glorious banner of their eternal King. We It alone convicts me as a sinful and Elphinstone Institution at Bombay. Neither my heart that I was subject to repeated at- The gospel of Jesus Christ as revealed in was I instructed at all in the religion in which tacks of melancholy and sadness. Now those the Bible alone is sufficiently adapted to my I had been born. But I am happy to say that attacks, sickening as they were, carried me wants. the Spirit of God was working inwardly in more and more to repent of my past sins, and guilty creature. my heart after my leaving the above Insti- to reliance on the merits and blood of Jesus such a vile state of my nature. tution, and at the time when I was employed Christ, who cleanseth us from all our sins. stores me to the favour and mercy of my in a solicitor's office. At that time I asked a And now, in humble dependence on his grace, Maker. It alone tells me that God has defriend to lend me his Bible for a short time, I have determined never to part from the vised a plan for the redemption of mankind. which was presented to him by his master, a truth, and to hold fast the Word of life unto It alone declares to me that "God so loved solicitor of the Supreme Court at Bombay, on the end. And when the trial of my faith the world that He gave his only begotten Son, a Christmas holiday. I kept this blessed comes, I desire to remember the cheering words that whosoever believeth in Him should not volume for several weeks, and then returned of the inspired Apostle when he says, "Who perish but have everlasting life. For God it to him with thanks for the knowledge of shall separate us from the love of Christ? sent not his Son into the world to condemn salvation I had attained through his instru- Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, the world, but that the world through him mentality. And now I heartily and sincerely or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?" might be saved. Now, on my part, brethren, pray to the Almighty that he also may come "For," he says, "I am persuaded that neither I thank Him who died on Calvary, that He to the knowledge of Him who died on Calvary. death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, has graciously opened the eyes of my heart, He, to the best of my information, is until now nor powers, nor things present, nor things to to behold the sinful condition of my nature, quite unacquainted with that book of books. come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other and to repent over it. And now, my brethren, And what our blessed Lord said when he was creature, shall be able to separate us from the in the presence of each and every one of you, on earth, that "many that are first shall be love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our and in the presence of God my Saviour, I prolast, and the last shall be first," is now com- Lord." Again in another place he says, "If mise in his strength that, I will endeavour to pletely fulfilled in my case; and I thank God be for us, who can be against us?" And renounce, and that utterly, the devil and his God for it. Afterwards I went to Dr. also what the Royal Psalmist says, "The works, and hereafter to walk in righteousness Wilson, to have for my perusal some anti- Lord is my light and my salvation, of whom and true holiness, and to offer up myself a christian works, as I had a great desire to ex-shall I be afraid?" "I will not be afraid of living sacrifice to my Creator, putting on the amine whether there was truth in them or not. ten thousands of people that have set them- whole armour of God that I may be able But, blessed be God, instead of falling into a selves against me around about." In the to withstand in the time of trial: for a Chrisdeep ditch of filthiness by reading such blas- Psalm xlvi. he says, Therefore will not we tian requires not only to wrestle against flesh phemous works as those of Paine, Voltaire, fear, though the earth be removed, and though and blood, but against principalities, against and Haslem, of which I afterwards read too the mountains be carried into the midst of the powers, against the rulers of the darkness of much, I was requested by Dr. Wilson to at- sea.' And how delightful and vivifying are this world, against spiritual wickedness in high tend the Wednesday Prayer-meetings which the promises made by the everlasting Jehovah places. he was in the habit of holding at the time. I to his people, who are suffering in this world, Now, my Christian brethren, I earnestly cheerfully complied with his request and at- under the incessant assaults of Satan, while pray God that He may, in like manner, by tended them for some time. Hence my ac-fighting the good fight of faith, under the the influence of his infinitely gracious Spirit, quaintance with some young friends in the convert the hearts of all the people in this Lord; by cultivating whose company I began land, who are sunk in the dark gulf of heamore and more to appreciate the grace of the thenism. And may the time soon come, when Redeemer. I perceived, then, that I was a every tongue shall confess that Jesus is the sinner forsaken of God, and that every imagiChrist, the Son of the living God; when every nation of my heart was evil. That no religion dry and parched land shall be moistened with convinced me of guilt and natural sinfulness the blessed dew of heaven, and bring forth but that of the Bible alone. That, according copious fruits meet for repentance; when to the statement of that