JESUS AND HIS OWN. after His resurrection, commanded the condemnation." I see you have cut Gospel to be first preached in the very through those large bars of iron at a city where He had been rejected and blow with your machinery, and you do WHEN Jesus came into this world, He crucified. Oh, wondrous love! Oh, un- not think of re-uniting them; even so, could look on every thing here as that utterable grace! Oh, love beyond com- sinners are cut off in their sins, and there which His own fingers had fashioned. parison! What can dissolve the hard is no restoration. Marred as all was by sin, and its con-heart of man, if such wondrous mercy Dear reader, there is an escape which sequences, nevertheless Jesus was the does not? How the remembrance of is not yet "cut off." It is not a backsuch exceeding kindness will augment Creator of all. "All things were made by the misery of the lost in the lake of fire! “IT,” OR “HIM;” OR, HAVE YOU FOUND THE WAY OF ESCAPE ? Two Christians recently had occasion to ward, crooked way; it is a direct but narrow path of God's appointing; it is personal, immediate, and effectual. It is Christ crucified. "He that believeth shall be saved; he that believeth not shall be damned." "Believest thou this?" Look not only at the "way," but look at the Person and authority of Him who speaketh. It is the Lord Jesus! who, Him, and without Him was not any thing made that was made." But the world was so depraved and out of course, that He had not where to lay His head. He spoke, and there was no response to His meek and loving voice. He raised the dead; cast out devils; preached the interesting conversation with a working before He gave His apostles commission man, as to the true way of escape from to preach to all men this word of eternal salvation, went himself "down into death and the grave, and rose again the third day." Did not He, the blessed Jesus, like Jonah, go down, down into "the belly of hell," and was not "earth, with her bars, about Him," before He came back again as a victor, declaring to a guilty world, that "Salvation is of the Lord"? Gospel of forgiveness of sins; and went about doing good; but He was not known. "He was in the world, and the world was made by Him, and the world knew Him not." How this must have pained the tender heart of Jesus! How could He be otherwise than a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief? How evil must be the character of the world that knows not the Son of God! hell. It is needful to say that the smithery is an unsightly building, and that the common entrance into it is through large, sliding, iron doors. Stop, poor sinner, I pray you, and think of this only way to the gates of eternal glory. BIBLE READINGS. A FEW years since, I had a strong desire to A FEW years since, I had a strong desire to and presenting Christ as the Saviour of the lost. Being necessarily very limited to time, and anxious to make the most of that little, I invited the females of the neighbourhood to meet me in a cottage for prayer, reading the Scriptures, and hearing a few simple words, directing them to "the hope set before us in the Gospel." devote some leisure hours to visiting the poor, You enter suddenly, from the broad, fresh daylight, into a dim, suffocating atmosphere, and the transition to a stranger is very impressive. The feeling is one of confusion; you have but little There was one nation, of all the disposition to go forward, while the rekindreds of the earth, that Jesus regarded treat is effectually cut off by the closed emphatically as His own. He called out iron doors behind. Before you is an Abraham and his seed; redeemed them extensive, lofty building, the ceiling, from Egypt by the blood of the Lamb; arches, and beams of which, are black. delivered them by His own almighty arm ened with the ascending smoke and soot from all the powers that were against of many by-gone years. You see around them, by dividing the Red Sea; overcame you a number of workmen in the midst all their enemies; fed them daily with of masses of metal, of every form-of bread from heaven; led them through grim, sombre visage, attending large fires, the great and terrible wilderness; gave both in forge and furnace; and while you them exceeding great and precious pro- hear the hiss, hiss, hiss of the red, white, mises; brought them into the land of and blue flames, ascending amid such a I shall be thankful throughout eternity for Canaan; and all the blessings they were living mass of men, strange bewildering The Lord having conthen enjoying He had given them. They thoughts arise in your mind,-for the having done so. descended to use such weak means for the were indebted to Jesus for every thing; scene is vivid, and discomposing—and purposes of mercy, towards some who atbut did they show Jesus kindness? Oh, the fixed thought is, Where am I? tended; and feeling that many, willing to no! "He