Having thus proceeded for the space of fifteen or twenty minutes, and at a moment when the greater part of his audience were in tears, the widow suddenly came running to M. ——­, saying, with great agitation, “Monsieur!  Monsieur”

“What, madam, what?” said M. ——.

“I perceive,” said she, “at a distance, the deputy mayor of a neighbouring village, in company with several women, approaching with a speedy step towards my house.  These people are among our greatest persecutors—­shall I not call in our little band of brothers and sisters, and fasten the doors?”

“No, madam,” said M. ——­; “on the contrary, if it be possible, open the doors still wider; trust in God our Saviour, and leave to me the direction of this matter.”  By this time considerable alarm seemed to pervade the whole assembly, and some confusion ensued, in consequence of several leaving their seats.  M. ——­ begged them to be composed, and to resume their seats, saying, that the object for which they were assembled was one which God would accept of and approve, which angels would delight in, and at which Satan trembled; and that they had nothing to fear from the arm of flesh.  By this time the mayor made his appearance at the threshold of the door, together with his attendants.

“Come in, sir,” said M. ——­, “and be seated,” pointing to a chair placed near the table.

“No, sir,” said he, “I prefer to remain here.”

“But I prefer,” said M. ——­, “that you come in, and also your companions, and be seated.”

Perceiving M. ——­ to be firm in his determination, they complied, and were all seated among his nearest auditors.

M. ——­ then, without any further remarks, having the Bible open before him, directed their attention to those words in Christ’s Sermon on the Mount:  “Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake; for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  Blessed are ye when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.  Rejoice and be exceeding glad; for great is your reward in heaven; for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you” Matt. 5:10, 12.

M. ——­ proceeded to set before them the sufferings of the apostles and primitive christians for the truth as it is in Jesus, and the constancy and firmness with which, in all circumstances, they endured these sufferings, on account of the love which they bore to their Saviour; that they had good reasons for so doing, for they were assured by Christ, in the words just read, that “great should be their reward in heaven.”  M. ——­ then proceeded to show the immense responsibility which those assumed, and the enormity of their guilt, who, ignorantly or designedly, persecuted the followers of Christ.  That they were but “heaping up to themselves wrath against the day of wrath.”  That the day was not far distant, when the awful realities of eternity would burst upon their view; and that every man would then be judged “according to the deeds done in the body.”