Divine volume, I was are full of consolation to them that are af-the wolf and the lamb shall feed together, under the great wrath to come, and I felt my-flicted, when He says, in the glorious Revela- and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock: self totally helpless to escape from so terrible tion to St. John, "To him that overcometh and dust shall be the serpent's meat." a wrath. But the Bible taught me to trust will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in him who alone has power to forgive. It had then revealed to me that Jesus Christ is the only Saviour and that he is able to forgive all my sins. When I was in such a state of my belief, I at once communicated, first to Mr. Dhunjeebhoy, and afterwards to Dr. Wilson, my desire concerning the full profession of the truth as it in Jesus. Immediately after this communication, an article appeared in one of the native newspapers in He that overcometh, the same shall be Bombay, called the Jami Jamshed, contributed clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot by an enemy of the Christian Truth. A great out his name out of the book of life, but I rumour was spread in the Parsee community: will confess his name before my Father and and every one, but especially those who came before His angels." "Him that overcometh in contact with me, began to inquire my inten-will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, tion about embracing Christianity. The information was soon communicated to my parents, by reason of which they began to weep and mourn for the separation of their only and beloved son. After a day or two I made a promise to my parents of my not separating from them. Soon after this I asked from my master Mr. Acland, a month's leave for the purpose of seeking change of air, which had been, before the above event, recommended Now, brethren, I am fully convinced, and to me by a European medical gentleman. hereby declare my belief, that the Christian Accordingly the leave was granted. Under religion alone is from God. Divers pretendthese circumstances I left Bombay for Surat, ers, at different periods of the world, have and, together with my parents, duly arrived made their vain efforts to devise new plans here. After my arrival here, for a time I had and systems for the salvation of the human little intercourse with Christians; but after- family. But the Gospel of Jesus Christ alone wards got acquainted with the Missionaries, is God's plan. I confess and declare that and began to attend constantly to their instruc- there is no other name given under heaven tions. Now let me say that the chief and whereby we may be saved but by the name of principal cause of my holding back in Bom- the Son of God. The Scriptures of the Old bay was my little faith, and that little for the and New Testaments, I firmly believe, are the time forgotten. But the gracious Spirit of word of God. The pretended revelations of God did not slack to bring me to a full and Zoroastrianism, and other religions of man, complete conviction of the grand truth of the have no divine authority, and only delude man heavenly Record. It acted so intensely on with vain hopes. in the midst of the Paradise of God." "Be and he shall go no more out: and I will write VERSES ON TRIAL. BY GARDENER. PILGRIMS to the heavenly land, Subtle foes around them press; Storms of trial mark the way; Those bright realms of endless day, How few the ills we're called to meet, Then let us gird our loins afresh, And lean upon our heavenly Guide; The Lord our banner will provide; And when we've reached the heavenly shore, All was in love and wisdom plann'd; THE LORD'S WORK. SWEDEN. A FOREIGN Journal says that there is scarcely a place in the whole country where the religious awakening is not felt, and the revival is experienced among all classes, from the poorest to the royal family. The awakenings are accompanied with a thorough reformation of life. One of the most zealous preachers of the gospel is Count Von Stakelberg, still a young man, belonging to the wealthiest of the noble families of Sweden. His ad Iresses are so powerful, that in most of the public meetings held by him there is experienced an awakening. GREAT BRITAIN. The accounts that reach us of the progress of the gospel in various places in the United Kingdom are most encouraging; and far more may be expected, because of the increase of the spirit of prayer and supplication to the God of all grace, inanifested in the united cries of so many Christians in various localities. The moral effect too on the inhabitants generally is now very marked in those districts where God has been so blessedly working. IRELAND. GLASGOW.-One Sunday, lately, there were about 150 new communicants at the Wynd Church. knew it before, but I never felt it as I did then." Again I asked, "Was there any particular sin A young man lately stated, that he had travelled pressing on your conscience?" I sometimes menseven miles to attend the Wynd Church. The tioned sins to which I knew the man had pretext was, "We love Him, because He first loved viously been addicted. The answers I received distress of mind as to whether he was really united was easy to discern in them a common substance. us." During the week following he was in much varied very much in the form of expression, yet it to Christ, until the following Sunday, sitting in his All acknowledged universal sinfulness. They his mind, that he could have exclaimed to them deeply troubled about the particular sins I speciown Church, such a gleam of light came across would confess that they had previously been "But," said one, "the great sin I felt pressaround how precious Christ was to his soul. On fied. leaving the church with a companion, who was in ing me down, was that I had neglected prayer;" a careless state, he told him how precious he felt another, "that I had been guilty of thinking Christ to be; and on the following Thursday, that lightly of Christ;" another, "that I had shut my young man found peace. These two were the ears against the gospel;" another, "that I had means of awakening a third, who soon after also thought nothing of the wonderful goodness of God obtained comfort.