The Poor Blind Man.

BY T. W. MEDHURST, COLERAINE, IRELAND.

"Bartimæus, the son of Timeus, sat by the highway side

begging."-MARK X. 46.

WHAT an important lesson does this poor blind man teach us. He is naturally bereft of his sight, he is circumstantially poor, very poor, and doubtless he is intellectually very ignorant. Yet notwithstanding these, to the world, serious drawbacks, Bartimæus teaches lessons of instruction to the worldly-wise, as by the highway side he sits, and utters his oft-repeated request, to "Pity the poor bered, yet how many are by the world forgotten, while the Scriptures preserve the memory of this poor blind man. Yon, poor man, is BLIND. How illustrative of

blind man." All men wish to be remem

THE OBJECT OF ATTRACTION. At pre

THE GLORIOUS CONGREGATION. What

Yon poor blind man is highly PRIVILEGED, for lo, Jesus of Nazareth sent, this is Christ crucified: for our passes by. How aptly illustrative of the rallying point is the Cross. Here faith sinner; Jesus is not only passing by, but, fixes, and from it derives peace, strength, behold, He is full of love and mercy. and courage. Here hope rests, expecting My reader, has Jesus opened thine all that is good, great, and glorious, beeyes? If He has not, why has He not? cause Jesus died. Here love feasts, and Is it not because thou art unwilling to enjoys sweet and hallowed fellowship with be cured. Oh, sad; oh, lamentable folly, Jesus, in His sufferings and death. In and wilt thou continue thus? Nay, the future, it will be Christ in His glory. thou canst not; then I entreat thee at We look forward to, anticipate, and long once to arise and go to Jesus. The world for the coming of Jesus, because then, we will bid thee, not cry; heed not the shall see Him in all His beauty, dignity, world, but cry to Jesus. Satan will tell and majesty. Because, being interested thee thy disease is incurable; heed not in Him, we are interested in all that conSatan, but go to Jesus. Thine evil heart cerns Him, especially in all the momentous will tell thee thou art not good enough; events connected with His second advent. heed not thine evil heart, but go to Jesus. Not only so, but being united to Him, we Thy fears will tell thee, it is too late; shall share in all His regal honours, for the character of those, whose eyes have never been opened by the Spirit's power. Jesus. Go to Jesus in earnest, the heed not thy fears, but arise and go to we shall be like Him, and when He shall Alas, alas, they are blind to their own errand is to thee of vital importance. appear, we shall appear with Him in glory. sinfulness, not knowing the fact, that Go to Jesus with the determination, not a gathering! What an assembly! Now they, before a heart-searching and reintrying God, are guilty. They are blind to be put down; heed not the taunting we are distant from Him, and scattered to the condemnation which awaits them, sneer, be not deterred by the mocking from each other. Then we shall be should they continue under the curse of laugh, fear not the threatening frown, but gathered together unto Him. Who shall? the broken law. They are blind to the away at once, speed thee away to Jesus. All who look, long for, and love His apThy soul is at stake; oh, pause not, but pearing. All the chosen of the Father, joy of true religion, fancying it to be a system of gloom, instead of a never-fail now, away to Jesus. Go to Jesus with all whom Christ redeemed by His blood, an earnest desire for sight-cast away all all in whose hearts He has been formed ing fountain of pure joy. They are blind to the purity of God, imagining make thy petition for mercy and cure. gathered? When He comes the second the impediments of fashion; go thou, by His Spirit. When shall we be all that out of Christ he can clear the trans-Go thus to Jesus, and He will notice time, when He sits on the glory cloud, gressor. They are blind to the love of God, not embracing the sweet truth, that thee, He will cure thee, He will permit and the archangel sounds the trumpet. thee to follow Him, He will enable thee From whence shall we be gathered? From from love to a ruined world, God gave his to glorify God, and He will honour thee, the depths of the ocean, from the dark doSon to die, that whosoever believeth on by using thine example, to encourage mains of death, and whether alive or others to approach His sacred person. asleep, from all parts of the world whering life. They are blind to the realities of God has given the keys of heaven into ever we have been scattered. How shall heaven, fondly dreaming they are hastenthe hands of Jesus; if therefore, thou we be gathered? By His sweet, powerful, ing thither, while they are speeding their wouldst reach heaven, thou must go to and attractive influence; by the sound of way to the abode of eternal misery. And worst of all, they are blind to their own Jesus, who is the only Saviour. Turn the trumpet, and by His mighty power. thine eye on the world, see how it For what purpose shall we be gathered? blindness, for they say they see, and know not that destruction awaits them. My changeth, mark how its fashion passeth To see Him in His glory, in His Father's soul, thou wast in such a state; bless away. Now turn thine eye on Jesus, glory, and with His holy angels. To mark how He changeth not, and be attend Him, grace His triumphs, and sit God that thou seest now. Unbeliever, thus encouraged to approach unto His with Him in judgment on angels and mercy seat, whereon He is sitting waiting to be gracious, even unto thee.

