CONTAINING PLAIN TRUTHS OF ETERNAL IMPORTANCE, FOR "STREETS AND LANES," "HIGHWAYS AND HEDGES."

"Compel them to come in, that my house may be filled."

It leaves us

position to lay claim to that legacy. If you Creation; and we may also see in the arrang - God's "perfect love" gives us. seek Jesus, let these go their way. ment of the various compartments of the nothing to do but to praise and be grateful. universe, His special goodness to His creature It casts out all fear. man. In His providential dealings, we also see the beneficence of the Almighty, and His

Do you know yourself a sinner? Do you know the sinner's doom? The same light

which has shone on your soul to make plain the first, points the way of escape from the everlasting punishment? "Believe and be saved." To believe you are a sinner will not save you, though it is often the first step

kindness to the unthankful, as well as the
holy. But it is in the Cross, the death of
God's only begotten Son, when He put away

The fear of death vanishes before the lifegiving testimony of "perfect love," for here death is swallowed up in victory. The sting of death has been extracted by the blood of the Cross, and death's just demands have all been met for us in the death of Christ; for He

towards seeking the Physician, to know that our sin by the sacrifice of Himself, that we died in our stead, and as our substitute, that

see the full outflowing of God's eternal and you are sick. Jesus cures not those who are at peace in their sins. It is the weary and perfect love. "Herein is love, not that we heavy laden, the sin - burdened, the broken, loved God, but that He loved us, and sent contrite heart, that nothing less than Jesus His Son to be the propitiation for our sins." can satisfy. None other need a Saviour; | Vain, indeed, is the attempt to behold God's none other could rejoice in a Saviour's peace. perfect love to man, but in the Cross. In If you are satisfied without Jesus, then the wounds, and bruises, agonies, bloodyou are dead in your sins; and if you desire shedding, and death of the Son of God for peace from any other source whatever, you us, we see that God is love; and can say seek for poison. "In Me ye have peace! "with the beloved apostle, "In this was maniLet not your heart be troubled, neither let fested the love of God toward us, because it be afraid." "Behold, I come quickly!" that God sent His only-begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him."

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My Friend, seek Jesus! and in Him (not in yourself) is peace. For the hour of rest is nigh. The Lord is at hand; do you 'long for the day?'

God's love is perfect in its quality. It makes no demands. Our ruin and need brought it out. It is unchanging. There is no love like it. A mother loves her child

Notes and Expositions. No. 2.-intensely; but in time of famine her love has
Perfect Love.

"There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear:

because fear hath torment." (1 John iv. 18.)

THE Gospel is God's proclamation of His love to man-to man as a sinner. It is God's gracious way of saving the rebellious and unclean. The Gospel tells us of the loving, sin-pardoning posture the living God now takes toward the perishing and guilty; it is not our love to God, but His love to us. "God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."

failed, and mothers have eaten their own
children, rather than die themselves. David
and Jonathan loved each other very much,
but each saw excellencies and worthiness in the
other. But God saw in us nothing good, but
everything bad, when He loved us, and brought
us nigh to Himself, through the blood of
Jesus, and made us His own children by
adoption. God loved us as He loved Christ.
He gave a perfect gift, and Christ did a
perfect work. Thus the quality of God's
love to us is perfect.

love," not only in the perfection of the gift,
but in pouring out unsparingly on the head
of Jesus the wrath we so deserved. "He
spared not His own Son, but delivered Him
up for us all." How rich, how free, how un-
fathomable is such love! Nothing could be
added to it.

we might never taste of death. We may fall asleep (though all believers will not do that), (1 Cor. xv. 5.) but the death of Jesus for ever delivers us from the terror and penalty of death. Jesus said, "If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death."

God's "perfect love" to us in Christ, also delivers us from the fear of judgment, for our sin was justly estimated, condemned, and for ever put away by the sacrifice of Christ. Thus our transgressions were removed from us, and God declares "Your sins, and your iniquities will I REMEMBER NO MORE.' So that the believer, instead of being instructed in the Scriptures to look for judgment, (except to give an account of his stewardship as a believer,) is called to look for the Saviour the Lord Jesus Christ, who will, in the twinkling of an eye, change our vile body, and fashion it like unto His own glorious body.

