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When Ilcrod heard these thinus he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And he called together the Council, and asked them if they knew what port the vessel was from, the object of her visit, and the place of her destination. They told him, that as to her nationality it was not easy to define, but her destination w^as Bethlehem of Juda, ard tho object of her mission the restoration of Israel. The illustrious foreigners depart from Jerusa- lem, and the star which guided them over the trackless desert again appears. They hail it with joy, and follow it till it stands over the place where the Immanuel is riding at anchor. They go on board, and falling down at the feet of the Commander, and opening their treasures, they present unto Him offerings of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Meanwhile, the news of her arrival spreads, and becomes a source of deep anxiety alike to the Jew and the Roman. Behold that venerable Hebrew sire, perus- ing a highly treasured copy of a Mosaic chart : he is reading the dying prediction of the patriarch Jacob, and then he calculates the number of years recorded by Daniel, and as 4. r If !io roiids, and as lie calculates, his eyes glisten witli hallo sved joy, his heart well nigh bursts with rapturous delight; he thanks the God of his fathers that He has allowed him to see the advent of the Deliverer, whose appearance many kings and righteous men desired to behold, but were not permitted. And ther. sits a j)roud Israelite, with powerful emphasis repeating the prophecies of the ancient seers, and those portions of the Psalms which speak of the Messiah as "mighty to save," and which tell of Ilis achievements : — How He shall go forth from *' conquering to conquer," until, in his mind's eye, he beholds his native soil again unpolluted bv the foot of the uncircumcised alien ; his race free from foreiijrn domination, and Jerusalem become again a praise in the whole earth. And pursuing the exciting theme, he pictures to himself the expected One as a martial chief — as the Bozrah conqueror, whose gar- ments are dyed with blood, leading the troops of Ifeirael fL'om victory to victory ; the Roman eagle flying before the Jewish standard ; the mistress of the world humbled in the dust, and his countrymen, perclianee himself among the number, taking a fearful retribution for tlae suHeringij and insults of many generations. 8 f Hark ! the distant murmur of a Gtorm. It rushes dov/n upon the land with thunder- crash and deafening roar. Fear seizes held of the people ; in Earnah lamentation is heard, Rachel weeping for her children ! Onward sweeps the regal tornado, bestrewing the pettceful hr.rbour of Bethlehem with wrecks. The chief officer of the Immanuel, having been warned of the approaching storm, weighed anchor, and took refuge in Egypt. The tem- pest having blown over, she sailed into Galilee. While cruising along the coast, she picked up Peter, James, and John. She also called at Bethany, and took on board Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. The wind having cliopped round, she made for the city of Magdala, which, on entering, the look-out saw a strange looking craft be- longing to a jDcrson named Magdalene. Seven pirates had taken possession of her. Her condition was extremely perilous. The Captain of the Immanuel ordered a shot to be fired across the bows of the flag-ship of the fleet, wdiich brought them to. He then called upon them to surrender their prize, which they did unconditionally. She then set out for Calvary, where she had a most severe engagement with the enemy. The arch-pirato had collected all hL-' fbrces, which spread oat ever the ocean in formidable array. lie had also obtained the assistance of the Jewish and Roman fleets. The sun was climbing towards meridian when the great battle commenced : the sound thereof shook the earth— hushed into profound silence the grand harmonies of the celestial minstrels, and made hell quiver from centre to circumference. Mount Sinai also smoked and rocked to the tempest that swept around it. About the ninth hour the grand charge was made by the jmbined forces on the King's siiip, and so terrible became the contest that the very ocean seemed encircled in a sheet of livid flame. The Immanuel stood the shock of battle bravely, raking the enemy fore and aft. After an enc^agrement of six hours, a shout was heard from the deck of the K»lng's ship, which thrilled every heart, and ar- rested every attention : — " It is finished." Immediately down went the black flag ; the enemy had surrendered ; and the world's re- demption was accomplished When the smoke of battle had cleared away, the flag, which never shrank at the approach of any foe, was seen fluttering in the breeze, ;A 10 bearing this device, which was to the Jews a stumbling-block, and to the polished Greek, foolishness: — "Being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ ; in whom we have redemption in Ilis blood, even the forgiveness of all our sins." As the Immanuel was preparing