n renounce it, and relinquish the hopes it inspired,
they yielded their bodies to be burnt, or otherwise tormented, and
"rejoiced and clapped their hands in flames," or the like. "All that a
man hath will he give for his life." All account life sweet and
precious. No man of sense and understanding will sacrifice his life,
when he can preserve it, but for some deeply rooted conviction of
truth or duty. In this view, Christian martyrs are entitled to our
respect and esteem. For, they gave the strongest proof of sincerity of
their faith: and no suspicion of fraud can reasonably be entertained
against them. "We conclude," says Dr. Jortin, "that they were assisted
by God, who alleviated their pain, and gave them not only resignation
and patience, but exultation and joy. And this wonderful behavior of
the former Christians may justly be accounted a proof of the truth of
the Bible, and our holy religion, and we should deserve to be blamed
and despised if we parted with it, and gave it up tamely on account
of a few objections." "No man," observes Dr. Beattie, "ever laid down
his life for the honor of Jupiter, Neptune, or Apollo; but how many
thousands have sealed their Christian testimony with their blood!"
What a moral victory! And whence but from heaven such a religion,
having such attestation?

Other arguments might be added tending to demonstrate the truth of our
proposition; but surely, enough have been produced to establish the
authority of the Bible on an immovable basis. "Forever, O Lord, Thy
word is settled in heaven. I esteem all Thy precepts concerning all
things to be right; and I hate every false way." "All flesh is as
grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass
withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away; but the word of the
Lord endureth forever. And this is the word which by the Gospel is
preached unto you."

"The proudest works of Genius shall decay,
And Reason's brightest lustre fade away;
The Sophist's art, the Poet's boldest flight,
Shall sink in darkness, and conclude in night;
But Faith triumphant over Time shall stand,
Shall grasp the Sacred Volume in her hand;
Back to its source the heavenly gift convey,
Then in the flood of Glory melt away."

THE END.

[Page Decoration]

FOOTNOTES:

[23] The most ancient hieroglyphs, according to M. Pierret, which can
be seen in an European museum, are those on the statues of Sefa and
Nesa in the