-Revival. in sending His Son into the world to die for sinners." A most intelligent weaver described his experience in the following graphic terms:-"I had been seeking God for weeks, and could get no comfort either from reading the Bible, or from the I tried to pray, but found my heart was shut up. my work. I leaned over my loom. I felt as if I It was on Friday last that I was struck, while at I was in great trouble about my sins. saw the cross, and Jesus nailed to it. I felt that His precious blood was needed to take away my sins, that it was my sin that nailed Him to the tree: and, sir, I shivered before the cross." RUTHERGLEN.-It has been lately stated that there have been many conversions here, sometimes as many as twenty enquirers after a meeting, and scarcely a day without conversion. ENGLAND. various parts of the metropolis, and there are fre- sermon. I did not see a single person who professed to have found true peace who did not manifest a lively apprehension of Jesus as the Lord his At Liverpool, Newcastle, Sunderland, Bradford, Deptford, Chippenham, Rochdale, Whitehaven, Bolton, Yeovil, Wellington, Exeter, Teignmouth, We are glad to be able to inform our readers Torquay, and other places, united prayer-meetings that the work is proceeding in many places very are being held with more or less encouragement. successfully. The Banner of Ulster says that in PLYMOUTH.-The Lord has commenced the work remote rural districts, from whence no reports had of conversion in this place. Special prayer-meet-righteousness. previously been made, the work is progressing asings have been held during the last 12 months. The love which breathes in the first prayers and Sometimes many attended, at other times the confessions of the converts is another of the fruits numbers were very few. Some, however, diligently of the Spirit, which seem to spring at once into persevered, and about three weeks ago, in the very room where the first united prayer-meeting was held, the consciences of many were arrested. It is thought that nearly 50 have been brought to Christ in that part of the town alone, while persons residing in other parts of the town may be found under soul distress. Daily prayer-meetings are being held, and large numbers attend. vigorously, if not so openly, as at any former time. Better still, we have to report that, in some places, where the energy and success of the labourers were supposed to be in a state of decadence, the Lord is again strengthening their hands, and the work has received a fresh impetus. The following statement is made by an intelligent friend, from facts ascertained by careful personal investigation: "One of the most gratifying features of the Revival in the North of Ireland is the conversion of Roman Catholics. "The first case we shall refer to is that of a woman of about thirty years of age. Her mother, being a Romanist in the strictest sense, she was enght up most carefully in all the rules of the Popish Church. She happened to go one evening to an open-air Revival meeting, and came home very weak. She began to see that it was no bodily affection that troubled her, but her sins against God; and instead of sending for the priest, she sent for a Presbyterian minister. After a short conversation with him she fell into great mental azony. She saw that she had been brought up in At a prayer-meeting on Sunday evening, the "My old companions, fare ye well, I mean with Jesus Christ to dwell, grievous error-that prayers to saints were of no Prayer was offered to God, and one of the com- maturity. My attention was called to several most remark able answers to the prayers of the converts. There Brief Narrative of a Visit to the North of Ireland. shall never forget, to see these young converts in the warmth of their first love, the spring time of their new birth. Their simple child-like confiding faith their ardent love, their humility, their countenances beaming with heavenly joy; all telling, with touching eloquence, they had been with, and found peace in Jesus. Jesus, and His love, is the grand attraction to their heart; their confessions, substantially, may be summed up in these beautiful words: "He loved me, and gave himself for me." The Irish Revival-Confessions of Converts. London: HOULSTON and WRIGHT, Paternoster Row. Price 4d. Jurdon sin. She suffered much trial from her Sunday evening appear to have found peace with A deeply interesting little book. Though recently other, but 'Praise be to God,' she said, 'I have en able to withstand all temptation; I am now Eving in entire dependence on God.' 'I now feel perfectly happy, and all the follies of the world are no more delight to me.""-Bulwark. BELFAST.-Meetings for prayer are still kept up in various places with considerable interest, and conversions still take place. Lately, at the close of an evening service, forty individuals came forward to confess their attachment to the blessed Lord Jesus. BALLYMENA.