Him, should not perish, but have everlast

thou art in this condition; seek the Spirit's eye-salve, that thou mayest see.

even unto THEE.

Our Gathering Together.

BY JAMES SMITH, CHELTENHAM.

Yes,

men.

To enjoy the light of His countenance, the fulness of His love, and all that was purchased by His blood. To be for ever with Him, for ever like Him, and for ever filled with His joy.

Yon blind man is POOR. How characteristic of the condition of those who have never obtained of Jesus, "gold tried in the fire." They have no Saviour, no Friend, no Brother, no home, no heaven. OUR Lord and Master is at present ab- The centre of the Church's unity is They are destitute of the Spirit to com- sent from us, but in a little time He will Christ. Not a creed nor a country, not fort, of the Son to redeem, and of the return, to bless our earth with His a service-book, or a constitution, but Father to justify, without a portion in presence, reign before His ancients glo- Christ alone-Christ crucified, and Christ Jesus, lacking a present peace, wanting a riously, and accomplish all the glowing glorified. The object of our hope is the future hope. They have no security in and glorious predictions of His word. coming of Jesus. Jesus coming in His living, no prospect in dying. They are This subject, the apostles keep constantly glory. Jesus coming to collect His aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, before the minds of the Lord's people, friends. Jesus coming to make His distrangers from the covenants of promise, exhorting them to be ready for it, and vided church one, and one for ever. Jesus without blood to cleanse, righteousness exhorting them to other duties by it. coming to subdue His foes. There will to cover, holiness to sanctify their soul."Now we beseech you, brethren, by the be a glorious collection of God's people They have no title to, no meetness for coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by soon. Not one will be missing then. All heaven; having no hope, and without our gathering together unto Him." (2 Thess. of them that have ever lived, from all God in the world. Sad state, but sadder ii. 1.) Let us now for a few minutes di- places and periods, will be gathered by far, 'tis caused by sin. rect our minds to this subject. Jesus, will be collected around Jesus, and