came unto His own, and His One of the Christians said, "Is not work in the vineyard, but deterred by not own received Him not." Notice, they this like Pandemonium?" "It is, in knowing how to begin, may have overlooked. were His own, and are twice called so in deed, like hell," said the other. this one path of usefulness, I mention a few this little verse. How keenly Jesus must The latter spoke to one of the work-particulars, praying that it may lead them to have felt this! We all know, how far men, who was explaining the machinery, walk in it. more we feel any slight or unkindness and said, "This place is more like hell The first attempt was made in the district from our own family or acquaintances than any place I was ever in before." of a dear friend, who used her influence in than we do from a stranger; and we may "Ah! Sir," he replied, "And you would gathering the little number who met about be assured that Jesus was fully sensible say so, if you were here sometimes, such of knowing something of their individual chatwelve. I had, through her, the advantage of this. It was one of His own nation is the cursing and confusion." What a racter; and most of them appeared interested that betrayed Him. It was His own place hell must be, where there is tor- hearers; amusing me at times by the remark, that brought false witness against Him. ment, blackness, wailing, and gnashing "I would rather hear you, ma'am, than go to It was His own that cried out, "Crucify of teeth, going up for ever and ever from Him, crucify Him." It was His own that those who are there!........My friend, allow minister." My language, though, was too said, "Not this man, but Barabbas." It me to ask you a plain question? Have simple for one old woman, who refused to was His own that slew Him, and hanged you found the way of escape from hell?" come on the ground, that The workman said, "Well, sir, I have had teach her just as well; she could understand word I said!" every Yes! But how did Jesus act towards them plenty of sickness and trouble." Two of that number, I trust, were stirred who treated Him so badly? He might but have you found out the true way of have hurled them all, in a moment, into escape from eternal torment? And do but I do not know if they have yet found Him up to greater earnestness in seeking Christ, the pit of eternal destruction. He needed you believe that you have a good hope of as their Saviour. Another, a very ignorant only to have spoken the word, and the going to glory? Do you know that the person, was for a while under such deep conearth would have cleft asunder, and have Lord Jesus Christ is the only true way viction of sin, that, to use her own expression, swallowed them up for ever. He might thither?" "Well, sir, I suppose every she could "neither sleep by night, nor work have smitten them with madness, and body believes it." "Yes! they may be- by day." I visited her constantly, reading have caused every man to put his fellow lieve in it,' but do they believe in the promises of the Scriptures, and seeking to death. But He did not condemn, Him?' that is the important distinc- to explain the way of life. because He came to save; therefore, Him on a tree. as tion, my friend. Do they think seriously many as received Him, to them gave He of this? It is not believing it, but bepower to become the sons of God, even lieving in Him who died for sinners that to them that believe on His name.' He can save you.” fed the hungry; relieved the distressed; The other visitor said, "Those who comforted the sorrowing; prayed for His believe in Christ Jesus have passed from murderers; died for His enemies; and, death unto life, and shall not come into You don't use such fine words as the her old man could By very slow degrees the Lord enlightened her particularly dull mind, and having cast her burden on the Sin-bearer, she found peace. The members of the class soon ceased to feel an interest in attending, and it was consequently given up; but knowing it was the work of Satan, I commenced another in a different locality. An old Christian offered his room, which was situated in such a depraved part of the town, that I almost feared to visit it. For a few months about six came, some of them very immoral characters, but I am not aware of any blessing from the Lord having followed, and I was again obliged to discontinue the meetings from the failure of attendance. This discouraged me much; and, combined with many other trying circumstances, led me for a time to fear that I had undertaken a work for which the Lord had not fitted me that He did not intend to use me in His service; but I now see it was needed discipline. It led to much heartsearching, earnest prayer, and a resolve in God's strength that Satan should not conquer. I asked the Lord so to mark out a path for me, that I could not mistake His will, and might go on in faith. Shortly after this, a