one of his favourites, who, for some unknown cause, was interested for the Christians. Whatever might be the means, the Lord was pleased, during some years, to grant a peace to the whole Christian world; and then came to the church of Christ such another happy time as that described in the ixth chapter of Acts, verse 31; “Then had all the churches rest, and were edified, and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied." Is it not very delightful to hear this? Do you not seem to feel some of the peace and some of the joy that must be felt by these servants of the Lord, when they were allowed to dwell in quietness, none making them afraid?" As the churches were multiplied in the time the scripture I have quoted alludes to, so at this time also was

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the same happy effect produced. Many noble families in Rome embraced Christianity, and the Roman senate became indignant and uneasy; but the laws of Commodus in favour of Christians deprived them of the power of punishing those who thus forsook the worship of the gods. One man, indeed, was accused, but his accuser, according to the law of Commodus, must be put to death. The Christian to whom I allude was Apollonius, a man renowned for learning and philosophy. You will be shocked at the tale of deceit I have to tell you relative to him.

When brought before the Roman magistrate, he was charged with no crime but that of being a Christian; and accordingly his accuser, for thus breaking the law respecting this point, was sentenced to have his legs broken. Apollonius was now free again: but what do you think the Roman magistrate did? unwilling to dismiss the Christian, he begged of him, as if for his own information, to give him an account of his faith. Apollonius did so; and was in consequence sentenced to be beheaded. This was, I believe, the only act of cruelty practised toward the Christians during the reign of Commodus.

I must now tell you of an impostor, who brought much disgrace and ridicule upon the Christians, whom he deceived.

Lucian, a witty writer, who, I believe, despised all religions, as well as Christianity, describes this man in so humorous a way as to set the