to leave the scene ot action, the Captain observed a Qiarine belonging to the allied forces, who had been severely wounded during the engagement, slinging, in the agony of death, to the ship's sable, crying aloud : — " Lord remember me." •'Throw him off," shouted voices from beneath ; but the Shipmaster, who came not to destroy men's lives, but to save them, gave him a look of tenderness, and said, " To-day shalt thou be with Me when I enter into paradise." Fully manned, and with a commission as wide as the world she started on a cruise which shall only terminate when time is no more. She sailed into Jerusalem on the mornini^ of Pentecost. A vast crowd had assembled to see this famous ship, just from the heat of battle, enter the port of the capital ; many of whom had not only witnessed, but even taken part, in the enga ement. The Captain 1 .ving opened the ship's port- boles, an d having made ready for action, Peter, 11 i» ra one of fior oiHccT}^, fitood up, '*not to fiolcl a dry argument with the people about duty, but Bpoke to them of free-grace, Nay, the living thing was there, operating upon men's minds and consciences, melting them down into faith and repentance, hope, and Christian love. Christ was there in the raiment of his sufferiiig, winninor sinners' hearts." Before the address was ended, three thousand rebels, upon whom the Spirit had descended, cried in wild amaze- ment and in different languages — '' Men and brethren what shall we do ?" Peter had anticipated such an enquiry, therefore tlie reply was prompt — " Kepent and be baptised, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, and you shall receive the forgiveness of all 3^our sins." There was no need to despatch envoys here and there to obtain in- formation ; Peter was enabled, by his commis- sion, to settle the dispute at once. Leaving Jci*usalem, she sailed forDamascnS, During the voyage ehe fell in with bad weather; both the wind and the sea raged furiously, injuring many of the marines, some of whom fell victir/is to the storm, and eschaisged mortality for immortality. As thej^ were entering the beantifiil harbour of Damascus, they closed witli a rebel of 12 stately build, from Tarsus in Cilicia, owned by Saul, an aristocrat of tbe old Hebrew faith ; a proud and freezing academic fresh from the schools of philosophy, who had seized and im- prisoned many of the King's officers. The Captain of the Immanuel, seeing that she meant mischief, opened upon her a terrific fire, which threw her on lier beam-ends. The King, having no desire to treat the rebel unmerci- fully, or even to retaliate for the injury she had done the service, bore down upon her, and took possession, saying : — " Saul ! Saul ! why persecute&t thou me? Arise, and stand upon thy feet, for I liave chosen thee to be my minister, djiivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee, to turn them from the service of Satan unto God, chat they may receive forgiveness of sins, and an inheritance among them which are justified by faith that is in me." She then made for Athens, where Plato lived, and Aristotle taught the light of science. Here she met with much opposition. The two forts of the city, Philosophy and Reason, opened upon her a heavy fire ; though Paul, the master gunner of the King's ship, made a powerful impression on the enemy's batteries, he could not silence them ^ " some mocked," i %f 13 SBI vMle others deserted tLe service of the enemy, and sought refuge on board the Immanuel ; among whom were Dionysius the Areoi^agite, and a woman named Damaris. They then left Athens and sailed to Corinth, a celebrated city in Greece, on the southern part of the Isthmus, between the ^Egean and the Ionian Seas, about twenty-five miles west of Athens. Here they found a " certain Jew named Aquila, born- in Pontus, lately come from Italy, with his wife Priscilla." They were also joined by Silus and Timotheus, who had come from Macedonia, having been thero on the King's business. Paul went on shore, and entering into the synagogue, reasoned with the Jews and the Greeks, testifying that Jesus was the Christ ; but they received not his testimony. Then Paul shook Jiis raiment, and said unto them, " Your blood be upon your own heads ; I am clean ; from hence- forth I w^ill go unto the Gentiles." And he departed thence, and entered into a certain man's house, named Justus, one that w^orship- ed God, whose house joined hard to the syna- gogue ; and Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, with all his house, and many of the Corinthians, sought admittance, and were accepted into the King's service. 