—A public paper states that among the hundreds who have professed faith in Christ, the strictest scrutiny could not produce a dozen backsliders. ARMAGH.-The good work is still progressing, and persons are being "stricken down" during the religious services. SCOTLAND. Meetings for prayer, in various parts of the country, are still held daily, with hopeful results. NOTICES OF BOOKS. Notes on the Revival at Newton-Ards. By THOMAS Princes-street. London: NISBET & Co. issued, it has already had a deservedly large sale. It consists of narratives of conversations between Mr. Jeffery, of Torrington, and the converts. The writer says in the preface, "I have no hesitation in affirming that a man must be dishonest to the abundance of moral and religious evidence the province of Ulster affords, if he does not confess on a stupendous and unparalleled scale; and that that the reformation of the people has been effected Christians, by thousands, have suddenly inherited knowledge, life, and power; eclipsing perhaps the brightest eras of the Christian Church." We cordially recommend this little book to all our readers. THIS is another testimony to the power and grace CHRIS and Fifty-nine. HRISTMAS-A Word to Everybody. By CATESBY London: W. Yapp, 70, Welbeck Street, Cavendish Square. W. JOHN BERRIDGE. A New Edition. Price 1s. Mr. was a shrewd man of business, of middle A Parting Word for the year Eighteen Hundred age, well to do in the world, and driving a thriving trade. He had fallen, however, into a notorious habit of drinking, consuming oftentimes more than twenty glasses of whisky in the day. He had grown so reckless, that he had been committed to prison for a year for killing a man in one of his drunken frolics. On the revival visiting the town, and on his own son being stricken down by it, he had mocked the work, boasting that nothing would bring him to his knees, and even venturing, one day, at an open-air service, to go up to the preacher and openly brand him as "a liar and a deceiver." The last week he had spent £10 on drink, determined to drown conviction, and to live down the "delusion." At length, one Sunday, he was induced by his wife, very reluctantly, to visit a place of worship. A youthful preacher was discoursing that evening on the second verse of the fortieth Psalm. The "horrible pit" he described as the "wrath to come;" three times over he repeated the words, adding, that it was "for ever and for ever and for ever. At that instant, a strange terror seized the mocker; the tears trickled down his cheeks, and he covered them with his hands, resolved "that these people should not see his weakness;" next he determined to make his escape from the church, but, unaccountably to himself, he failed to leave the spot. By and by the sermon ended, and then there was given out the hymn "Depth of mercy! can there be Mercy still reserved for me?" when, at the second line, he was suddenly prostrated, crying out for "mercy." PRAYER, the Arrow of the Lord's Deliverance. London: W. Yapp, 70, Welbeck Street, Cavendish Square. TH REMOVAL. WILLIAM YAPP, Bible, Religious Book & Tract Warehouse, 70, WELBECK STREET, About one hundred yards from Old Cavendish Street. MEETINGS FOR UNITED PRAYER. A SelerHymns, suited for United Prayer-meetings. Limp cloth, tion of HYMNS is just published, containing 104 price 3d., or 21s. per 100. London: W. Yapp, 70, Welbeck Street, Cavendish Square. Letter HE DUTCHMAN'S FAMILY. A Poem. By THE REVISION OF THE LITURGY. WILLIAM HENSON. 48. per 100. SHE LOOKED OUTSIDE HERSELF. *4s. per 100. Price THE LITTLE STRICKEN ONE. An authentic Narrative of the Lord's Dealings with a Little Girl in London: W. Yapp, 70, Welbeck Street, Cavendish Square. W. MR. PRIDHAM'S WORKS. A Notes and Reflections on the Psalms Notes and Reflections on the Published at Offered at Epistle to the Ephesians .. THE LATE MR. SABINE'S WORKS. Israel. Fcap. 8vo., cloth, 2s. per 100. WILD THYME, Gathered on the Mountains of 8vo. limp cloth, 1s. 6d.; cloth boards, 2s. For two hours he lay unconscious, his head reclining on his wife's knee. Recovering a little he was taken home, and laid on a couch. In the COTT early morning, about three or four o'clock, he was induced by a friend who was watching him to pray.&.2. The Child's Hand-book of Praise. 3. How to give Pouring out his soul, and pleading especially those pleasure. 4. Useful Callinga, Boys-Useful Callings, GIRLSwords, "Rise, go in peace, and sin no more," he Good-for-nothings. 5. Ragged School Rhymes. 6. Photofound the "peace which passeth all understand-Morning Walk, &c. 10. Useful Lessons. 11. Sunday Musings. graphs. 7. The Corn Field. 