Christian sister told me that the people dwelling in her court were sadly ignorant, and seldom or ever went to a place of worship, and asked if I would go to her cottage and read to them. xxxi. 4–9, and John iii. 14-17, seeking to standing always side by side. I am an orphan; show the simple way of salvation" Look I lost my parents when a child, and was brought and live." That look of faith was given, up at school. I never had one to love me, and even as I stood by his side, and I could life was indeed a weary burden, yet beyond, all almost see divine life breathed into his soul;'s reading and words came to my heart-he was dark still, for I knew nothing of a Saviour. a ray of heaven's own light illuminated his was so kind to me, and always called me brother. countenance; he believed in the crucified I never loved till I had him. He had found Jesus, One, and felt he was saved. Fearing to tire him, and yet knowing some time must elapse before I could again see him, I let him rest, and then endeavoured to explain the necessity of the obedience of Christ, providing the robe of righteousness for God's prodigals, which gave them a title to the Father's house. I feared his extreme ignorance would prevent his understanding me, but when the Lord wills to work, who shall let it? The Spirit was there to open his mind, and he readily embraced this truth also. Soon after this, repeated seizures so weakened his mind, that he was almost insensible when I called, and he lingered in this mournful state for some time, only at intervals having the power of expressing his thoughts. The hand of God was so evident, that II was however thankful for the testimony began without delay. About fifteen came from of a Christian friend, who frequently visited time to time, many of whom have expressed him. He gave ample proof that his faith their gratitude for the opportunity. rested on the Rock of Ages. To the Lord alone be the praise! A young girl, who had never known a parent's love, having been abandoned by her mother, was led to Jesus, the Friend of the friendless, and is now in communion with the Church of Christ. The woman of the house where she lodged had for some years been awakened, and was led to give her heart to Christ also. Another, who, when she first came, was a sad character, persecuting a young person who had just left the paths of sin, was led to feel her depravity; and for some weeks was in the deepest distress of mind, literally agonizing to find her Saviour. It was deeply interesting to see her take her Bible, seat herself on a low hassock, and look up in my face with the simplicity of a child, drinking in the words of life. She found peace, I believe, through the private reading of the Word. Consumption settled on the body, but she died rejoicing in God. Her faith was so firm, her expressions so original, as well as scriptural, that you at once recognized her experience to be the work of the Spirit. But the most interesting case was the following: The person at whose cottage we assembled had enquired if she were at liberty to invite men as well as women to attend. I objected to her doing so, doubting its propriety for many reasons; but one day, after the reading, she said, "I hope ma'am you will not be displeased, but my brother-in-law has been in the next room" (the door of which had been left open). I answered, that it did not signify, not having been aware of it. It seems that after I left, he remarked, "I know that lady's voice; she spoke to me some years since, when she visited my daughter." I had quite forgotten both circumstances, but then remembered having seen and noticed an old paralytic man. A TRUE STORY OF LUCKNOW. and led me to love him too. I cannot find words to say how I joyed, when at last I felt I had a friend above! Oh! I never shall forget my joy when I first understood and believed. We had no hook, only the paper. We knew it off by heart, last, in a dreadful fight in one of the gardens, a ball struck in the chest. Words cannot say my grief when he fell, the only one I had to love me. I knelt by him, till the garden was left in our hands, and then bore him to the doctors. But it was too late-life was almost gone. 