14 i In consequence of this, the Jc^;vt? made in!?nr- rection agaiast Paul, and brought hhn to the judgment-seat, saying, " Tliis fellow persuad- ctli the people to worship one whom they know not, which is a violation of our law." Gallio, the judge, said unto the Jews, " If it Avcre a matter of wrong, or wicked lewdness, O ye Jews, reason would that I should hear with you ; hut if it he a question of words and names, and of your law, look ye to it, for I will be no judge of such matters." And ho drove them from the judgment-seat. They left Corinth and came unto Galatia. Here a little unpleasantness arose amongst the crew, many of whom were dissatisfied with the restraints of the service ; so they applied for their discharge, which the Captain gave them at once ; it being contrary to the laws of the ship to retain any one against his will. The mutineers were at once put on shore, and their names struck oiF the service list. This occurrence produced a painful feeling among the crew, many of whom were moved to tears when they saw the men leave the ship, and not a few affectionately urged them to acknowledge their faults, and re-enter the service : even the Captain, whose authority they defied, spoke kindly to them, and entreat- 15 s tlio uad- vTlOW allio, O ye with and for I lid ho alalia. . st the I with pphed II gave e laws is will, re, and feeling moved ve the d them tcr the .thority Butreat- 1 i ed them to turn from their evil ways; but they paid no heed to his exhortations. After leaving Galatia, they set out again for Jerusalem. The day after their arrival, Paul and James went out to meet the elders, who received them graciously. Paul now made known to them the things which God had wrought among the Gentiles by liis ministry. And when they heard it they glorified God. Then Paul, and certain others, after purifying themselves, entered into the tempi?, and when the Jews which had come from Asia saw liim in the temple, they stirred up the people, and laid hold on him, crying out, " Men of Israel, help ; this is the man that teacheth all men, everywhere, against the people, and the law, and this place, and moreover brought Greeks also into the temple, and hath polluted this holy place ;" for they had seen with him in the city Trophimus, an Ephesian, whom they supposed Paul had brought into the temple. The whole city was moved ; and the people ran together, seized Paul, drew him out of the temple, and closed the doors. They would have killed him, but tidings hav- ing reached the chief captain that Jerusalem was in an uproar, he took a band of soldiers •^MMM 1(5 and centurions, and ran do^Yn unto tliem, and when they saw the centurions and soldiers they left oiF beating Paul. Then the chief captain came near, and took him, and com- manded him to be bound with two chains and conveyed to the castle. The next day Paul was brought before the Jewish council, but the Sanhedrim having no legal right to arraign him, he was sent to Cajsarea, to appear before the Governor. The day of his trial came He is introduced into court under a burst of popular indignation, and loaded with public obloquy ; but does he hesiicite or cower — docs he temporise or con- ciliate — does he compromise his conscience and his creed, as the price of his freedom ? "No. Clad in steel as he was, and loaded with chains, disdaining the trappings of a court and the diadem of the Cajsars, he gallantly plant- * ed the standard of the cross, in the presence of his judge and his accusers; and throwing down heaven and hell at their feet, extorted from the astonished tribunal the involuntary confession, " Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian." He had previously appealed unto Caesar, therefore the court at Caesarea had no jurisdiction, and he was taken to Rome. Af- ter a stormy voyage he reached the " eternal I I -'jfi*! Bi 17 city," and being delivered to the captain of the guard, he was allowed to dwell by him- self, with a soldier to keep him ; and he dwelt two years in his own house, and received all that came in unto him. We have no account of his trial before Ca3sar, but he was finally released .n the spring of A.D. 62 o' ^3, having been fully acquitted* After his release, it is said he preached the Gospel "to the uttermost parts of the vvest/* Kow began the first general persecution of the Christians. An immense multitude were put to death by the most horrifying means which savage cruelty could invent. During that fiery trial, it is supposed that Paul came to Rome to encourage the Christians to bear, with patience and resignation, the storm which was raging. Such a distinguished leader of the Christian faith could not long escape the fury of the tyrant. lie was apprehended, and, along with Peter, it is said, was cast into prison. We learn from the last epistle he wrote to Timothy, that almost all his com- panions had deserted him, except Luke the physician, whose affection for Paul diminished not. At length, the noble prisoner was led out of the city for execution. " Aa he marched along," i i i I 18 Bays an historian, "several of the sokliers who formed the guard were converted by his con- versation." lie was helieadcd ; and thus passed, from the publicity of a scaffold, to tlic crown of a martyr, one of the greatest heroes of tho Christian faith. When the news of his martyrdom reached Jerusalem, the officer in comand of the Im- manuel summoned all hands on deck, and communicated to them the great loss they had sustained in the death of their illustrious comrade, Paul. After which each man