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I. THE AFFLICTIONS AND TRIUMPHS OF THE CHURCH OF CHRIST. Scarcely was the Church organized, after our Divine Redeemer's ascension into heaven, when she was assailed by three descriptions of enemies, either all at once, or consecutively, viz. the prejudices of authority and human wisdom, — the violence of persecution, — and the errors and heresies of false teachers. In all these respects the Church has been afflicted from her youth, yet her enemies have not prevailed against her.

II. THE IMPRESSIONS WHICH THE CONTEMPLATION OF THE AFFLICTIONS AND TRIUMPHS OF THE CHURCH OF GOD OUGHT TO PRODUCE UPON OUR MINDS.

1. In the Church, always afflicted and persecuted, yet still subsisting, — like the bush, burning but unconsumed, — behold a confirmation of our faith, and an evident demonstration that the religion of Jesus Christ is from God.

2. Further, the conformity of our own reformed Church, as well as of all the other orthodox Protestant Churches, with the primitive Christian Church, in her afflictions and triumphs, furnishes us with an irrefragable proof of the truth of the holy religion which they and we profess.

III. What, now, are the PRACTICAL INSTRUCTIONS which we may derive from the important topics which we have been considering?

1. Since God has, in His mercy, called us out of papal darkness into the marvellous light of the Gospel, let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; seeing that it is based, not upon unauthorized human traditions, but upon the foundation of the prophets and apostles, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner-stone; — the great and fundamental object of all the predictions of the prophets, and of the preaching and writings of the holy apostles.

2. Let us devoutly bless the Father of Mercies, who remembered the Church of Christ in her low estate, for His mercy endureth for ever; and through whose propitious aid, and providential interpositions, the Reformation was accomplished, and our civil and religious liberties have been secured and transmitted to us.

3. Let us pity and pray for those nations of the earth who are yet under the yoke of papal dominion and superstition, — would that I could say, are groaning under it.

4. Above all, since the Almighty, when lie bestows extraordinary favours upon man, expects from him a proportionate return of gratitude, let us remember the solemn obligations under which we are individually laid, as Protestant Christians, to exhibit a corresponding excellence of Christian character, as the necessary result of "a true and lively faith"; since we enjoy advantages and privileges which involve the possessors of them in no ordinary degree of moral responsibility.

(T. H. Horne, B. D.)

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KJV: {A Song of degrees.} Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth, may Israel now say:

WEB: Many times they have afflicted me from my youth up. Let Israel now say,