8. Nature's Picture book. 9. ing." And ever since he had felt happy in God, 12. Prayer and Praise. Christ being his all in all. In, in another place, a boy of twelve was lying DAVID AND JOHN-The sweet Psalmist of in bed prostrated. "What ails you?" inquired the visitor. "Oh, my sins! my sins!" he cried. "Do you need Jesus?" Israel and the Disciple whom Jesus loved. Price 3d. Demy 4to., cloth boards, gold lettered, price 7s. 6d. ILLUSTRATIONS Just published, royol 32mo., 1. The Tabernacle at Rest 2. Plan of the Tabernacle in LAW AND GRACE: being Notes of Lectures on The tears trickled down his cheeks; and, as if ITS his heart was growing too big for utterance, he said "Yes, yes! I do so want to love Him, and to live for Him!" in another town, a boy, thirteen years of age, or 6. The Ark of the Covenant. after deep convictions of sin, had been brought to quiet rest in Jesus. "Bnt how will you do,” asked a visitor, kindly, "when you go back among your companions? Are you not afraid of falling away from your love to Jesus?" "I know," the little fellow replied, solemnly but firmly, "that I have my dark clouds to pass through, for I am still in the flesh. But I know that I am bound to my Jesus, with two cordsthe cord of faith and the cord of love. The cord of faith may be slackened for a time; but the cord of God's love, which my Jesus fastened in my heart, never can be broken-oh never, never!" In a village near Belfast, a mother told us one day about her boy, who had been "stricken." For hours, he had lain on his bed, helpless and almost unconscious. Having to go to work, she had left him under the care of two or three converts. On her return, she had scarcely opened the door, when, with a joyful smile he exclaimed, "O mother! God has forgiven me all my sins; I am in Jesus now; and, oh, how I do wish I never may sin any more!" the midst of the Camp of Israel. 3. Plan of the Table and CONTENTS- The Tabernacle in its Dispensational Aspect. PART II. Literal Uses of the Tabernacle. Spiritual Application of the Tabernacle. Israel in their separation in the wilderness-Outside the The value of this Book for spiritual instruction and interpre- London: W. Yapp, 70, Welbeck Street, Cavendish Square. W. the Epistle to the Galatians. By J. L. HARRIS, Author of "The School of God," "On Worship," "Heavenly-mindedness," &c. London: W. Yapp, 70, Welbeck Street, Cavendish Square. RACTS AND BOOKS on the COMING AND MR. P. H. GOSSE is now publishing a New TRA KINGDOM OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOUR JESUS One market-day, in a public-house, the landlady was seated behind the counter, waiting for cusPopular Objections to the Premillennial Advent, 3d. tomers for her spirits. Suddenly a strange dark- The Personal Coming and Reigu of the Lord Jesus Christ, 2d. ness came over her mind--a trembling followed-The Rapture of the Church; or, Are any Events to be exthen a feeling of extreme weakness. She struggled up-stairs to her room-fell upon her knees-cried most piteously for mercy-and, hours afterwards, when a visitor entered, still she was wrapt in prayer. By and by a change came over her tone and look. The wild wail of despair gave place to a childlike appeal for grace. "I thought I saw her," says the visitor, as a worm creeeping up to the cross of Christ, and, with humility of heart, asking and finding mercy. Her language was CONTENTS-What is the Hope of the Christian? What is the Hope of the Church? Approaching Judgments. The Coming Crisis and its Results. The Doom of Christendom. Christ and the Church. Same subject, concluded. Israel in the Past and Present. Israel's Future Restoration. Israel's Restoration Introductory to Millennial Blessedness. The Great Prophetic Question: Is the Millennium, or Christ's Second Advent, to be expected first? Further Pre millennial Evidence. Waiting for Christ. Ecclesiastical Corruption and Apostacy. The Last Days of Gentile Supremacy. Israel in the approaching Crisis. The Spared Remnant The Martyred Remnant; with Remarks on the Earthly Calling of Israel and the Heavenly Calling of the Church. Apocalyptic Interpretation. The First ResurSame subject, concluded. The Millennium. A Recapitulation: or, a general Outline of Prophetic Truth. Objections Answered. Further Answers to Objections. London: W. Yapp, 70, Welbeck Street, Cavendish Square. rection Edition of the GOSPEL TRACTS of the late Mrs. GOSSE, revised and corrected by himself; together with a few of his own. The First Series, consisting of Twenty Narrative Tracts, is now ready, price 1s. 6d. per 100; or, in Packets, containing Three of each, One Shilling. 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." GRATUITOUS CIRCULATION. We have again dispatched parcels of "The Evangelist," for gratuitous circulation. Many servants of the Lord Jesus gladly help us in thus scattering the good seed of the gospel, and we are constantly receiving fresh applications. We shall be most happy to continue this service, if funds are forwarded to us for the purpose. All orders should be addressed to the Publishers, Mr. W. YAPP, 70, Welbeck Street, Cavendish Square, London, W.; or to Messrs. MORGAN & CHASE, Tichborne Court, 280, High Holborn, London. READER! are you altogether a Christian?"JESUS stood and cried, saying, If any He is our Peace. "I hope to make my peace," and "He has Several Articles have been omitted for the want of made his peace," are expressions not at space. All Communications, Subscriptions, Books for Review, &c., should be forwarded, pre-paid, "To the Editor of the Evangelist," 70, Welbeck Street, Cavendish Square, London, W. A Happy New Year. We earnestly pray and hope that many of our readers may have a happy new year in the best possible sense. God is able to give you a new heart, and make you experience the new birth. You will then know that Christ crucified is the New and living way to glory. You will have the new song in your mouth, and rejoice that you are interested in the new covenant; you will walk according to the new commandment, and go onward to the new Jerusalem, where the glory of God doth lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. Mistaken Old People. OLD people are sometimes found mistaking steadiness, the "perforce" sobriety of old age, for conversion. "Ah, we all were a little foolish when we were young, you know, but we grow steadier as we grow older," say they. To be sure they do, they have no taste for the dance, their mbs are stiffened so. The sports of the field too are counted loss of time; moreover too perilous for wise people, &c. &c., but perhaps the love of money is increasing as the money itself increases, and that steady old man is in his heart bowing down before the great and hideous idol mammon. all uncommon; but, alas, how full of error! A vile sinner satisfy God's justice, and make peace with Him.