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will rejoice and glory in Jesus. It will Jesus Christ might shew forth all long old blind George had long entered into rest, be a great congregation: such an one as suffering, for a pattern to them which when I was called to labour in the gospel in never has been seen yet. Numerous as should hereafter believe on him to life a distant locality, and among the hundreds the dew-drops of the morning, pure as the chief of sinners has found mercy age, led by his mother, whose countenance everlasting." "Now," said the visitor, who came to hear the word of life, in a large malthouse, was a dear boy eleven years of the rays of morning light, all the saints through believing in Jesus. You cannot indicated infirmity and sorrow. This was will be gathered around Jesus. All who be a greater sinner than the chief, that is another blind George, and at this time no ray have died in infancy, and all who have plain; therefore, there is mercy for you. of gospel light had penetrated his dark mind. believed in Jesus, both Jews and Gentiles, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and His blindness was the result of a blow from will be assembled, and will unite to glo-thou shalt be saved." The poor old man his schoolmaster with the handle of an umraised himself up in his bed, stretched out brella. He had not long been under the rify and praise the Saviour's thrice blessed his hands, grasping that of the speaker, sound of the gospel, when some word conname. What a glorious anticipation. Let exclaiming, "I believe that it was or- cerning Jesus on the white horse (Rev. xix.) us not look at corruption, earth and dained of God, that you and I should arrested his attention, and awakened in his worms; at death and all its gloomy assomeet." From that time we have good young mind, deep conviction of sin. It was truly interesting to observe the gradual adciations; but let us look for that blessed reason to believe he found rest in Jesus.vancement of the Lord's work in his soul, hope, even the glorious appearing of the and to hear his mother speak of his frequently The Two Blind Georges. stealing up stairs to pour out his heart unto great God our Saviour. Jesus is pledged IT is more than forty years ago that I felt the Lord. She was herself the subject of a to come, to come and gather his people, interested in the appearance of an old man similar experience, and it could scarcely be to come and crown his gathered people, who was totally blind. He was rebuking said which of them was first blessed with a with glory, honour, and immortality; with some warmth a boy who had taken ad- full sense of a Saviour's pardoning love. The vantage of his blindness to deprive him of a father, who was a man of prayer, had been conferring on them eternal life in all its penny, and exhorted him to "think of his dead some years, and this afflicted and only fulness, perfection, and glorious meaning. precious soul," with such seriousness of man- son, more dear from his affliction, was the Then there will be perfect satisfaction.ner, that I supposed him to know something especial favourite of his widowed mother. His Jesus will see of the travail of his soul, But I was mistaken. He was at this time a from the same cause as his blindness, and he of Him who came to seek and save the lost. life was shortened by other disease resulting and will be satisfied. The saints will see mere Pharisee; proud of his own fancied was only spared for a few months, to bear Jesus, and be with him, and be perfectly righteousness; he knew nothing of the right-witness to the truth by his patience and submission to the will of God. His end was satisfied. Jesus with all his peopleTo my great surprise I soon after saw him peace, and his last words, uttered with a smile, satisfied. All the saints with Jesus-seated near me in a cottage, three miles dis- which indicated the happy frame of his mind All the saints together one tant, where I was accustomed to preach the were, "I go, I go.” with each other, filled with holy love-gospel, and found on enquiry that he lived satisfied. Satisfied with Jesus, satisfied with each other, and satisfied with themselves.

satisfied.

Reader, how will it be with you? Will you be among them? Are you among them now? Are you like them now? Do you look forward with earnest longing, and anticipate the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and our gathering to gether unto Him? You will either be gathered to Christ, or be separated from Him for ever; and the future depends on the present-what you will be then, or what you are now.

eousness of God.

near it. George Cure was not only blind, but
nearly deaf also, and could only hear when
sitting very near the speaker. From this
time he regularly attended our meetings, and
during the twelve months in which preaching
was continued in the cottage, his heart was
opened to receive the truth, and he became a
sincere follower of Christ. When the ministry
was removed to a newly erected chapel, he
was deprived of the privilege of hearing the
tidings of a Saviour's love, even when he en-
deavoured to do so by standing on the stairs of
the pulpit. But he still loved to attend public
worship, and was frequently alone for some
time previous to its commencement. On one
of these occasions. I asked him what he
was thinking about? He said, about Heaven.
where he did not expect a high place, it would
be enough for him to get within the gate, and
added,

"Then I shall sing as loud as they,
Who shine afar in bright array."

He soon after said,

A Good Sample. AN aged man on a sick bed, had been so impressed with his awful condition as a "Then shall I see, and hear, and know, sinner, that he was persuaded there could All I desired and wished below." be no mercy for him; at the same time "The Lord can restore all my faculties, Sir." fully believing that an eternity of un-aged saint, was his desire to help the gospel. A remarkable feature in the character of this utterable woe awaited him. When the writer of these few lines came to his bed-side, this poor heavy-laden one looked the picture of horror and despair. All that was advanced in the shape of comfort and consolation, was answered with, "Yes, yes; but I've been such a great sinner, there can be no mercy for me!" At length He, who alone can bind up the broken in heart, gave the word. The visitor repeated those blessed words, so replete with comfort, "This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief." And again, "Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first

His means for doing this were small indeed,
but his offerings, like the mites of the poor
widow, were precious in the sight of Him,
whose thoughts are not as our thoughts, and
who weighs all our actions in the balances of
the sanctuary. George's parish allowance was
eighteen pence a week, and of this small
chapel every Lord's day, for missionary pur-
pittance, one halfpenny was brought to the
poses. He once brought two pence, and on
being asked the reason, he only said "The
I afterwards heard that some one had given
Lord has been very good to me this week."
him sixpence, and of this, to him, large bounty,
one-fourth was added to his weekly contribu-

tion for the Lord's work.