Perfect love, then, casts out all fear of death and judgment, and therefore all fear of hell; for Christ having suffered for our sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, and deliver us from all condemnation, no tormenting fear, whether regarding this present life, or that which is to come, remains; and the truth of the prophet's words are experienced, "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee, because he trusteth in thee." (Isa. xxvi. 3.)

Why have so many of God's little ones doubts and fears? Because they have not received, or do not abide in God's perfect love. They look at self. They say, do I do enough? or do I feel enough? or do I love enough? and the like. All such thoughts are vain.

They arise from wanting to make something of vile, rotten self. Let all such God's love is also perfect in its suitability. look at the Cross. See God's "perfect love" It met our case exactly. We were under flowing out to you, removing all guilt, banishcondemnation, Christ was condemned for us. ing every fear, answering every demand, and We were guilty and unclean, Christ blotted silencing every doubt. See the crucified Son it all out by the blood of His Cross. We of God now alive again from the dead, exalted were enemies, and alienated from God, Christ at God's right hand, ever loving, ever living, reconciled us to God through death. We and ever presenting His own blood for you on had no righteousness or life, but God made the mercy-seat. This will fill you with joy Christ to be unto us righteousness, and gave and peace. This will draw from you grateful us life through Him. praise and worship. This will constrain you to serve the living and true God, and to wait for His Son from heaven.

God's love is also perfect in its manifesThe Gospel then stands in wide contrast tation. He has openly shewed His "perfect with the Law. The Law demanded perfect love from man to God, and pronounced him under the curse on not doing so; while the Gospel proclaims God's "perfect love" to us, even when dead in trespasses and sins. The Law, therefore, demanded holiness and love from the alienated and unclean, without giving any power for fulfilling, or promising mercy for disobedience, and, therefore, it only proved to be the ministration of condemnation and death. On the other hand, the Gospel brings, as a free gift, to helpless and lost man, all he needs for present peace, and eternal happiness; and produces in the heart of those who receive it, confidence in God-full, unwavering confidence; because it assures our hearts of God's favour and forgiveness-his "perfect love." How is it that so many lack confi- But God's love is also perfect in its results. dence in God, and cannot find peace? Be-Not a believer in Christ shall ever perish. cause they do not simply receive God's own "The glory," said Jesus to His Father, "that testimony of His "perfect love" in Christ. thou hast given me, I have given them." We They try to do something, or to feel another stand in everlasting acceptance before God, in kind of experience, or to get rid of their Christ-children before Him in love-joint- SYes, fears by some misplaced religious ordinances, heirs with Christ. Christ loved the instead of simply receiving the message which Church and gave himself for it, that He might God sends of His love to them as sinners. sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of They do not see that it is God's "perfect water by the word; that He might present it love" alone that can cast out their tormenting

fears.

We see God's power, His eternal power and Godhead, manifested in the works of

Remembrances of Workhouse Visitings. No. 3. H—, whose short, sad history fills our page this month, was born at St. Heliers, in Jersey. Of her father we have no record; her mother kept a lodging-house, and seems to have behaved kindly and well to her daughter to Himself a glorious church, not having while a girl, but in her early womanhood, spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing, but that it suspecting her of some irregularity in her should be holy and without blemish." conduct, her manners changed towards her, What solid comfort the contemplation of and she became harsh and severe to an

unusual degree; and even, upon her refusal to unite herself to one whom she disliked, turned her from her doors, and denied her a piece of bread. Oh! that she had learned,

agony, imagined she suffered bodily, and on ask ing if she was in pain, she replied, "not of the body, but of the mind, on account of my sins, I have been wrestling all night with Gocl." As the morning dawned, she became then, when "her father and her mother forsook her," to turn to the Lord, that she had more composed, and on being asked if she

66

spared. Should this meet the eye of any similarly circumstanced, let them know that there is a refuge for the oppressed;" there "is a strong tower" into which you may run and be safe; there is the blood of Christ, in which you may wash and be clean; when, "saith the Lord, though your sins beas scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool."

Few, and evil, had been the days of the
life of her pilgrimage; but He, who seeth
not as man seeth, had had mercy upon her,
and brought the wanderer home.