retired to his berth, and poured out his soul unto God, for grace to enable them so to triumpli, should they be called to suffer death for the sake of the Gospel. They then left Jerusalem and sailed to Ephesus. Here they found John, the beloved disciple, who was apprel.ended by order ot the Emperor Domitian, and banished to Pat- mos, a lonely island in the ^gean Sea, and left there to chant the name of Jesus to howling winds and booming waves. John, while at Ei3hesus, had been pre-eminently useful in persuading many to enter the King's service ; one of whom was Polycarp, who afterwards perished at the stake, for the testimony of a good conscience. He often spoke 19 of John, how ho used to repeat to lum Christ's last discourse to His clisciplcs. During the reign of the emperors Trajan, Antonius, Sevcrus, Maximus, and Decius, it would seem as if Satan, and his imperial confederates, put in force every means that tlieir infernal minds could invent, to exterminate the faith of the Gospel. Houses full of Christians were set on fire, so that no less than 100,000 in one year passed through the flames of martyrdom to that inheritance which is incorruptible. Notwith- standing the breaches made in the Church, we find according to Gibbon, in the reign of Constantine 0,000,000 of Christians. About the close of the fourth century, the good ship Immanuel entered Frajice, and the Gauls became Christians. Early in the sixth century she sighted the coast of Albion (England.) Augustine, one of her officers, was despatched to Etlielbert, tlio king, and explained to him the nature of the Christian religion, and he was converted, and the Saxons gave up their idols and Ijccamo Christians. Even before that time there Avere Christians in Wales who would not submit to the Pope. She then sailed to Germany — thence to Burmah's shore and India's coral Btrauds — to Polar snows and sunny Africa — 20 to Amorica'rt sinilinG: caf.sts and Asia's distant Isles; and ore lonsj lier glorious ensign, infolds of living liglit, sliall float over every land; and far-off continents, together with the islands of the sea, shall break forth into singing: — "The kinjii'doms of this Avorld arc become the king- doms of our God and of ITis Christ, and IIo shall reign for ever and ever." To meet the spiritual necessities of the human race, the Captain of our salvation has Dstablished on life's rugged and stormy coast several life-boat stations, that those who are ready to perish may be gathered up in safety. These lifeboats are all built under the super- intendency of the Lord High Admiral of [leaven, and are at the prestmt moment cruis- uiGT on the broad ocean of time. Perhaps you are wishful to know the names of a few of the boats in the King's service. Mark ! not allviho bear the KinG:'s name belonoc to the service. There, lying under the guns of a French battery, is an old vessel fully man- ned, but sadly out of repair : to venture out to sea in her present condition would be cer- tain destruction : Pope Pius is her captain ; tyranny and persecution are the orders under wliicli she sails. Lying at anchor in the roadsteads, is a large '4- f JHK 21 old-fiishioiiod-looking hoat ; some of hor crew look like Rominh priests, while the others aro less gorixeous in their apparel ; but they all receive State patronage. There is a heavy strain upon lier eal)le just now, and her crew fear that ere long she will break from her State mooriuL'S. This bor.t belonijs to the English Episcopalians. Not least amongst the many craft in tlio Kinii^'s forces is the fine old PREsnvTERiAN L'FE I>0AT. What storms she has braved ! what victories she has won! Though she h.as come out of many a battle with her yards almost stripped of canvas, yet, she has never had to chronicle a defeat; and if her present seamen are eqiuil in courage and nautical skill to those who manned her in earlier days, her ■^'iture is indeed an enviable one. Yonder, gliding in solemn majesty over tho unruffled waters, is an admirable boat, which belongs to the Baptists. In the early part of her cruise, she had many fierce storms to en- counter. Joliii Bunyan was one of her chief officers. For twelve years he was confined in a miserable dungeon, whose walls were ever dri])ping wdth damp, because he would not cease to recruit for the Kinsj's service. *' But from that dim apartment he sent forth a book, M H t I I 22 ■whose original conception, grand and beauti- ful imagery, touching pathos, purity of style, and truthfulness to nature and experience, has given him an unrivalled fame." At present, among the noble forms ujdou her deck, is a young officer, by the name of Spurgeon : his eyes gleaming with the fire of his enkindled soul, his form expanded to its utmost height, and his lips moving with energy, he paces the deck, exclaiming, as he points to the formidable batteries of Antichrist, " These strongholds must be taken. Quick ! Clear the deck, make ready for action !" "Comrades! stand firmly by y)ur guns, and never cease firing till you see that flag dripping with the blood of the martyrs lianlcd down." The