A burying ground attached to a chapel, which had recently been erected, was scarcely enclosed at the time of his departure, but he earnestly requested to be interred there. When he was told that his wish would be complied with, he expressed much pleasure, and from a mistaken supposition, that it was intended only for the interment of Believers, he said, "Then I shall rise with the saints."

It is to be feared that many who feel much pity for those who, by natural blindness, are deprived of many of the enjoyments of life, are themselves the subjects of a blindness far more solemn, and calling for deeper sympathy. The blind ones of whom this short account has been given, were able, through grace, to say, "God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” (2 Cor. iv. 6.) Their bodily infirmity is now gone; they are happy in the presence of Jesus, in whom they believed, and whorn their souls loved, and their eyes now behold the King in His beauty. But alas! what numbers are there of whom it is said, "The God of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the God, should shine unto them." (2 Cor. iv. 4.) glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of This is the state of all who, however wise in the things of this world, have never seen their lost and ruined condition as sinners before God, and unable of themselves to do Jesus declares, "he that walketh in darkness any one thing to merit salvation. knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness must be removed, or the subjects of darkness hath blinded his eyes." Either this it must sink into that state of hopeless misery. which is described as

ness for ever."

Of such

66 the blackness of dark

of the Gospel shined in your heart, and reReader, what is your state? Has the light of the Gospel shined in your heart, and revealed Jesus as the way, the truth, and the life? or are you still in the blindness of nature? An eternity of joy or sorrow depends on this question.

this poor man's self-denying liberality may
The example of
well serve as a load-stone to the consciences
of those who love the Saviour, and cause each
individual to ask himself "How much owest "I am the light of the world. He that
thou unto thy Lord."
followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but
More than thirty years had rolled away, and shall have the light of life." (John viii. 12.),

Gleanings for the Young.

The Fearful Dream.

SOME time since, when God was working mightily in bringing sinners to himself, a boy about ten years old was led to think about his soul. He heard of numbers turning to the Lord, of sinners crying out for mercy, and finding pardon through the blood of Christ; he heard of their joy and peace, their altered lives, and delight in prayer and praise, and thought that he would like to go and see how all these things were brought about.

So one day he started off to hear one of these faithful men, who had been so greatly owned of God; and as he sat within those walls the arrow reached his heart. He listened to the words of God, and felt how deeply he had sinned! he saw the holiness of God, and felt he did indeed deserve the lake of fire! sin after sin rushed through his mind; his disobedience, lies, and angry words and deeds; he felt he was indeed condemned, and had no right to hope for mercy from a righteous

God.

"My sins! my sins!" was all that he could say, as home he went to weep and pray; anguish and sorrow filled his heart; he saw no way in which he could be saved; he did not understand the work of Christ, and so sank down in misery and woe! Day after day passed by, but still he found no rest; he tried to pray, but something told him prayer could not atone for sin; he felt his tears and groans were not enough, they could not cleanse him from the past; indeed he found he could not cease from sin; he felt so cross, so fretful and unkind, his very misery of heart produced these evil things, and in despair he settled down amd thought he must be lost.

Dear child, have you thus pondered on your guilt? You have an evil heart as well as he, and if you do not have your sins for

to come.

given now, you must be punished in the world There is no mercy then, no pardon at the great white throne; no, no, dear child, that is the day of wrath, the day of judgment for the guilty ones; the books will all be opened then, and if your name be not recorded in the book of life, you must be cast into the lake of fire. Think of that awful hour! what dread would fill your heart! how could you bear those fearful words-" Depart from me, I know you not!"

he felt he dared not show these things to God; ing, who can this be from W———, who says
he could not trust in them; he saw their utter he knows me very well? Arriving at the
worthlessness, and felt it would be mocking cottage, I went in: a kind of bedstead had
God to hope to gain forgiveness through such been formed in the kitchen, by placing some
paltry works.
chairs beside the wooden settle, and there lay
G, of W, well known to me indeed.
I must go back a little to tell the origin of my
acquaintance with this man, and the reason
of his being more than commonly in my
thoughts.