'Dear ,' he said to me, 'I am only going home first. We have loved to talk of home together-don't for me, for I'am so happy?' and I don't know which of us loved it best. At be sorry 'How sweet the name of Jesus sounds.' garden. I have gone through much fighting since, I have seen so said, "dear In the Station of, in the Upper Provinces of India, I was one morning visiting the hospitals, as usual. As I entered the General hospital, I was told by one of the men that a young man of Regiment was anxious to speak to me. In the inner ward, I found lying on his chaepoy in a corner, a new face, and walking up to him, said, "I am told you wish to see me; I do not recollect the pleasure of having seen you before?" "No," he said, "I have never seen you, yet you seem no stranger, for I have often heard speak of you." I asked him if he was ill or wounded. "I am ill," he replied. He went on to say that he had just come down from Cawnpore. "Perhaps you would like me to tell you my history. It may be you remember a long time since, some of our men going into the hospital opposite, as you sat reading to one of the Highlanders. There were some halfdozen or more of them; they went to see a sick comrade. You went up presently to them, and told them how grateful you and all your countrypeople were to your noble soldiers for so readily coming to protect you all, and how deeply you sympathised with them in the noble cause in which they were now going to take a share. Then you talked to them of the danger which would attend them. You reminded them that life is a battle-field to all, and asked them if they were soldiers of Christ, and if they had thought of the probability of their falling in battle. I have heard all about that long talk you had with the men. Then you gave your Bible to one, and asked him read a passage. He chose the 23rd Psalm, and you prayed. They asked you for a book or tract to remind them of what had been said, and you gave all you had in your bag. But for one man there was none. They were to start that afternoon, so that you had not time to get one. But you went to the apothecary, and got pen and paper from him. When you came back you gave this When I next called at the sister's house, paper to him, telling him you should look for him in heaven." As he said this, the poor fellow pulled she told me that her brother-in-law, had had out from the breast of his shirt, half a sheet of another seizure, and had been in great dis-note paper, on which I recognized my writing, tress of mind since his visit, fearing he was though nearly illegible from wear. On it was gether. How it sweetened their last days on lost. He thought "it would do him good if written, the 1, 7, 10, 14, 15, and 17th verses of he could hear the dear lady's voice once more. the 2nd Corinthians v., and that hymn, Would I go to him." Delighted with the message, I asked my brother to drive me over "That man," he continued, "and I were in the to the village. I found his wife in great same company, but he was a day a-head of me. sorrow, both from her husband's bodily afflic- We met in Cawnpore, then marched on with the tion, and agony of mind, describing it as rest to Lucknow. Whenever we halted, the first so great, that she did not know what to do thing. did was to take out his paper, and read with him; though he had scarcely power to it aloud, to those who cared to hear, then he move in the bed, he urged her to take him out, that he might try if God would hear him if he were to kneel! I stood by his side, and was soon joyfully recognized as the one he had heard reading. There was a look of deep anguish as he spoke of his sins, and of his fears for the future. I read to him Num. to "How sweet the name of Jesus sounds." prayed with us. As we marched he spoke much a friend on earth, who led me to a Saviour in heaven." I promised. Next morning I went to see him, but oh, how sadly altered did I find him! Those soft brown eyes were glassy and lustreless. He was never to know me again. Dysentry in its fearful rapid form had seized him during the night. I took his hand in mine, it was clammy and powerless. Three of the men in the ward came up to me, and said, "Till sense left him, he was talking of home with Jesus." They knelt with me in prayer beside the poor sufferer. I went again the next day. His body was still there, but his spirit had fled a few minutes previous. He was covered with his blanket, and the coolies were waiting to bear him away. I took his paper from the pillow, where it had been laid, and went to the apothecary. We walked back to the corpse, and he placed it in the hands of the departed. Hie was buried that evening. I have often thought since, how beautiful was that heavenly love which bound those two dear young soldiers toearth. They were indeed friends in Jesus, and though their remains lie parted, yet they are both sleeping in Jesus. Oh! what a glorious resurrection theirs will be in the day of His appearing. Many a soldier will probably read this touching story. To each one of you, dear friends, let me give this precious verse: The love of Christ constraineth us," with the fervent prayer, that in you it may produce the same love, and heavenly mindedness, and preparedness for death, as it did in the hearts of these two redeemed ones. We have each of us one above, who loves us with a deeper love than earth can give. Nothing can part us from Him, but sin. No hope can so cheer us in this world of sorrow, as the looking and longing for the day when we shall see His face. His advent is at hand!