-Impossible! But that which man could never do, has, blessed be God, been done by Jesus. "He is our peace." He has died the just for the unjust. He was made sin for us, who knew no sin, that we might be made. the righteousness of God in him. Being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Reader! I pray you seek thus to be "Let not conscience make you linger, Are you so? tion. It is in substance this-if any one longs to be filled to overflowing-(yea such an overflowing as shall refresh all around) with the Holy Ghost, let him come unto me, and he shall have the desire of his heart given him. But how can I now come to Jesus, He is in heaven, I on earth. Mark what follows, "they that believe on him." So believing the word He has left behind him is the same as coming to him, were He on earth, and these receive as a consequence the Holy "The Sun that never sets." THE following interesting little fact was related to me by a Christian servant, who had it from the lady to whom it SOME persons who, on the whole, appear happened. Going into her flower garden to be Christians, are almost always com- one bright warm day, she remarked to plaining of themselves. You seldom get the gardener how she admired the sun. anything from them about the glory and The first time he did not reply; but on beauty of Jesus. (Psalm xlv.) When you her repeating it, he said, “Oh, ma'm! meet them, it's, "I am such a poor sinner, how you would admire the Sun of rightso failing, so faithless," &c. They get sad-eousness, the Lord Jesus Christ, if you der, and sadder, whilst the listener is knew Him." The lady made no answer; often saddened too. Now suppose such but the Holy Spirit had touched her persons would get by heart the 30th verse, heart. On returning to the house, she of 1 Cor. i., and pray earnestly that it opened the Bible, and continued to might be sealed home upon their hearts." search the Scriptures," until "the Might they not know the meaning in their own (then) happy souls of "Rejoice in the Lord always; and again I say, Rejoice." There was once a poor simple man, but wise in Christ Jesus, who was asked how Sun of Righteousness," the Lord Jesus Christ arose on her soul, "with healing in His wings." If this little history be blessed of God to the reader, may he "go and do likewise;" and assuredly joy and peace, such as the world can Ah, my reader! whatsoever be your age, except you be a new man in Christ Jesus, you never can enter into the kingdom of it was he was always happy? for they (the God. In other words, you are a lost sin-interrogators) were so only sometimes. neither give nor take away, will be his ner as a child of Adam, and you can only "Ah," said he, "You want to be something. be saved through believing in Jesus; and But I am a poor sinner, and nothing at he that believes in Jesus loves Jesus; and all; but Jesus Christ is my all in all." this love is showed by obeying his Word. (See Gal. vi. 14.) or hers. "Incline your ear, and come unto me; hear, and your soul shall live." (Isaiah lv. 3.) LIFE FOR DYING SOULS; OR, THE SERPENT OF BRASS. "And the Lord said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had live. bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived."-Numb. xxi. 8, 9. THE only way of salvation is most plainly set before us in various parts of the Old Testament Scriptures. Let us look at some of them. We are told that Abel obtained witness that he was righteous, by coming before God with the sacrifice of a lamb, while Cain, with all his efforts to bring the fruit of his own toil, was rejected. Noah and his family were saved by being inside the ark which God had commanded to be built, while every person outside the ark perished. Lot's mocking sons-in-law died under God's fiery judgment of Sodom, because they remained in the place which God had said He would destroy, and refused to escape for their lives. The Israelites in Egypt were saved from the vengeance of the destroying angel, because they took shelter in God's only remedy-the blood of the Lamb. The manslayer escaped the forfeit of his life by fleeing to the city of refuge. The loathsome leper was at once cleansed by being sprinkled with blood. Rahab only was favoured in the destruction of Jericho because the scarlet line was in her window. The serpent of brass set upon a pole was another testimony to the simple way of eternal salvation, which God provided for sinful men. they were under the influence of the serpent's point of death, they immediately lived. Those bite, and it was mortal. Nothing, therefore, who felt the mortal wound inflicted by the fiery could be more hopeless than their state; they serpent had simply to behold the serpent of brass might not have believed it, but so it was. They set upon the pole, and death in them gave place might have tried human remedies, because man to life. always contrives to better his present distress if The remedy then was one, only one. It was he can; but