"The Shepherd sought His sheep;
The Father sought His child;
They followed her o'er vale and hill,
O'er deserts waste and wild.
They found her nigh to death,

on Him is not condemned: but He that believeth not is condemned already, because he has not believed on the only-begotten Son of God."

Freedom from all condemnation, past, present, and future, is the precious consequence

ner believes in the Lord Jesus, he is justified.

come to Him who" will in no wise cast out." were better, she answered, “Yes, thank God, of faith in Christ. The very instant a sinwhat after years of misery had she been my sins are forgiven, I shall now be in heaven; all my sorrows are at an end; I have made my peace with God; I have neither He is accepted in all the perfection of the pain of mind, nor of body." Several times finished work of Christ. When a verdict of she begged the nurse to pray beside her, not guilty" is pronounced in our courts of uniting her prayers with hers; and she law, the prisoner is at once fully and comthanked her for her care, and entreated her pletely acquitted. When Scripture pronounces to warn those who were following in the the believer NOT CONDEMNED," it means paths which she had trod, to turn from their that the believer has complete justification. evil ways. "Even as David also describeth the blessedDear wandering ones! I think I hear you ness of the man, unto whom God imputeth say, "Could she but rise from the dead, how righteousness without works, saying, Blessed Urged by privation and want, S re- would we heed her warning voice;" and so are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and turned to her mother, who received her only said he—the rich man-when in hell he lifted whose sins are covered. Blessed is the on the condition that she would comply with up his eyes, being in torments, and pleaded man to whom the Lord will not impute sin." her wishes, which she did, and was married; for his brethren, "Nay, but Father Abraham, | (Rom. iv. 6-8; Psa. xxxii. 1, 2.) From these her husband ill-treated, and then left her. if one went to them from the dead, they will passages we learn that those whom God parFor a little time she lived with her mother, repent." Oh! give ear to the solemn answer, dons, He also justifies. Man may pardon but again her harshness drove her from her "If they hear not Moses and the prophets, the guilty, or justify the innocent, but man home, when she left the island, and went to neither will they be persuaded, though one cannot both pardon and justify the same perPortsmouth, where, sincerely desiring to re- rose from the dead." Peacefully passed the son. This is the special prerogative of God. trieve her lost position, she feigned her name, few remaining hours of S's life. A lovely He is the justifier of the ungodly. "This," and obtained a situation as barmaid at an smile illuminated her face, and with that same as a dying saint said to me the other day, "is inn. Two years passed on, and found her sweet smile, she passed away, and was num-wonderful grace. God, as a just God, yet loved and respected by all around her, bered with the dead. justifies the sinner." "Thus," she conwhen one day a person who had known her tinued, "I have a double claim on God. He at St. Heliers, went to the house to get redelighteth in mercy, and I lay hold on that; freshment, recognized her, and called her by He is strictly just, and I lay claim to that her name, when the landlady, discovering the too: for I have both in Jesus." God "will deception that had been practised upon her, not impute sin;" but He will impute "rightdismissed her; and again the poor girl was eousness without works." The soul resting cast upon the world, friendless and alone. on Jesus "is not condemned." This freedom With the hope of being received by her from condemnation, is as perfect the very mother, she