-British Flag. In 4 vols. crown 8vo. cloth, 208., In 5 vols. fcap. 8vo, in extra red cloth, price 10s. 6d., YRUMBS FOR THE LORD'S LITTLE ONES. Just Published, price 6d. YHRIST CRUCIFIED. The One Meeting-point THE GOSPEL COTTAGE LECTURER. The GEO. D. DOUDNEY, Incumbent of Charles' Chapel, Plymouth. Just Published, HE KEYS OF THE KINGDOM: a Gospel TTTACK BY GORDON FORLONG. per 100; or, in large type, 3s. per 100. London: W. 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Bogue), 86, Fleet Street, and Paternoster Row. A Monthly Journal, CONTAINING PLAIN TRUTHS OF ETERNAL IMPORTANCE, FOR "STREETS AND LANES," "HIGHWAYS AND HEDGES." "Compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.” WHO IS OUR MASTER? BY JAMES SMITH, CHELTENHAM. (LUKE XIV. 23.) LONDON, MARCH 1, 1859. the ways of sin, though hell is at the [MORGAN & CHASE, 72, HATTON GARDEN. [PRICE 1d. is all." George- lived to Christ, and fell asleep in Jesus. This poor man said, "Christ is all." The writer can, WE are all servants. We have given our- Reader, who is your master? Have through mercy, say, "Christ is all." Dear selves up to work for some one-to serve you seriously considered the question? reader, what can you say about Christ? some one. The apostle Paul tells us how Have you come to a decision upon the Perhaps, not one word. You can speak we may ascertain who is our master. He point? If you say, "Jesus is;" then much about other matters, things consays, "His servants ye are whom ye obey." we say, He was not once. Therefore, nected with this poor, perishing, evil Now we either serve self, Satan, or the you know something about entering into world, but nothing concerning Christ. Lord Jesus Christ. In serving self, we His service, learning His will, and re- If Christ be not formed in your heart effectually serve Satan. It comes, there- ceiving the law from His mouth. None as the hope of glory, you must be silent fore, to this, that either Satan or Christ of us are the servants of Jesus by nature; about Him. "Out of the abundance of is our master; and he is our master consequently, however we may attempt the heart the mouth speaketh." Are whom we obey. Do we consult the will to deceive others, or persuade ourselves, you still in your sins? Sad, awful state of Christ in what we do? Do we wish that we are the servants of Christ, we to live in. To be "without God, without and seek to please Christ in what we do? are not, except we have been delivered hope, in the world." A guilty, lost, and Do we desire in everything to commend from the power of darkness, and are condemned sinner. Lamentable condiourselves to the Lord Jesus, and secure translated into the kingdom of God's tion; but such you are, if Christ is not His approbation? If so, then Christ is dear Son. O to be the willing, devoted, "all" to you. Even for you I have a our master, and we are His servants. useful servants of the Lord Jesus! O to word: "This is a faithful saying, and He has work for us to do for Him. His shew forth Thy praise, merciful Re-worthy of all acceptation, that Christ word 'must be our rule in doing it. He deemer, in body, soul, and spirit; in Jesus came into the world to save sinwill accept and acknowledge our poor public and in private; in time and in ners." (1 Tim. i. 15.) Remember George efforts, though they are feeble and im- eternity! Amen. perfect. Jesus is the best, the kindest of masters. He looks more at the motive done out of love to His name. CHRIST IS ALL. a few days He, was once a guilty sinner, and would have died so, had he not believed the record which God has given concerning Himself, and the work of His dear Son. Feeling how great a sinner he was, and knowing that he needed an almighty Saviour, he by faith received the word, and with joy believed that "God sent not His Son into the world to condemn than the excellency of the work. He I CALLED to see George often takes the will for the deed, and before his death, and found that his never despises the least thing that is bodily strength was less, but his spirialoud and with much earnestness, asked tual strength seemed increased. in prayer the Lord's gracious support in the world; but that the world through the approaching hour of departure from Him might be saved." (John iii. 17.) this world of sorrow, and shouted, "But He beheld Jesus as his Saviour; saw none of these things move me;" "I his sins laid upon Him who gave up know that my Redeemer liveth." After- His life for "sinners." Knowing that wards he began to sing, "Why do we mourn departing friends, 'Tis but the voice that Jesus sends, To call them to His arms." But are we living to ourselves, seeking our own pleasure and gratification? Are we indulging in lusts and passions, and only seeking to keep in with the world, and appear respectable before our fellowmen? Do we love and enjoy sin, preferring it to holiness? If so, Satan is our master. We are his slaves. He leads God had reconciled him to Himself by us