taking the scriptures for their authority, in addition to the testimony of the whole of the primitive church, and the powerful reasonings of divinity, defended the Catholic faith in such a masterly manner, that all acknowledged that GoD was with them, to the shame and confusion of their opponents, and the great consolation of those who were sound in the faith.

But their enemies, the Picts, the Irish, and the Saxons, were still in the country, spreading devastation in some quarter or other continually. The Britons, it is true, had an army in the field, but the men were timid and disheartened. When Garmon and Lupus discovered this, they observed, "Be not faint-hearted, or alarmed because of your enemies. We will be your leaders. Our trust is in the Living God, the Lord of Hosts." When they became aware of their situation, the bishops commanded the army to halt in a shady valley, thickly covered with trees, and not to move from their position until the enemy passed by; and whatever they saw their leaders do, they should do likewise. Before long, the Picts marched through the valley, when the two bishops arose upon their feet, and shouted "Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!" and the soldiers, following their example, sprang upon their feet, crying out, with all their strength, "Alle luia!" &c., until the whole valley reverberated the sound. The Picts, thus taken by surprise, were so terrified and alarmed, that many of them were drowned in their haste to escape across an adjoining stream.* This occurrence took place soon after Easter, A.D. 427; and the place is called, to this day, Maes Garmon, (Garmon's Field.)

After this, the boldness of the Picts and other barbarians was checked for a while; for, as long as the Britons feared GOD, and departed from evil, their enemies troubled them not. No sooner, however, did they forget GoD and neglect his worship, than their old foes made preparations to pay them another visit. Although a majority of the Britons were professed christians, yet their conduct was bad, for they did not live according to the injunctions of the scriptures. As long as Garmon and Lupus remained amongst them, they were a religious people, at least in appearance; but, after these

* Vide Use. Primord, p. 179, ubi hæc fusius.

holy men returned to France, they forgot their instructionstheir zeal for religion decreased--they ridiculed its ordinan ces, and by degrees gave themselves up to levity and foolish diversions in short, they seemed to have no recollection of the tribulations through which they had so recently passed. In the course of a few years, they had reached the very acme of national impiety. Not only were the common people sinning against Heaven "with a high hand and an outstretched arm," but even the clergy-the ministers of that holy religion, which enjoins upon its professors to be patterns of virtue and uprightness -joined in the general wickedness. Banquetings, drunkenness, lasciviousness, usury, envy, and hatred, were common crimes; to which was added as much contempt and dishonor for the commandments of GOD as the corrupt heart of man is capable of manifesting. "A wonderful and horrible thing is committed in the land." Jer. v. 30. It was no wonder, therefore, that the judgments of the Most High-war, pestilence, and famine, should fall upon them. "Shall I not visit for these things? saith the Lord: shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this?" Jer. V. 29.

It was not long before the Picts and the Irish again landed in Britain, and, like so many furies, insatiate for blood, set no limits to their barbarous cruelties. When it is considered that for ten years they continued their work of destruction, imagination cannot depict the melancholy scenes which followed. No regard was paid in this offensive warfare to age, sex, or condition; for all shared the same fate. The hearts of the invaders were never alive to feelings of mercy or com passion. They had been trained to deeds of blood, and were never in their element but when in pursuit of victims on whom to glut their accursed rage. The Britons knew this, for they often experienced its dreadful effects: still, like thousands of others, they would not relax an iota of those very indulgences, which had on all previous occasions rendered them an easy and almost unresisting prey. The Picts and their allies never attacked them, except when they knew them to be so enervated by pleasure and luxury as to be unable to make any successful opposition.

The greatest part of the Britons who could possibly escape, retreated into the deserts, as well to obtain the pro

tection of the rocks as to seek subsistence. Their food, in this desolate exile, was scanty, consisting of what they could obtain in the chase, with now and then a few birds, and such roots and berries as the various seasons afforded. Such were the delicacies, or rather the only articles of food which these wretched people enjoyed.* These are the consequences of indulging in sin, and forsaking the laws and ordinances of GOD.

O, SIN is the fountain, whence constantly flow
Distress and pale fear, lamentation and woe:
Groans, anguish, and trouble arise from its waves,
And sorrow encircles the banks which it laves :
The vengeance of Heaven it invokes from the sky,
And ALL whom it falls on must certainly die.
The horrors of warfare attend in its train,
And fevers, and sickness, and harrowing pain:
The city's proud walls 'neath its influence fall,
And famine and pestilence wait upon all.