we may be sure that these remedies lifted up between earth and heaven. It was all failed. They were made to feel that the ser- wholly of Gol's providing. The benefit was conpent's bite was beyond their power of healing; ferred by simply looking. It was perfect and It needed nothing to therefore they asked Moses to take away the ser-instantaneous in its cure. pents from them: but this was not God's way be added to it. It was free to every bitten man, of meeting their case. The people, then, had without money and without price. No one tried sinned, were mortally wounded, without any it in vain. Those who did not behold it died. power of ameliorating their condition, and with- Such is God's remedy for dying souls now. It out any human hope of deliverance. is Jesus only. He has been lifted up between And such, too, is man's real condition before earth and heaven. He died for sinners, for us God now. The bitten, dying Israelites, present who were dead in trespasses and sins. This only to us a touching picture of tens of thousands, remedy is entirely of God's providing; His comMan has sinned. passion and free grace sent forth the Saviour; for yea millions, around us now. He is a sinner in a three-fold sense. He is a God commendeth His love toward us, in that, sinner by birth, as a descendant of fallen parents; while we were yet sinners, Christ died for a sinner by practice, as having actually trans-us. It is sin that is the plague of our hearts, gressed against God's holy commands; and a and in Jesus crucified we see sin condemned and sinner in heart, as having sin dwelling in him, removed for ever from us; for there God hath so that he is inwardly desperately wicked. But made Christ "to be sin for us. who knew no more than this, for most persons have added to sin, that we might be made the righteousness of all these the crowning sin of not believing in the God in Him." On the Cross it was that Christ only-begotten Son of God-not receiving that was lifted up that He might bring us to God. Saviour whom God hath sent. The Holy Spirit has come to convict men that they are sinners, to shew them that they are dead in trespasses and sins, and exposed to eternal death and condemna tion. Surely nothing can be more hopeless than man's condition as under sin and death; nothing Many true-hearted souls have not peace with can be more helpless, because, with all his inveGod, because they do not see the simplicity of tions to better his circumstances, he has never the Gospel. They do not allow their thoughts yet devised a remedy for death. He diligently to be regulated by the written word of God, as projects moral schemes for lopping off the widethe only standard of truth, or regard the Holy spreading branches of outward infamy, but the Spirit as the only Teacher and Revealer of the stump still remains the stock of a corrupt tree. things of Christ; consequently there is no fixed-Man cannot devise a cure for death. He tries to ness of thought, and no solid rest for their trou-smooth the dying pillow with the tear of sympabled minds. Unless the conscience be thoroughly thy, and refreshing cordials; he may embellish convicted of the total ruin and depravity of the the corpse with the costliest ornaments, and the natural man, it is not prepared to receive the full sweetest spices; he can make the most attractive testimony of God's abounding grace; and unless display at the grave; he can garnish the sepulchre the mind is freed from human opinions, it will with dazzling adornments; but he cannot cure not perceive the beautiful simplicity of the gospel the serpent's bite, he cannot triumph over death. of Christ. Hence it is that so many sincere He sees death all around him, and feels dying souls, who have been quickened by the Holy himself, and he is without strength and without Ghost, go doubting and fearing nearly all their hope in the world. days. They either look within for certain feelings, attainments, evidences, and the like, instead of looking wholly to Christ; or, if they look to Christ, they think that something else is required, instead of receiving simply what God says in His Word, concerning the finished work of His beloved Son, and the safety and security of all those who come unto God by Him. Let no burdened sinner expect peace with God but by looking wholly to Christ crucified and risen, and believing God's record of the value of the blood of the Cross. The story of the serpent of brass is calculated, by the Spirit's teaching, to give peace to anxious souls, because it so plainly sets forth the way of God in grace with men as ruined sinners. Our blessed Lord expounded it to Nicodemus, so that we have not only the inspired narrative, but also the Divine comment upon it, as teaching us the only way of eternal salvation. The testimony of Moses, by the Spirit in the Old Testament, and the explanation of Christ Himself in the new, stamp the subject with the deepest interest and importance. Little, perhaps, did the ancient Lawgiver feel, when lifting up the brazen serpent in order that the dying Israelite might behold it and live, that he was shadowing forth that unequalled event when Christ, in unparalleled love, was willingly lifed up upon the Cross for the salvation of lost sinners. But so it was, as the Lord Himself touchingly testified, when He said, “As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whosoever believeth in Him might not perish, but have everlasting life." Men little think what an admission they make when they say, "we