captive at his will. He has, and keeps the death of His Son, he was happy; possession of, the heart. He is the worst he had peace and joy through believing; of masters. His service is bitter. His he felt the love of God, and this caused wages are dreadful; for "the wages of him to love the God of grace. Faith in sin is death"- eternal death! He finds Memory failing him as to the exact the blood of Jesus enabled George —, his slaves plenty to do. He keeps them words of the remaining verses, he wished amidst the bustle of life, to speak much busy, that they may not think. He rules me to look out the hymn in his book, of a Saviour who had rescued him from them with an iron rod. He degrades and when I had done so, he continued eternal death; and as he neared the hartheir nature, secures the ruin of their singing till weakness silenced his tongue. bour of "everlasting rest," he could say, souls, and makes them miserable, both Grasping my hand, he said, "I love you." Christ is all." Dear reader, to all who in this world and the next. He infatu- I love my dear wife-my children. I believe, "Christ is precious." "He that ates his victims, so that they prefer love all. I love Christ; and I can give believeth on the Son hath everlasting darkness to light, bondage to liberty, sin you and all up for Christ. I am going life: and he that believeth not the Son to holiness, and, as a consequence, hell to Christ." I said to him, "Then Christ shall not see life; but the wrath of God to heaven; that is to say, they prefer is all to you." "Yes," he replied, "Christ abideth on him.” (John iii. 36.) FEAR NOT. "And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid keys of hell and of death."-REV. i. 17, 18. his right band upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last: I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore. Amen; and have the EVERY one of us must have to do with the Lord Jesus. Each person will yet come before Him. Nothing can possibly hinder this. The joy ful expectation of the Christian is, that he will see his Saviour's face and be like Him. Those who are not regenerated, unbelievers, will assuredly see Jesus too, but not with joy; as a wicked man once said, "I shall see Him, but not now; I shall behold Him, but not nigh." Many persons now turn away from the Saviour's name, they like to banish His glorious gospel from their thoughts; but, then, at the name of Jesus, every knee shall bow, of things in heaven, and things on earth, and things under the earth, and every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." This is God's decree, and it must be accomplished. "The counsel of the Lord standeth for ever, the thoughts of His heart to all generations." There is, therefore, no possibility of escape from having to do with Jesus; and, I doubt not, that those who will go away into everlasting punishment, will send up a cry continually from the pit of torment, that Jesus Christ is Lord. This is very solemn, and makes the gospel a matter of such individual application and importance. The Scripture says, "every knee"! every tongue"! every one of us shall give account of himself in the day of judgment!" clouds, and every eye shall see Him!" plainly shewing us that we must have to do personally with the Lord Jesus. Now lle graciously pardons and saves; then He will righteously condemn, and punish with everlasting destruction. What folly, then, it is to neglect His great salvation! 66 Behold, He cometh with We find him In the verses for our consideration, we find that John saw the Lord Jesus, and he says, "When I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead." So dazzling and refulgent is the glorified Saviour, that even His most intimate and beloved servants, while in the body, cannot catch a glimpse of Him, without being overpowered by the brightness of His glory. Perhaps there never was a man on earth that knew such deep intimacy with Jesus as John. with the Lord in the days of His flesh, on every remarkable occasion; and, at the Supper, he was the only one of the disciples that leaned on His bosom; and, in an anxious moment, he only could turn to his loving Master, and say, Lord, who is it?" And further, when Jesus was betrayed and apprehended, and all others forsook Him, Jolin followed Him into the High Priest's palace, and stood by Him to the last, even at the Cross. John, then, must have known very deep intimacy with the Lord, and his writings shew how richly the love of God was shed abroad in his heart by the Holy Ghost. "The head that once was crown'd with thorns, The mighty victor's brow." workings of the Holy Spirit, the testifier and from the hand that was pierced on Calvary's I saw the glory of the Lord, he exclaimed, "Woe We may because he had toiled all night without success however, as he had been requested to do so, he did it, when the multitude of fishes was so great, that the net