Morning Star

CHRISTIAN PERSEVERANCE.

The Christian's condition and duties constantly demand of him strong and overcoming perseverance. Decision that does not falter, firmness that wavers not, these are no less required of the good and useful man now, than when Nero burned the disciples of Jesus in his amphitheatre at Rome, or the Inquisition hunted them like beasts of prey in whatever papal country. Hope, endurance, faith, perseverance, in one form or another, will be always required of God's people; and will always meet with a sure reward.

The excellent Dr. Adoniram Judson studied and translated and preached and prayed five years in Burmah before he was permitted to see the first convert to the gospel of Christ; and this along with occasional imprisonment and sickness and deaths of co-laborers there, and more or less of coldness and indifference among the churches at home. During the dark and trying scenes of those five years, a man that should have been less a man and less a Christian than Judson, would have been discouraged altogether—but not he. This was his language and his faith but just before the 'first convert' embraced the gospel: "I have no doubt that God is preparing the way for the conversion of Burmah to his Son. Nor have I any doubt that we who are now here are, in some little degree, contributing to this glorious event. This thought fills me with joy. I know not that I shall live to see a single convert; but, notwithstanding, I feel that I would not leave my present situation to be made a king. If they ask again, what prospect of ultimate success is there? Tell them, As much as that there is an almighty and faithful God, who will perform his promises—and no more. If this does not satisfy them, beg them to let me stay and try it, and give us our bread; or, if they are unwilling to risk their bread on such a forlorn hope as has nothing but the Word of God to sustain it, beg of them, at least, not to prevent others from giving us bread; and if we live some twenty or thirty years, they may hear from us again."

Such is the true Christian perseverance and with what a precious reward it met, even in Judson's own life-time, the Baptist churches of Burmah of to-day tell us—Burmah is being converted to the Son of God. and the slow planting of the church there is succeeded by a rapid growth and up-building—and the Judsons will always be mentioned in connection with the true religion in Southern Asia. A like Christian perseverance under difficulties to many minds insurmountable was exhibited by the great Luther, and met with the same success and great reward.

What is of so much consequence to a few men must be serviceable to all. Every Christian pastor needs a resolute and determined perseverance, in his labors of love among his flock. This visit, or that sermon, may not seem to accomplish much; and when he surveys his labors in such detached parcels. he may seem to be accomplishing nothing. But it is not so.—Every labor in the Lord, every work done for Christ, shall in due time meet a just recompense—shall be heard from again, to the joy of the faithful pastor's heart. Let him only take time. Sowing his seed in the morning, let him patiently wait till evening for the result, if need be.—His Sabbath school efforts—his pastoral visiting, petition and instruction—his pulpit ministrations—shall yield thirty or sixty or an hundred fold of glorious harvest. Pastors are often too impatient—not men set for the defence of the gospel, rest fully on the word of the Lord? Here let Christian pastors rest and labor on. in a work commensurate with eternity. and whose rewards are sure.

With all Christians is perseverance a virtue necessary alike to the best spiritual attainments. as well as to the best success in duties of usefulness. In prayer, in study, in watchfulness in bearing the daily cross, in labors for Christ, there must be constant unhesitating perseverance. The church not so much needs 'great men' to-day, as men fully devoted and always unfaltering. Progress in the way of Christian knowledge and in the path of holiness, is the result of long-continued perseverance in the way of well-doing. The steady traveller shall come to his journey's end by and by. However dark our sky for the moment, let Christian perseverance be our counsellor.—P. S. B.