shall only observe that a "holy life" is the constant effect of receiving duly the doctrine of repentance. Fruits worthy of it are its constant attendants. The example of St. John affords us a bright pattern of humility, faith, self-mortification, deadness to the world, and devotedness to God, which claims our close attention and imitation. But in order that we may resemble him, we must implore the same grace which was poured on him: we must also be influenced by the Holy Ghost, by whose influence he was "filled even "from his mother's womb."

The subsequent passage of our collect alludes to the closing scene of the Baptist's ministry and life. A person unacquainted with the world, and the temper of its children, might, perhaps, be surprised on hearing that a prophet like St. John, who spent his time in calling his fellowcreatures to happiness and salvation, and who coveted no man's gold, or silver, or apparel, was cast into prison, But as Ahab, at the instigation of Jezebel, thirsted after the blood of Elijah ; the blood of the second Elijah was actually shed by a second Ahab, instigated by a second Jezebel.

Herod, the Tetrarch of Galilee, had put away his own wife, the daughter of Aretas, and had married Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip; whom, contrary to the laws of hospitality as well as religion, he had seduced while he was a guest in her husband's house. The sanctity and integrity of the Baptist had begotten, even in Herod, a great veneration and reverence for his character. "Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just

man, and an holy, and observed him; and "when he heard him, he did many things, and "heard him gladly." But the matter of Herodias was a tender point, on which the Tetrarch was

not disposed to hear the law, because he was not disposed to do it. He was determined to persevere in what was wrong, and his monitor tỏ persist in telling him of it, without reserve. "John said unto him, it is not lawful for thee to "have her." John, who had overcome the world, could not, either by promises or threatennigs, be induced to recede from his duty, through hope of temporal good, or fear of temporal evil. He was therefore soon convinced, by being carried to prison, that Herod had no further occa→ sion for his service. And who doth not rather wish to have been imprisoned with the Baptist, than to have glittered in all the glories of the throne of Herod? Happy John, sequestered once more from a troublesome world, to converse with God, and to meditate on that blessed company to which he was now hastening.

Herod had thrown John into prison, but this would not satisfy Herodias. Even there she seemed to hear him still preaching upon the old text, and reproaching her with her crimes. (Mark vi. 19, &c.) For a time the fear of the Jews who respected John preserved his life by deterring Herod from destroying him. An opportunity, however, at length occurred, by which Herodias was enabled to gratify her revenge, and to remove the disturber of her guilty peace. The day arrived on which Herod's nativity was celebrated, when he made a great supper to his lords, high captains, and chief estates of Galilee." On this occasion Salome, the daughter of Herodias by her lawful husband, graced the festivity by dancing before the company, in a -manner which " pleased Herod, and them that "sat with him." Charmed with her performance

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confirmed by an oath; "Whatsoever thou shalt "ask of me, I will give it thee, to the half of my kingdom." But half his kingdom would not do, something was required more valuable than the whole of it, had it extended from Judea quite round the globe. Nothing would satisfy but his honour, his conscience, his soul; the price, which sin never fails to ask! The glorious golden opportunity of revenge was not to be lost. Herodias is consulted by her daughter, and lo, the soft, tender, delicate Salome re-enters all athirst for blood-Give me in a charger the "head of John the Baptist,"—of a prophet,―of a person whom thou knowest to be innocent, holy, upright. Make me this sacrifice, and I am

content.

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Herod, though at first shocked at the request, yielded to the dictates of his pride; and though sorry," yet "for his oath's sake, and those "who sat at meat with him, he would not reject her." The Baptist's fate being thus determined," immediately the king sent an "executioner, and commanded his head to be "brought; and he went and beheaded John in "the prison." St. John was probably awakened to receive his sentence out of that balmy sleep which truth and innocence can secure to their possessor in any situation. The generality of mankind have reason enough to deprecate a sudden death, lest it should surprise them in a state unprepared for an exchange of worlds. But St. John had finished the work which God had given him to do. He had kept the faith, and preserved a conscience void of offence. He had seen the salvation of God, and waited daily and hourly for his departure. He was now, therefore, called off from his station with honour,

to quit the well-fought field for the palace of the great King; to refresh himself after the dust, and toil, and heat of the day, by bathing in the fountain of life and immortality; to exchange his blood-stained armour for a robe of glory, and to have his temporary labours rewarded with eternal rest; to sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of God; and, as the friend of the Bridegroom, to enter into the joy of his Lord. From the darkness and confinement of a prison he passed to the liberty and light of heaven; and while malice was gratified with a sight of his head, and his body was carried by a few friends in silence to the grave, his immortal spirit repaired to a court, where no Herod desires to have his brother's wife where no Herodias thirsts after the blood of a prophet; where he who hath laboured with sincerity and diligence in the work of reformation, is sure to be well received; where holiness, zeal, and constancy "crowned, and receive palms from the Son of "God whom they confessed in the world.” (2 Esdr. ii. 45-47.)

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O how bright the example of "constantly "speaking truth, boldly rebuking vice, and 66 patiently suffering for the truth's sake," is that which the history of the Baptist exhibits! May the reader's heart be fired with a desire of imitating the pattern proposed to his ambition; and conscious of inability to copy it in the least degree by his own unassisted powers, may he earnestly solicit a portion of that Divine grace by which the Baptist was what he was. The fountain of grace is open to all believers; and though neither the writer nor reader of this

essay may ever be called, as St. John was, to testify the truth at the risk of life; yet both are placed in situations, where they are called to appear on the Lord's side in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation; both if faithful to God will be exposed to persecution for the truth's sake, which they can they can neither boldly face nor patiently suffer without Divine help.

The duty of constantly speaking truth, and of boldly reproving vice, is undoubted and of universal obligation. "Thou shalt not hate "thy brother in thy heart: thou shalt in any "wise rebuke thy neighbour, and not suffer sin "upon him:" or (marg. reading) "that thou "bear not sin for him." (Lev. xix. 17.) If we prove the means of provoking or soliciting others to sin, if we comply with the sins of others, or even if we suffer others to sin unreproved, or without imposing those restraints which it may be in our power to impose,-verily we discover a want of concern both for the glory of God and for the souls of our fellow creatures, we incur a share of the guilt which is contracted, we make ourselves" partakers of other "men's sins." (1 Tim. v. 22.) It is admitted that great wisdom, as well as great courage, is often required to a due discharge of this duty. But he who gives the latter, can also confer the former. And, while the treasury of grace is open to us, a want of qualification will be no excuse for a neglect of our bounden duty. To disguise, conceal, or deny the truth, either by silence, word, or action, when the glory of God and the salvation of a fellow sinner is at stake, this is to manifest a spirit directly oppo