Again the voice of Satan spoke, and asked
if these few prayers and works could weigh
against the countless sins the other side. He
spoke in bitter irony, and malice filled his
eye! he thought to crush the child, and make
him sink beneath the weight of sin. The About a year since I was residing in W-
poor boy felt the wound, but light was dawn- preaching the gospel, and seeking to commu-
ing on his mind. He gazed upon the scroll nicate the same momentous news in visiting
from house to house. A wide door was
again, and then exclaimed, "No, no; I cannot
get forgiveness through those prayers, for opened; the inhabitants, with scarcely an ex-
they are full of sin! put them the other side! ception, willingly allowing me to come in and
put them among the sins! and let THE speak of eternal things. And here let me say
PRECIOUS BLOOD OF JESUS cleanse to the Lord's people, male and female, that
them all away!"
I have remarked in various parts of England,
One day I
that this door is open to them.
found my way into the house of G-, and
that visit was a prelude to several others;
about that time he was in trial, having lost
his situation. Mrs. G- was really anxious
about her soul; distressed, as one not having
peace with God, but desirous of the blessing.
She was not long without it. Through ex-
plaining to her, from Romans iii., the great
redemption, the love of God in the gift of his
Son, the full atonement made for our sins, the
acceptance of that atonement as shown by the
resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and the par-
don, justification, and acceptance, of every
sinner who believes - receiving Christ as
his Saviour; the darkness passed from her
enlightenment she believed the love of God,
troubled mind, and through the Holy Spirit's
as shown in Jesus. With light came peace,
she rejoiced in having passed from death unto
life. G also had convictions, but did not
receive the gospel message. Alas! how many
are there who, like Felix, (Acts xxiv. 25,)
and poor G have their convictions, but
stop short of conversion! Eternity will reveal
the number; yet was there mercy in store for

The devil fled-his power was gone-this child had found the secret way to God, and saw there was forgiveness through the blood of Christ. He fled to Him and so found peace! "Put all my prayers among my sins," he cried, "they cannot save my soul!" Ah, no! no works of ours can stand the searching holiness of God. He will not set the good against the bad, and say, that if we do the best we can, we shall be saved at last. Ah. no; He tells us we are altogether lost; that our past acts have fixed our doom, and no amendment in our ways can free us from the sentence of eternal wrath.

The Happy Little Girl.
LET me tell you a story about a happy little
girl, and I want you, dear children, to look
into your hearts, and see if you are as happy
as she was. Perhaps you think she had
plenty of money, and a nice home, and kind
friends, and that was what made her happy
but you are quite wrong; for this little girl
was very poor, and had no kind mother or
sister to take care of her; her mother was
dead, and her father was a wicked man, who
did not love his child, nor try to make her
all day long, and she had no chair or stool to
happy. The poor little girl was alone nearly
sit on, for there was nothing in the room but
a bed upon the floor; her clothes were all in
chilblains, for she had no shoes or stockings,
rags, and her feet were covered all over with
and it was cold frosty weather; and more
than this, she was very often hungry, and
could get nothing to eat, and yet she was
happy and can you tell me why?
happy! Yes, dear children, she was very

FELT HER SINS WERE FORGIVEN."
You are right, my child. Yes; that was the
secret which made her happy, even when she
was very hungry.

The first time I saw her, it was four o'clock
breakfast, no dinner, and no tea; and what
on a cold winter's day, and she had had no

G.

Several times I knelt down with

Mrs. G; our prayer was, that her hus-
seemed to be the answer.
band might be saved, but discouragement
drunkard, he was fond of strong drink; it was
Although not a
temptation to him. Being out of employ-
procure, as hostler at an inn, he determined
ment, and hearing of a situation he could
to take it.

a

besetting sin, but he was poor and out of True, he would be exposed to his employment, and the natural man does not ponder in his heart this solemn word—"For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the what shall a man give in exchange for his whole world, and lose his own soul? От soul?"