brake. This circumstance seems to have led Peter into the understanding that the person who had thus commanded him to let down the net was the Lord; and, humbled under a sense of His amazing condescension, power, and grace, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, 66 by happy experience, in thus casting himself at Jesus' feet as a poor, guilty sinner, just as he was, that there was grace in the heart of Jesus to abound over all his sin. Jesus said unto him, "Fear not!" as much as to say, I welcome, pardon, cleanse, and save you; and more than this, you shall be honoured in the service of God; "from henceforth thou shalt catch men." Oh what grace there is for self-abased sinners at the Saviour's feet! I say, it was a sight of the Lord Jesus that caused John to fall "at His feet as dead." Though he well knew he was born again, that he was a son of God, that all his sins were Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O purged, that he was in-dwelt by the Spirit, and, Lord!" Observe, that Peter fell down as a John was also faithful after the Saviour left therefore, as to his eternal state, he had nothing sinful man; he felt so vile, and that he was unfit the world, and we know that he was transported to fear; yet the glory of the ascended Lord was for the Lord's company, so that he could only to the isle of Patmos, for his godly life and testi- more than he could bear. In a moment, John bow down before Him as a sinner. But how did mony. It is important to notice that he was seemed to eye the adorable Lord from head to Jesus reply? Did He say, You are such a sinbanished, not so much for the doctrines he held, foot. He tells us He was "like unto the Son of ner, you shall depart from me? No. You have as for what he said and did; for in this chapter Man," and yet that He declared himself to be sinned so much I cannot receive you? No. If he tells us that he "was in the isle, which is called "the First and the Last." And in this brief you will promise to do better for the future, I Patmos, for the Word of God, and for the testi- account we find His Person-God and Man-will pardon the past? Oh, no; but Peter found mony of Jesus Christ." Most persons around us beautifully expressed. Who can be "the First now have no objection to the outward forms of and the Last," but the Eternal Golhead? and religion, and will allow you to hold what doc- who is "like unto the Son of Man," but He trines you please, provided you keep them to who was in "the likeness of sinful flesh," and yourself; but the unrenewed mind still kicks" was found in fashion as a man"? against faithful testimony, in life and word, to gather, from His being "in the midst of the the infinite and glorious perfections of the person, seven candlesticks," that He is in Spirit with work, offices, fitness, and fulness of the Lord the Church, though personally absent. "His Jesus Christ. If Christians now bore distinctly eyes," which once wept tears of sympathy and "the testimony of Jesus Christ," we may be pity, now "as a flame of fire," shew us that nosure that it would still be offensive to many; for thing escapes His observation; He therefore says the offence of the Cross has not ceased. to every Church, "I know thy works." "The While John was honouring his earth-rejected sharp, two-edged sword," and "His voice as the Master in desolate Patmos, his Master marvel- sound of many waters," may teach us that He lously honoured him. His persecuted and judges and reproves; while the "garment down banished apostle was chosen, not only to convey to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden the Revelation to the churches, but to have such blessed views of the future, as no one was ever privileged before. This is very sweet to contemplate. Accordingly, we are told, that he was in the Spirit on the Lord's day." By his being "in the Spirit," we are to understand that he was not musing or meditating according to the thoughts of the natural mind, but that he was under the guidance, control, and operations of the Holy Spirit-the thoughts of his mind, and the affections of his heart were according to the girdle," may remind us that He is not now "The moment a sinner believes, And trusts in the crucified Lord, His pardon at once he receives, Salvation in full through His blood." Let us look at another instance. A woman who was notorious for her sinful ways, heard that Jesus had visited the city, and was sitting at meat in the house of Simon the Pharisee. She felt the burden of ber sins-her conscience was oppressed with guilt her heart was sad. She needed a Saviour, and He was near at hand. But will He save such a sinner? Can He welcome such a notoriously evil person? Will He who is so holy deign to listen to such a vile creature? might have been the reasonings of her distressed heart. Nevertheless, necessity co npelled her to go where He was. She stood behind |
