CHAPTER VI.

PATHETIC PIECES.

SECTION I.

Trial and Execution of the Earl of Strafford, who fell a Sacrifice to the Violence of the Times, in the Reign of Charles the Firft.

THE Earl of Strafford defended himself against

the accufations of the house of Commons, with all the prefence of mind, judgment, and fagacity, that could be expected from innocence and ability. His children were placed befide him, as he was thus defending his life, and the cause of his royal mafter. After he had, in a long and eloquent speech, delivered without premeditation, confuted all the accufations of his enemies, he thus drew to a conclufion. "But, my Lords, I have troubled you too long: longer than I fhould have done, but for the fake of these dear pledges, which a faint in heaven has left me."-Upon this he paufed; dropped a tear; looked upon his children; and proceeded." What I forfeit for myself is a trifle: that my indifcretions fhould reach my pofterity, wounds me to the heart Pardon my infirmity. Something I should have added, but I am not able and therefore I let it pafs. And now, my Lords, for myfelf. I have long been taught, that the afflictions of this life are overpaid by that eternal weight of glory, which awaits the innocent. And fo, my Lords, even fo, with the utmost tran

quillity, I fubmit myfelf to your judgment, whe ther that judgment be life or death; not my will, but thine, O God, be done !"

His eloquence and innocence induced those judges to pity, who were the most zealous to condemn him. The King himself went to the House of Lords, and spoke for some time in his defence; but the fpirit of vengeance, which had been chained for eleven years, was now roused; and nothing but his blood could give the people fatisfaction. He was condemned by both houfes of Parliament; and nothing remained but for the King to give his confent to the bill of attainder. But in the prefent commotions, the confent of the King would very eafily be dispensed with; and imminent danger might attend his refufal. Charles, however, who loved Strafford tenderly, hesitated, and feemed reluctant; trying every expedient to put off fo dreadful an office, as that of figning the warrant for his execution. While he continued in this agitation of mind, and state of fufpenfe, his doubts were at last filenced by an act of great magnanimity in the condemned Lord He received a letter from that unfortunate nobleman, defiring that his life might be made a facrifice to obtain reconciliation between the King and his people: adding, that he was prepared to die; and that to a willing mind there could be no injury. This inftance of noble generofity was but ill repaid by his master, who complied with his request. He confented to fign the fatal bill by commiffion; and Strafford was beheaded on Tower-hill; behaving with all that compofed dignity of refolution, which was expected from his character.

COLDSMITH.

SECTION II.

An eminent Inftance of true Fortitude of Mind.

ALL who have been distinguished as fervants of God, or benefactors of men; all who, in perilous fituations, have acted their part with fuch honour as to render their names illuftrious through fuc ceeding ages, have been eminent for fortitude of mind. Of this we have one confpicuous example in the Apostle Paul, whom it will be inftructive for us to view in a remarkable occurrence of his life. After having long acted as the apoftle of the Gentiles, his miffion called him to go to Jerufalem, where he knew that he was to encounter the ut moft violence of his enemies. Juft before he fet fail, he called together the elders of his favourite church at Ephefus; and, in a pathetic fpeech, which does great honour to his character, gave them his laft farewel. Deeply affected by their knowledge of the certain dangers to which he was expofing himself, all the affembly were filled with diftrefs, and melted into tears. The circumstances were fuch, as might have conveyed dejection even into a refolute mind; and would have totally overwhelmed the feeble. "They all wept fore, and fell on Paul's neck, and kiffed him; forrow" ing most of all for the words which he spoke, that ⠀ they fhould fee his face no more."-What were then the fentiments, what was the language of this great and good man? Hear the words which spoke his firm and undaunted mind. "Behold, I go bound in the fpirit, to Jerufalem, not knowing the things that shall befal me there; fave that the

Holy Spirit witneffeth in every city, faying, that bonds and afflictions abide me. But none of these things move me; neither count I my life dear to myfelf, fo that I might finifh my courfe with joy, and the ministry which I have received of the Lord Jefus, to teftify the gofpel of the grace of God." There was uttered the voice, there breathed the fpirit, of a brave and a virtuous man. Such a man knows not what it is to fhrink from danger, when confcience points out his path. In that path he is determined to walk; let the confequences be what they may.

This was the magnanimous behaviour of that great Apoftle, when he had perfecution and distrefs full in view. Attend now to the fentiments of the fame excellent man, when the time of his. laft fuffering approached; and remark the majesty, and the cafe, with which he looked on death.. "I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought the good fight. I have finifhed my courfe. I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me a crownof righteousness." How many years of life does fuch a dying moment overbalance? Who would not choose, in this manner, to go off the ftage, with such a song of triumph in his mouth, rather than prolong his existence through a wretched old age, ftained with fin and fhame ?

SECTION III, 3.

The good Man's Comfort in Affliction.

BLAIR.

THE religion of Chrift not only arms us with fortitude against the approach of evil; but, fup

pofing evils to fall upon us with their heaviest preffure, it lightens the load by many confolations to which others are ftrangers. While bad men trace, in the calamities with which they are visited, the hand of an offended fovereign, Chriftians are taught to view them as the well-intended chastisements of a merciful Father. They hear amidst them, that ftill voice which a good confcience brings to their ear: "Fear not, for I am with thee; be not difmayed, for I am thy God."They apply to themfelves the comfortable promifes with which the gofpel abounds. They difcover in these the happy iffue decreed to their troubles; and wait with patience till Providence fhall have accomplished its great and good defigns. In the mean time, Devotion opens to them its bleffed and holy fanctuary: That fanctuary in which the wounded heart is healed, and the weary mind is at reft where the cares of the world are forgotten, where its tumults are hufhed, and its miferies difappear; where greater objects open to our view than any which the world prefents; where a more ferene fky fhines, and a sweeter and calmer light beams on the afflicted heart. In those moments of devotion, a pious man, pouring out his wants and forrows to an almighty Supporter, feels that he is not left folitary and forfaken in a vale of God is with him; Chrift and the Holy. Spirit are with him; and, though he should be be- . reaved of every friend on earth, he can look up in heaven to a Friend that will never defert him.

woe.