I

after removed from the neighbourhood. Yet
He went to the situation, and I soon
did not forget this couple, and they were
brought to my mind also, specially, when
occasionally getting a view of their little
dwelling. I wished to call there again.
Well, five weeks since, G- was sent

These were the thoughts which troubled this poor boy; he felt the day of judgment soon would come, and longed to get forgiveness while he could. One night, while in this. BECAUSE SHE LOVED JESUS, AND I fancy I hear a little voice whispering, wretched state, he had a dream-a fearful dream. He saw the devil come, with a great scroll; he spread the scroll before his eyes, he held it up, and hid himself behind. The scroll was very large, and all his sins seemed closely written there. He cast his eyes from top to bottom-he saw the fearful list-he read it down in agonizing woe, and then cried out-do you think I found her doing? What do with a cart to a large market town, several The mocking voice of Satan spoke, and you think you would have done? I expect miles distant; it was a dismal day, very wet little girl was singing: yes, she was singing G on his way back with his cart. He you would have sat down and cried; but this and windy, and the dark night of it found a hymn about Jesus, and seemed quite happy had taken some drink, although perhaps not singing hymns; she looked very pleased as dark the horse took the wrong side of the and glad. I asked her if she was fond of much, and was riding on the cart. In the she answered, "Yes;" and then I asked, if road, and, getting too near the ditch, horse and she thought she should go to heaven if she cart were both turned over, and poor Gdied; and she told me, she hoped she should. came underneath, part of the load falling on him; and he was fastened to the earth by the wheel pressing heavily on his right leg. It

What shall I do? what shall I do?"

told him he was lost. "How can you hope for mercy after all those sins," he said; "how can you think that God would pardon you? No, no; you must come down to hell with me; 'tis vain to pray-He will not hear, and nothing you can do will ever cleanse away

these sins.'

The poor child groaned in agony of heart, while Satan turned the scroll. He raised his eyes again to read the other side, and saw another scene: no closely written lines, but dotted here and there, (as if to mock the empty page,) a few good works and prayers; a little Bible reading there, and further down a hearty cry for sin, and then a few kind acts; and last of all, these past few days of misery with all their fretfulness and peevish words. With timid eyes he scanned the meagre list, and then again sank down in deep distress;

Answer to Prayer in an Unexpected Way.

Some Account of the Death of G—. was some time before assistance came The WALKING along the road, five weeks since, sufferer retained his consciousness and selfon my way to the village of B—, a person possession. The casks which had fallen on accosted me, and said," there is a man lying him were removed, the load taken from the in a cottage at the bottom of a hill, close to cart: and then, by his own directions, some the village, the cart he was driving was upset man lifted the wheel a little which pressed on and he is greatly injured: he is from W- his leg, while another, taking him by the and he says he knows you very well." I passed shoulders, drew him away from the cart. His on meditating on this intelligence, and think-leg was broken in three places, and the lowest

place crushed and lacerated. In this state he was carried into the cottage where I found him. Christian reader, have you ever remarked that the Lord, in his earnestness to bless and answer you, sometimes treats your unexpressed desires as if they were uttered prayers, almost surprising you by granting your wish, without your having expressed it in any regular prayer? My desire had been to call at G's house, but how much more than my desire was granted when both he and his wife, who came to nurse him, became for a time inmates of a cottage which I passed by almost every day. "And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer." (Is. lxv. 24.)

at once

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according to His works, to receive the righteous sentence of condemnation and eternal death for his unworthy deeds.

