ON THE ELECT AT THE LAST DAY.
FORTY-FIFTH SERMON.
ON THE CALLING OF THE ELECT TO HEAVEN.
Subject.
The invitation of the elect to heaven should be an incentive to all of us to endure joyfully any labor or trouble, cross or suffering that may occur in the service of God.—Preached on the feast of St. Stephen, the first martyr.
Text.
Ecce video cœlos apertos, et Filium hominis stantem a dextris Dei.—Acts vii. 55.
“Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.”
Introduction.
It is hard to have to suffer injuries, insults, persecution, banishment, stoning even to death; and to have to endure those things when one is innocent and has done no harm to any one is still harder; but worst of all is to have to suffer those things from one’s own countrymen to whom one has tried to do good. Such was the experience of the holy Protomartyr, St. Stephen, ns we learn from the Acts of the Apostles; and how did he endure it? With the greatest patience and meekness towards his persecutors and tormentors, with the utmost joy and consolation of heart. To have this joy and consolation all he did was to raise his eyes to heaven: “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.” Heaven, he thought, is opened and invites me to enter after my suffer-