command, " Biaze away," rings like a trum- pet-blast from one end of the boat to the other. Flash follows flash in rapid succession, and the roar of tlic cannon booms across the sea* *' How goc 8 the battle, Landels ?" cries the young Clueftain. " I already see several breaches in the walls. Sir," is the reply. " Equip yourselves like men ; be strong and fear not, for the Lord of Hosts is with us, and the God of Jacob is our refucre." ''Let the Arnlstronccs of imperishable truth be brought to beai* upon them, Burns." "Aye ! aye ! sir." What shouts 23 re tliose I hear from the mast head ? They aro he shouts of victory, sir. The enemy has sur- rendered. The mariners man the yards, and there ascend the high and joyful strains of the old Hebrew faith, " God is our refuge and strength, In straits a present aid, Therefore, although the earth remove, We \v ill not he afraid." There, riding splendidly over the waves, is anotlier boat : she belongs to the Congkega- TioxALiSTS. She has just come in from a cruise in the South Sea Islands, where John Williams, one of her bravest seamen, perished — a name that will live in the memorv of men, Avhen time has wiped out the names of the heioesof mili- tarj^ fame from the sculptured marble of Westminister and the fretted ivory of St. Paul's. Her present position* in the service is second to none ; and need v/e wonder, when she numbers amongst her crev/ a phalanx of such glorious iiien as James Parsons, Thomas Biuiiey, Newman Hall, Theodore Cuyler, Henry Ward Beecher, &g. Yixv to the Northward, where iccberv\ O the ^Tcatncss of his love ! I am persuaded there h nothing greater, or more surprising in heaven, There is nothing will ever astonish me more, than that lie should bring such a sinner as mo to see Ilim as lie is. You will be praising Him still in our blessed little Zion, and some may think that my lips are silent in the dust : but your Anih'cw will be praising Ilim louder than you all.' " What scenes of surpassing splendour the Christian beholds, as he draws near the bright and beautiful shore of the Better Land. No mortal eye ever gazed on such transcendent loveliness, nor ear heard such music as that,, *' Where angel-bands in concert meet,, and hosts seraphic sing." All around the land blushes with entrancing beauty, and on either side of the harbour stand mansions of incon- ceivable grandeur, and elvsian bo^vxrs, whick angel-fingers formed, " Ere the fresh stars hegan their race of gl-sry,. And young Time told his. first birthday by the sim."' Beautiful streams meander tlirouorh fieldia redolent with the fragrance of Sharon's rojc^?, and vocalised with the music of IlallelUjfaih's Ml ll '• i i J36 songs. There ware luxiinant forests, iincler wliose fadeless foUage are groups of celes- tial harpers singmg, accompained by the Bweetest music, " Salvation to our God, who sitteth upon the throne, and to the Lamb for ever.'* The celestial city is full in view. "Gold paves its streets; around its secure and blissful homes rise jasper walls; earth holds no such cit}^, the depths of ocean rit) such pearls as form its gates. Winter never strips its trees, day never dies into night, but crowns of glory flash and blaze on the heads of its sinless and white-robed multitudes.*' " These are they which came out of great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb." Some of them had lo pass through storms of a personal and domestic character. One of them had a largo family and a splendid fortune ; but the same black day saw that fortune fij away, and the grave close upon seven sons and daughters. Another was a king, and his heir apparent avms liis pride and joj^, a youth whose beauty was a proverb through all the realm, so noble, so handsome, that his glance was fascination, and the people followed his chariot wirh delii-ious plaudits j 3V but -wlulc tlie (Toting father with s\7oilin£C emotion eyed his gallant successor, the seltisli youth grasped at his father's crown, and tlie old monarch fled with a bursting heart, to re- turn Avitli a broken one, for his misguided son w^as slain. One of them filled a dii]^n?fied office in a heathen land ; but fidelity to his God brought liini into jeopardy, till reft of his title and torn from his mansion, he was flung, food for lions, hito the howling den. Another was an evangelist, who delighted to go from city to city, proclaiming the Saviour whom he dearly loved, till the hand of tyranny bore him awav to an ocean rock, and left him to chant the name of Jesus to howling w'inds and boomino* waves. Among the shining ones, " is the spirit of a heroic Christian, who was dragged from one of the jungles of India, pale w^ith loss of blood, and v/asted to a shadow with famine and hard- ship ; far away from father and mother or any eartlily friend, and surrounded by a cloud of black incarnate fiends or sepoys, he saw a Mahommedan who had been converted to the Christian faith, appalled at the preparations these demons were making for his torture, and about to renounce his fliith, fast dying, and almost beyond the vengeance of his enemies^ h r ' !