(John xiii. 25); that to the beloved apostle
this testimony should be entrusted, who had
known such nearness to the Lord. How much
this unfolds of the grace of God! This same He has, as it were, by anticipation. passed
Jesus, on whose bosom he had lain, was the the tribunal already, being justified from all
Word who was in the beginning, was with things by His Saviour's blood, and saved from
God, and was God! All things were made wrath through Him,-" justified by His grace
by Him; and without Him was not anything freely, and that through the redemption that
made [lit. not one thing made] that was! is in Jesus Christ." (Rev. iii. 24.) For
|(John i. 1, 3.)
indeed, justification implies acquitted and
Here, (John v. 17,) Jesus had said, "My pardoned, yea more, pronounced righteous
Father worketh hitherto, and I work;" upon and accepted by the Judge himself! And
which the Jews sought to kill Him, because since Jesus is the Judge who has thus justified
He had thus made Himself equal with God; him, how can he be ever condemned? If
but, as it is written, "He thought it not God has justified him, who is he that con-
robbery to be equal with God." (Phil. ii. 6.)demneth? (Rom. viii: 33, 34.) There is thus
It is the purpose of God that all should no condemnation to him that believeth in
honour the Son, even as they honour the Jesus. He has passed his examination al-
Father. (v. 23.) This is indeed the Son's ready, and has the Judge's sentence in his
right, as Creator and Lord of all, but here we favour: he has passed from one condition also
find it in another connexion: "The Father to another, from being dead in trespasses and
himself judgeth no man," the Lord said sins unto life eternal, the life of Christ Jesus
(v. 22) but hath committed all judgment our Lord, in which he was raised from the
unto the Son," and for the reason assigned dead by the glory of the Father. Oh that
Because He is the Son of Man." we who believe might enjoy the reality and
preciousness of this more, and that our Lord
Jesus might be thus more precious to us daily!
To those who believe He is indeed precious.
(1 Pet. ii. 7.)

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On entering the cottage, G recognized me; he was quite able to speak, and from his own lips I received most of the particulars of what had befallen him. Again, through the long-suffering of God, there was an opportunity of conversing with him about spiritual things, and again the realities connected with eternity became the subject of our conversation. I said,-what would have afterwards, become of you had you died when the cart-(v. 27.) wheel was pressing on you, and what is the state of your mind at present? The substance of his answer was, that had he died then he would, as an unpardoned sinner, have everlastingly perished-that he was filled with gratitude to God for keeping him alive, and desirous of knowing the love of God, through the Redeemer. And these words, I believe, expressed what he really felt. For a few days he remained in the same state of mind, and then was filled with confidence and peace. I had never witnessed in any Christian stronger confidence, more assured peace. Fearing self-deception, I questioned him as The judgment will then be of the God-man, to the ground of his peace. He had found He who is very God and very man; and it is Christ. He had trusted in Jesus. A clear appointed to Jesus, as mentioned here, on and powerful view of the redemption which this especial ground, because He is "the Son is in Christ Jesus had been given him. His of Man." God has given assurance of this own expression was,-Jesus cannot cast you unto all men, in that He hath raised Him out, if you come to Him, through a full re- from the dead. (Acts xvii. 31.) He was the demption; and with this change of mind Man of sorrows and suffering down here, there was a change also of expression in his of whom we read that He "suffered being countenance. His Christian wife, who had tempted," though without sin; who has met been praying for this blessing, was absent for the Prince of darkness in his own domain a few hours the day he found peace. She here below, and overcame him; who has afterwards said to me,-when I came in I overcome the world, and by dying in it as the saw it in his face; I have asked this of the Lamb of God, the spotless ransom, has reLord. Now his death is nothing; of course deemed His people out of it, and delivered I shall feel our parting. Truly, if the power them from him who had the power of death of God to give peace through faith was seen (Heb. ii. 14); who has "glorified His Father in poor G, the power of God to sustain, here on earth, and finished the work which and fill with gratitude in deep trial was seen was given Him to do" (John xvii. 4); who in his poor wife. shall also be the Judge of all at the last

Thus the judgment of man is indeed the peculiar prerogative of God (an additional testimony to the Divine person of the Lord Jesus). The same Saviour God, that says, Nothing indeed could stand before that Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends Great White Throne, but this white raiment, of the earth; for I am God, and there is none that has been washed and made white in the else, says, that unto me every knee shall bow, blood of the Lamb; such garments (the true and every tongue shall swear (or confess). wedding garments) would be sufficient even (Isa. xlv. 22.) This is applied to Christ in to appear there; Jesus would avouch them as Rom. xiv. 10. &c., where we read, that We His own, though we judge from the word, shall all stand before the judgment seat of that they have not to await that tribunal; for Christ;" and so then "every one of us shall they are pronounced holy and blessed, and are give account of himself to God." partakers of the first resurrection, and shall reign with Christ a thousand years before that Throne shall be set up. (Rev. xx.) What a stupendous gift then is eternal life-eternal glory! and thus given freely to the sinner by believing on Jesus. May all who read this find it a message of life and peace to their souls! Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end that the promise might be sure to all the seed. (Rom. iv. 16.) Then shall each be enabled to sing that beautiful hymn