are sinners." It really means we have death working in us because we have sinned—we are dead in trespasses and sins, and on the way to eternal death. Such is really the meaning of the common expression, "I know that I'm a sinner." Oh, that the Holy Spirit would tear away the veil of ignorance and unbelief from men's minds, and so convict multitudes everywhere, that, like the prophet of old, they may cry out, "Woe is me, for I am undone!" Our condition, then, naturally is similar to that of the bitten Israelites. They had sinned, so have we. They were guilty before God, so are we. They were justly condemned, so are we. They were dying because of their sin, so are we. They were unable to save themselves, so are we. Neither they nor ourselves had any hope whatever, till God, in free, boundless mercy, provided a remedy. Let us now consider, 2. THE REMEDY GOD PROVIDED. Why should God provide a remedy? Did the people deserve it? No. They had sinned, and merited God's righteous indignation. But their need, their helpless state, moved God's compassion and mercy, and He brought life and salvation to the dying and needy. The thought of the people was merely to have the serpents taken away from them-they only thought of some improvement in their present circumstances-but God's thoughts of love and pity are far higher than this. His way is to give life to dying souls-to abolish death; He therefore provided such a remedy that whoever LOOKED unto it LIVED. This is a remedy worthy of the God of resurrection. It never entered into man's heart to conceive a remedy so perfect, so suitable, so glorious, so abundant in mercy. "The Lord said unto Moses, 1. THE CONDITION OF THE PEOPLE. The make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole; people had sinned. They had murmured against and it shall come to pass, that every one that is God, and justly brought His judgment and wrath bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live." The upon them. They were, therefore, under sen- remedy was simple, and the cure immediate. It tence of death; for sin and death are connected was not a question of their doings, experiences, together. The wages of sin always has been, or evidences; it was look and live. They were and always will be, death. Much people of commanded to look outside themselves, straight Israel had died, and many more were dying; to the object set before them, and, though at the There are three points in this narrative which demand our solemn consideration. 1. The con dition of the people. 2. The remedy God pro vided. 3. The effects. The benefits, too, of God's salvation are realized by simply looking. It is, "Look unto me, and be ye saved." "Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world." "Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.” "By Him, all that believe are justified "Whoso cometh unto me, from all things." I will in no wise cast out." It is free to every one who desires it. Whosoever believeth in Him hath everlasting life. By me, if any man enter in He shall be saved. Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. God also gives an immediate and perfect cure. "He that believeth in me." said Jesus, “hath everlasting life" He that believeth is justified by His blood, shall not come into condemnation, but is passed from death unto life; for by one offering He hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. He hath obtaine i eternal redemption for us. The Israelites by looking to the serpent of brass only had temporal life, but, by looking unto Jesus, we have eternal life. This is the mercy of the gospel, as our Lord declared, "As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoseever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life." It is not, then, ordinances, duties, self-denial, outward zeal, however proper these things may be in their place, but Christ and Him crucified that meets the sinner's need. He alone has triumphed over death. He only is the life, the truth, the way to the Father. He is the only Mediator between God and men. His blood the only fountain for sin and uncleanness. His death alone satisfied Divine justice. In the Cross God's fierce wrath was poured out, and His infinite holiness and truth vindicated. It is the Cross that fully manifests man's ungoliness, and fully reveals God's abounding love. Nowhere is sin's foul blackness so seen as in the Cross, and nowhere else is sin seen condemned and put away. Without the death of the Cross, Jesus taught there could be no salvation, and it was to the Cross alone that He directed Nicodemus for eternal life. The apostles preached "Christ crucified," and Paul said, "God forbid that I should glory save in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world." "The Cross, its burthen-oh! how great, No strength but His could bear its weight, No love but His would undertake To bear it for the sinner's sake." The testimony of Jesus Himself, the records of the Old and New Testaments, the witness of prophets and apostles, all concur in directing the serpent-bitten, sin-sick soul to Jesus crucified, and there alone for life, everlasting life; and blessed indeed are those who, by faith in Ilim, escape eternal death so fully deserved, and receive eternal life so wholly undeserved, but freely given. "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life; and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him.” 3. THE EFFECTS. "It came to pass that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the |