the place of vital piety; and ignorance and wickedness ncreased.

Samuel. O what a dark picture, mother! Did the church ever receive any benefit from being connected with the government?

Mother. No, my dear son; it has always suffered by it. From the time Christianity was first established by law, under Constantine the Great, till the period of which we are now speaking, you see vital religion had been constantly declining; and it continued to decline until scarcely a spark was left in what was called the Church. And, at the present day, wherever religion is established by law, the influence of the Holy Spirit has almost entirely forsaken the established church; and error, corruption, and irreligion abound. Christ's kingdom is spiritual, and can never be blended with earthly kingdoms. It is to be built up and established with spiritual weapons, and by moral means; and it needs not the aid of carnal weapons, or the authority of earthly governments, to support it.

Elizabeth. But, mother, were there not some pious people, who mourned over this dreadful state of things in the church?

Mother. I have no doubt there were; but we have no account of them. The histories which we have of these times, are confined principally to large towns and the courts of princes, where true religion would be least likely to prevail. We have more reason to suppose it existed among those sects which were persecuted, than any where else. Although they are represented as heretics, and said to have embraced false doctrines; yet we know that, in every age, when vital piety has been low in the church, those godly persons who have been stirred up to make extraordinary and zealous efforts for the revival of religion, have been called enthusiasts, branded with heresy, and persecuted. But we shall see more of this hereafter, as we proceed with the history of the church. At the time of which we are speaking, the church of the East, had become exceedingly corrupt. Many of the bishops left their churches, and spent their time at Constantinople. Their views, in entering upon this sacred office, were entirely worldly; and they neglected their duty, to seek the favor of the emperor.

Samuel. Why, mother, how could any person

undertake to preach the Gospel from worldly motives?

Mother. Multitudes have done so, in almost every age of the church. Not knowing any thing of the power of religion in their own souls, they have undertaken this sacred office, in order to get a support, and live an easy and comfortable life.

Elizabeth. But, how can ministers of the Gospel live at ease? They have the example of Christ and his Apostles as their patterns; and I am sure nobody could labor harder than they did.

Mother. But, my dear, ministers who engage in this work from worldly motives, do not take Christ and his Apostles as their pattern. They content themselves with preaching on the Sabbath. Their sermons are cold and formal, and generally not about Christ, but some moral duties. Their own hearts are not affected with the truth, and its influence is very little felt by their hearers. They make no laborious efforts for the salvation of their people during the week; but either sit down at ease to their studies, or attend to their farms or business; or seek their own pleasure in some other way.

Samuel. Why, mother, can such men be called the ministers of Christ?

Mother. They have no claim to the title. Ministers ought to engage in the work of preaching the gospel, from a sincere love of souls, a desire to promote God's glory, and advance the interests of Christ's kingdom. They ought to leave their own private interests entirely in the hands of God, and take no anxious thought about it; for God will take care of those that labor for him. He never leaves his servants to starve. But, my dear children, private Christians are under obligation to act from the same motives. Every professor of religion, who engages in business from mere worldly motives; whose main object is to get property, and promote his own ease, comfort and happiness, in this life, has no claim to be called a Christian. We are all called upon to forsake all we have, to take up our cross, and follow Christ;* and if we do not this, we cannot be his disciples. This means that we should give up and consecrate ourselves and all we have to the Lord; that the great end and

*Luke 9: 23; and 14: 33.

object of our desires and efforts, should not be to promote our own interest or happiness; but to glorify God; to build up the Redeemer's kingdom; and to do good to others.

Samuel. Did the emperor Justinian allow these bishops to stay about the palace in idleness?

Mother. No; he was too industrious in his own habits to allow that. He made a law, forbidding them to come to Constantinople, unless he should send for them.

Elizabeth. What was the state of the church in Africa at this time, mother?

Mother. Through the bravery of his general, Belisarius, Justinian recovered Africa from the Vandals. This put an end to Arianism there. Christians who had been banished were called home. But their banishment does not appear to have had the effect upon them which we should expect from sincere and humble Christians; for they were no sooner restored than they began to persecute the Arians in turn.

Samuel. Why, mother, if they had been real Christians, I think their trials would have been the means of making them grow in grace. Then they would have been more holy when