returned to Jersey; in great moment the sinner believes, as it will be when wretchedness she went to her, but, oh! the he is finally glorified. We are for ever free hardness of the natural heart-she refused to from guilt, and free from the condemnation shelter her, and again denied her a piece which follows guilt, the instant we trust in of bread. How sad a contrast to the heart Christ. That we have full pardon and perfect of Him, who, though of purer eyes than to justification in Jesus our Lord, is our spiritual behold iniquity, invites His children to return, food while we are travelling through the wilsaying, “I will heal your backslidings, I will To believe, in accordance with the command derness of this world. This act of God, love you freely." Driven from her home, she of the gospel, is to trust with all the heart embracing both pardon and justification, is left her native island to return no more for in the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. It is everlasting, never to be revoked. It abides ever, crossed the Channel, and came to P, not to believe in some particular set of doc- the same all through our life on earth, and following the ways of sin for a livelihood. trines, nor to feel some peculiar experiences, in eternal glory; because He abideth faithful. But not long was she permitted to go on nor to perform a certain amount of good We are wholly pardoned, and completely thus; He who "doth not afflict willingly,, works; but simply to believe on Christ: to justified in Christ Jesus. This is an actual nor grieve the children of men," was about trust in Christ alone with full confidence. fact now; it is now carried out, and thereto lay His afflicting hand upon her to stop This faith is produced by the operation of fore, it cannot miscarry. The believer is, the her sad career. In her wretched lodgings she the Holy Spirit. Ordinarily it comes through very moment he believes, accepted in the took cold, which, settling on her lungs, hearing the proclamation of the Gospel. Beloved-complete in Christ Jesus. obliged her soon to seek refuge in the Work- The warrant of faith, or the reason why it The child of God, failing to realize this house. Here, her winning manners won the dares to venture on Christ, is the plain precious gospel declaration in all its fulness, heart of the nurse appointed to attend her, declaration of the Scriptures. "Faith cometh is often subjected to many mistakes. He and many a kindly office did she render her, by hearing, and hearing by the word of thinks, when he is tried, that his heavenly which, more than once drew from her the God." Christ has said, He will receive the Father is wroth with him. What a sad expression, "You have done for me what my sinner who comes to Him. I believe Christ's mother refused to do." The missionaries word, and therefore I come to Him. I am who visited her, had a firm belief in her readi- saved because I take Christ at His word, and ness to die, though on her part she was He is faithful. I came to Christ as a sinner, Whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth, and unable to rejoice in this great salvation. Her because He bade me come, and He did not scourgeth every son whom He receiveth." nurse says, she was truly sorry for her sins, cast me out. The blood of Jesus Christ The strokes of our Father's rod are fruits of and we know it is written, that "godly sorrow cleanseth me from all sin. our sonship, and blessed evidences of His worketh repentance unto salvation." The Let us briefly bend our attention to a con- love. (Heb. xii. 5-8.) We may be often days and weeks passed on; the night before sideration of the blessed results of faith, as cast down to humble us; but we shall never her death, the nurse seeing her in great recorded in John iii. 18. "He that believeth be destroyed. Faith may be weak, it may ebb

