Martyrs Mirror 16VALEDICTORY

Hitherto hath the Lord helped us. ** We have longed much for the hour that would bring us to the conclusion of out work. This hour has come; and therefore we will now rest.

Receive this according to the nature of love. We have had naught in view, but that it should promote the honor of God, and your, our, and the salvation of all men. Your and our days are drawing to a close. Oh, may God grant, that the end of your and our life may be the beginning of the true and blissful life; that the setting of your and our days which are but misery and vanity, may be the

* It is always easier to criticise a thing than to do it better. Therefore Karel van Mauder, at the completion of a great work, adds these words: "Ye stiff necked critics must first consider that too great a mountain lies between doing and saying, before you accuse a free conscience with your audacious babbling. Many have mouth enough to contemn the work of everybody; but not the hands to make something better. Saying is mere wind: but doing I esteem. We say the same, and will let the matter rest here.

** "Then Samuel took a stone. and set it between Mizpeh and Shen, and called the name of it Ebenezer" (that is, stone of help), "saying, Hitherto hath the Lord helped us" ( I Sam. 7:12 ). Thus say we in reference to our history.

rising of the eternal and glorious day of immortal glory. *

O Lord, bless us and all who may read this work; that they and we, in the true faith and with a godly conversation, may spread abroad Thine honor, and afterwards, being honored by Thee, receive a like reward.

We look forward with joy to the day which can bring us consolation. It will deliver us from this evil and perverse world. It will bring us to the true rest, where unrest will be no more. It will give us what our heart desires. O that this time had come already!