Another reason with the Primitive Church for the institution of this season was, TO AID HER MEMBERS IN PRESERVING THE HIGH STANDARD OF CHRISTIAN CHARACTER IN ITS EARLY PURITY. For a time, the followers of our Lord were subjected to the most painful persecutions. The lonely valleys of Judea furnished no place of security to the Hebrew Christians, for even thither penetrated their bigoted enemies, ready, "if they found any of that way, whether they were men or women, to bring them bound to Jerusalem." And when the faith left its earliest dwelling-place in "Holy Asia," and went forth 17 ESCHYLUS' Prom. Vinct. 415, ayvas Adias. This is the happy epithet used by the first, and may we not say, the loftiest of the Greek tragic poets? On this single point there is agreement between the Christian of every age, and the believer in that antique and poetical mythology which furnishes its inspiration to the muse of Homer, and both called into being, and imparted its dark coloring to the solemn and intellectual drama of the Athenian stage. Both alike look back with reverence to that region which was the birth-place of our race, the scene of its first revelations, and where "the Lord talked with man face to face." Even to this day, there is a tradition among the Arabs, that to the earliest places of human worship, there clings a guardian sanctity-that there the wild bird alights not and the wild beast may not wander-but the eye of God rests on them as hallowed spots. to other lands, it found a world arrayed in hostility against it. The ancient, sensual Paganism, and the proud systems of a scoffing philosophy, united at once to crush that holy creed, which disclaimed all fellowship with them. The endurance of its adherents was tried by every expedient of cruelty their enemies could devise. Some died in agony at the stake. Some ascended to their reward from the burning flames, while "their ashes flew, no marble tells us whither." Some "butchered to make a Roman holiday," poured out their blood on the sands of the amphitheatre, welcoming even the wild beasts, whose fury released them from their sufferings. And the survivors felt, that they also were each hour in jeopardy of life, and might at any time be called in like manner to seal their profession. Yet these things only added a depth and fervor to their devotion. Like their Divine Master, they "were made perfect by sufferings." The timid and wavering, either refrained from uniting with them, or else soon apostatized from their profession. The true-hearted were therefore left alone, reduced indeed in numbers, yet "steadfast, unmovable," and holding themselves ready, if needs be, to win their crown by suffering the pains of martyrdom. "Every hour, They stood prepared to die, a people doomed The world looked coldly on them, even when it did not openly persecute, and had therefore nothing in it to enlist their affections. Life with them was one long Lenten period of abstinence and prayer, while they were continually chastening their spirits, to make ready for that parting hour, which might suddenly overtake them. But when security came, and the world began to smile upon them, then was the time of peril. The faith which had been strengthening in the storm of persecution, drooped and withered in the sunshine of Imperial favor. The multitude insensibly declined from their Apostolic devotion, and thought too much of the cares and riches of a world they had vowed to renounce. Their affections began to cling to it, forgetting that here they were only strangers and pilgrims "having no continuing city." It was at this time probably that this fast, commenced in an earlier age, was more accurately defined and inculcated by the regulations of the Church, that her members might be recalled from their secular cares to holy works, and thus by the necessity of a law, compelled to dedicate one tenth of the year, in a peculiar manner to their God.18 Therefore it is, that an ancient writer declares" Whilst men are distracted about the cares of this life, their religious hearts must needs be defiled with the dust of this world; and therefore it is provided by the great benefit of this Divine institution, that the purity of our minds might be repaired by the exercise of these forty days, in which we may redeem the failings of other times, and do good works, and exercise ourselves in religious fasting." But has this necessity in our day ceased? Is there now so great a deadness in the world, that we need not such a season, to recall us to our duty? Is not the very reverse true, and the danger now tenfold greater than it was in that early day? Since all around us have made a nominal 18 Cassian, in BINGHAM Orig. Eccles. lib. xxi. ch. 1, sec. 10. 19 Leo, Serm. iv., de Quadragesima, in BINGHAM, lib. xxi. profession of Christianity, the Church has been too much mingled with the world. The barrier between them has been somewhat broken down, and there is comparatively but little of the outward Cross to be borne. But the effect of this is, to authenticate low views of Christian dutyto render religion earthly - to withdraw all attention from self-denial- to cause us to forget our Master's lesson, that though in the world we are not of the world—and to induce those about us to suppose that the "strait gate" has been widened, and the "narrow way" become broad. They look in vain for those exhibitions of a living faith which distinguished the early Christians, and are therefore tempted to believe, that the days of self-discipline are over, and an easier entrance found into God's holy kingdom. The very proofs too of Christian characterthe marks by which we should, ascertain our spiritual state-are in this age of novelties so perverted and mystified, that it is often difficult for an inquirer to decide, whether or not he has a right to those promises of the Gospel which are made to the contrite and believing. With some, every thing rests upon abstract notions of |