nswer came: "If ye be reproached for
the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the Spirit of glory and of God
resteth upon you." "Rejoice ye in that day and leap for joy." The grace
and glory that was poured out upon our soul on this occasion would have
made the coals and flames of martyrdom a bed of sweet repose.

Stephen as he faced death at the hands of cruel persecutors, saw the glory
of God and the heavens opened and saw the Son of man for whose sake he was
now stoned. Paul and Silas with their feet made fast in the stocks at
midnight prayed and sang praises to God. Is it not an occasion of wonder
and astonishment how the bigoted zeal of deceived and blinded, high-minded
professors leads them to become the most vile persecutors of the
righteous? Paul persecuted the church of God and wasted it. He thought he
was doing God's service. The children of God in every age have received
their persecutions from religious bigots, and so will it ever be. We
rejoice to be counted worthy to suffer for Jesus' sake. We glory in the
midst of tribulations. The Spirit of God and of glory rests upon the
devoted Christian in affliction's furnace, and a bright, blessed hope of
great eternal reward ever cheers and nerves his faltering soul. He, who,
in this dark world will suffer with the Savior shall share a blissful
eternity with him.

Amusements.

The affections of a Christian's heart are set on things above, and not on
things on the earth. Col. 3:2. The entertainments, such as suppers,
festivals, parties, concerts, regardless of what may be the ultimate
object, are engaged in and enjoyed only by the worldly minded and
graceless hearted. "She that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth."
1 Tim. 5:6. Those who find enjoyment in the amusements afforded by the
world are without spiritual life. "Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl
for your miseries that shall come upon you.... Ye have lived in pleasure
on the earth, and been wanton." Jas. 5:1, 5. A life of pleasure here on
the earth in wantonness is directly opposed to a life with Christ. "No man
can serve two masters." People who participate in and enjoy the socials,
the suppers, the fairs, and picnics, the Christmas festivities and church
entertainments of the present time have but little or no comprehension of
true Christianity. They are ignorant of God's true character and the power
and beauty of his holiness. Children of God are to live "soberly,
righteously, and godly in