At first there appeared some prospect of day. He has seen and passed through this the sufferer's recovery; a surgeon held out very world himself, in the midst of men, in all strong hopes of this-provided the mangled their circumstances; borne their reproaches, limb should be amputated, but some objected been pierced by them, rejected, crucified! on account of his age, and death soon be- How easy to see why all shall stand before came inevitable. As long as he was able to Him for judgment! To have their final speak he testified his confidence in Christ. destiny appointed, the last terrible sentence Once I said to him,-If you really believe pronounced upon them! "He came not," as these things, you should speak to this person He said, (His first coming) "to judge the (referring to a woman who stood by his bed.) world, but to save the world," but as He adds, On hearing this he turned his head, and fixing "He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my his eyes on her, solemnly exhorted her to flee words, hath one that judgeth him: the word to Jesus, It was a weighty word and seemed that I have spoken, the same shall judge Him to tell powerfully. His last words were expressive of his assurance of being saved. On the sixth of January, 1861, he fell asleep, and on the next day a coroner's inquest was held at the cottage where the body lay; the verdict,-accidental death. January, 1861.

Grace now, or Judgment to come. "Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that heareth my word, and believeth on Him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life." (John v. 24)

THE personal glory of our Lord Jesus stands out with peculiar prominence in the gospel of John. It is also remarkable that this should be given to the apostle that lay on his bosom

at the last day." How momentous then for
each the question, have I received Christ or
not? "To as many as received Him, to them
gave He power to become the children (Gr.)
of God, even to them that believe on His
name. (Ch. i. 12.)

We receive or reject Him now as much as
in the days of His flesh, by believing or not
believing upon Him; and believing on Him
is not only believing on Him, but on the
"Father that sent Him to be the Saviour of
the world." (1 Jno. iv. 14.) Such shall
never come into condemnation, (lit. Gr.)
"cometh not into judgment:" he shall never
have to appear before the Great Judge of
Assize, so to speak, to be tried for His life,

"Jesus, thy blood and righteousness
My beauty are, my glorious dress;
'Midst flaming worlds, in these array'd,
With joy shall I lift up my head."
J. C.

Hymn sung at a Meeting held for
United Prayer.

JOHN xvi. 24.

ALMIGHTY FATHER, to Thy throne
Thy children, from far distant lands,
Have made their wants and wishes known,
And sought new blessings from Thy hands.

We now, again, implore Thy grace,
O Lord of heaven and earth and air,
That we may truly seek Thy face,
In earnest, supplicating prayer.
THY SON, Our Advocate on high,
Has promised still our cause to plead ;
And in His pierced hands and feet,
We would the cost of pardon read.
Oh! for His sake, for His alone,
By Thine own Spirit's mighty power,
Lead us, again, in faith to ask
A rich and soul-converting shower.
Only THY SPIRIT's power can give
The prayer which shall ascend to Thee;
Or to our guilty souls reveal
Free pardon, bought on Calvary's tree.
Wilt THOU the living power impart,
To make us more completely Thine-
To know THY will-to still abide
Only in CHRIST, the Living Vine?
And with these blessings grant us help
To praise Thy mercy, rich and free,
Who gave, for us, Thine only Son
To die, that we might live with THEE.

E. B.

WANTED by a Lady, aged 34, about to leave her THE CHRISTIAN WORLD UNMASKED. By

not of it. THE APOSTLESHIP OF ST. PAUL.

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It has been thought that if the Psalms were thrown into the metrical form, as suggested by the parallelisms in the original Hebrew, and divided into paragraphs, and if, further, every effort were made to preserve uniformity of translation, that is, to give the same English word where the same Hebrew word occurs, the English reader would be in a much better position to understand this portion of God's precious word. To carry out this thought, taking care, at the same time, that the translation should be correct in other respects, has been the object of the present work.

It has been a studied aim, whilst so doing, to preserve as much of the authorized version as possible.

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