At last, after having for a long time suffered affliction, op. pression, famine, and cold, the Britons determined agair to implore the Romans for assistance; and about the year 446 a petition was sent to TIUS, then governor of France, (under the emperor,) couched in the following language. "The groans of the Britons to tius, governor of France." (This was the inscription.) "The barbarians, on the one hand, drive us into the sea, and the sea, on the other, throws us back upon the barbarians; and between them there is no alternative we must either be killed by the barbarians, or drowned by the waves.' "This is only an extract from the letter, but it is all that history has handed down to us. We can judge, however, even from this fragment, in what a deplorable situation the Britons were now placed. Language could scarcely furnish terms to convey a stronger idea of their extreme wretchedness and misery. It is brief, but forcible, and must have operated powerfully on the humane feelings

Tam crebris direptionibus venaretur omnis regio totius cibi baculo excepto venatori artis solatia. Gildas, page

166.

† Et post pauca querentes repellunt burbari, &c. Gild. p. 16, 6

of the Roman governor; but the affairs of the empire were such that no assistance could be rendered to them.*

At this time, Britain was again afflicted with a severe famine; in addition to which, the Picts were burning the grain and all other food, except such as they required themselves. They also drove the Britons once more into the deserts; and the seasons were wet and cold, insomuch that the little that was sown did not ripen. But, notwithstanding all these tribulations, the Britons were a sinful, stiff-necked people. Some of them became slaves to the Picts, in order to save themselves from starvation: others chose to perish in caves and in holes of rocks, rather than submit to their enemies; but very few called upon the Lord in their trouble. If they had done this in sincerity, they would have had no reason to fear the attacks of any foe, nor would they ever have seen a foreign power taking their country by force; because "The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe." Prov. xviii. 10.

But after a long time-after receiving the punishment that was due in this world for their sins, the Lord was pleased to touch their hearts, and bring them to themselves; and they returned, like the prodigal in the gospel, with penitence to their Heavenly Father. Although their number and their strength were greatly reduced, yet the Lord endued them with power from on high, and the army of the Picts, numerous and formidable as it was, could not withstand them: with all the reinforcements they received, they did not ob tain a single victory, because the Britons put their trust in GoD, and "His arm brought salvation." The leaders of the Picts and Irish, being wounded, fled beyond the wall of Severus, into the Highlands of Scotland; and others escaped across to Ireland. (See Deut. xxviii. 7.)

It might have been expected that the Britons, after passing through such fiery trials, and experiencing such signal deliverances, would have served GOD with reverence and godly

"The Romans, at this time, pressed hard by Attila, the most terrible enemy that ever assailed the empire, were unable to attend to the complaints of their allies."-HUME'S HIST OF ENG.

fear. They had witnessed the vengeance, the destruction, the havoc, which had followed them almost unceasingly, whilst they were a by-word amongst the surrounding nations for their wickedness and impiety. They had also enjoyed the blessings and happiness of domestic life, and the splendid triumphs of national independence, when they feared GOD, and obeyed his commandments. They had experienced the extremes of adversity, and attained the summit of prosperity-yet, for all this, they were a wicked, rebellious, and disobedient people.

Having driven away their enemies, and obtained peace at home, they began industriously to till the ground; and, the season proving favorable, their crops of grain and supplies of fruit were more abundant than had ever been known before. But a few years passed away, in the enjoyment of every blessing which a bountiful Creator could bestow upon them-they were secure in their dwellings, and "fared sumptuously every day ;" but," as the dog returns to his vomit," so they departed from the path of duty, and sinned against GoD, if possible, with a higher hand than ever. "But Jeshurun waxed fat and kicked." Deut. xxxii. 15. They anointed kings--not such as conscientiously walked with GOD, but such as were more noted for their cruelty than other men; but the tenure by which they held their offices was uncertain and brief, for they were soon dethroned, and replaced by others still more wicked. If any one was desirous of leading a quiet and virtuous life, and turned his feet from the path of wickedness, he was despised by all his countrymen, who could not, in their own opinion, suffi ciently dishonor him. Those who received the greatest honors, and were generally respected, were the most abandoned characters. The people paid deference to vice and inmorality, whilst they treated modest and retiring virtue with contumely and contempt. They could laugh at the misfortunes of the pious poor, whilst they feasted and pampered the rich libertine and the wealthy debauchee. Nor was it the laity alone who thus delighted in wickedness, and despised the knowledge of GoD; for the elergy also left

* Tantis abundantium copiis insula affluebat, &c. Gild 9, 19, p. 17.

† Ibid, p. 13.