Famished, and faint, and lone;
They bound her with the cords of love,
They saved the wand'ring one."

The Results of Faith; what
are they?

JOHN iii. 18.

mistake. The trial of the believer's faith is precious. Because we are the sons and daughters of God, therefore are we chastised.

doubts and fears cannot condemn an innocent man, and we are innocent in Jesus. We can never rejoice in ourselves, our frames, our feelings, or our doings; but we may "rejoice in the Lord always." The true Christian may and does sin, and he will be scourged for his sin, but he is "not condemned." God never views the believer apart from Christ, and no law-stroke can smite him there.

"Christ is the only help,-'I am the way, the truth, and the life,'" whispered the man of God.

With an indescribable woe he half shrieked, "NOT FOR ME, I SHALL FALL, I AM FALLING!" An instant after, he shuddered, and all was over. How very awful.

and flow like the tides, and thus our comforts the fearful consequences of unbelief? Listen late. They trifle, procrastinate, and reason, be diminished; but it is not the strength of to the solemn answer. "He that believeth until they find themselves in an awful eterour faith which enables us to stand secure, it not Is CONDEMNED ALREADY, because he nity. We lately heard of a man, who, when is Jesus. Comforts may and will decline, hath not believed in the name of the only dying, shrieked out, "Too late! too late!" but Jesus is ever the same. A thousand begotten Son of God." All who do not Another person who had often been sensible believe on Christ Jesus, are under present of her guilt and danger, cried out on her condemnation-the wrath of God ever rests death-bed, "I'm going to hell." When on them, because they wilfully refuse to be- asked why she had not told a Christian friend lieve on the Lord Jesus. "He that believeth of her convictions, and unhappiness of soul, not shall be damned." "He that believeth she replied, "Pride and shame kept me; but on the Son, hath everlasting life; and he that now there is no hope, I'm going to hell." believeth not the Son, shall not see life; but We also lately read an account of a dying the wrath of God abideth on him." Oh! man who said, "I have nothing to expect but awful state. Oh! that you would at once condemnation; nothing to expect but conhearken to the voice of mercy, and escape demnation." Afterwards, being roused from The salvation of the sinner, and the stand- for your life to Jesus, the hope set before sleep by the striking of a clock, he looked ing of the believer, are all of free grace. you in the Scriptures. You need a founda- around, dreamily caught the eye of the nurse, And if of grace, then works are, of necessity, tion entirely safe, a hope absolutely sure; you then of the Christian friend who watched, excluded. This should for ever cause boast- may have both in Christ, only believe. De- and whispered, "It is awfully dark here. My ing to be excluded, and lead us to walk pending on the declaration of the gospel, feet stand on the slippery edge of a great humbly before God. Be humble Christian: "THAT CHRIST JESUS CAME INTO THE gulf. Oh for some foundation!" He stretched for thou hast nothing but what thou hast WORLD TO SAVE SINNERS," go you at once out his hand as if feeling for the way. received of God's free mercy, bestowed upon to Christ, and rest on Him alone. Let this thee solely for Christ's sake. This should be your constant and unwavering trust, Christ banish doubting and fearing far hence. We died to save sinners. He that believes in are accepted in Christ, and for Christ's sake, Christ is saved, is "not condemned." Betherefore, our standing must ever remain lieve on the Lord Jesus Christ, then shall you secure. We, at first, trusted in the Lord have peace of mind through the blood of the Jesus as poor, empty sinners, and He has cross, as a proof of your faith. But, oh! given to us "eternal life." We are "not remember, if you do not believe, you are now We must add another instance. A servant condemned;" why, therefore, should we condemned, and must be damned. (Mark of Christ lately addressing a large audience, doubt? We might doubt, if our standing xvi. 16.) said, "I know the case of a young lady, who depended upon anything in ourselves; but had her deep convictions. She went home, seeing we are kept by the power of God and told them to her mother, but her mother through faith unto salvation, there is no room did not understand convictions. She told for doubting. As our salvation at first deher daughter that she must go into the world, pended upon Christ alone, so our standing as the word is. The mother thought that depends upon Christ alone. Unless it be religion was never meant to make people possible for Christ to fail, it is impossible for gloomy, and so indeed it never was; but relithe believer ever to be condemned. Christ gion was never meant to give ease to a soul fail! Impossible. The believer be lost! till that soul finds it in Jesus. Take care Impossible. This should keep us from sinwhat you do, beloved, with your convictions. ning, and lead us to pant after holiness. The child was taken into the world of misBecause we are God's pardoned and justified called pleasure, and along with that her conchildren, we should abhor sin; for all sin is viction ceased; but, being of a fragile nature, hateful in our Father's sight. This is the she became ill, and was, before long, brought very argument which is used by the apostle to her dying hour; and as death was putting in Romans xii. 1, 2, "I beseech you therefore, Conviction not Conversion. his last mortal hue upon her sad face, the brethren, BY THE MERCIES OF GOD, that ye How many persons there are who have been child, with a feeble, dying utterance, said, present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, made sensible of their being sinners, and yet "Dear mamma, when I am dead, and in my acceptable unto God, which is your reason- can never say they are saved sinners. They coffin, and you lay me in the grave, let there able service. And be not conformed to this are convicted of having disobeyed God, and be no head-stone, or tomb-stone over my world but be ye transformed by the renew-rebelled against His truth. Reflection makes grave. But when they have uttered the last ing of your mind, that ye may prove what is them unhappy, but their hearts are unchanged. words over my grave, and you come away that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of They resort to carnal pleasures to drown their into this room, will you open that ward-robe? God." Mark, the apostle does not urge them convictions, instead of coming to the Lord There you will see my last ball-dress. And to be holy, by the thunders of Sinai, or by Jesus Christ for forgiveness; or they flatter mamma, when you see that ball-dress, you the terrors of the law. He does not seek to themselves with the delusive hope of self- will see the sign of your sin, and of my put a legal yoke on their shoulders. But he improvement, instead of trusting in Christ, as doom."

Great grace there is for sinners great,
Rich grace for those who're poor,
Almighty grace to keep the weak,
Come ye, and test its power.
Infinite grace for finite worms:
O Lord, how good Thou art
Unto poor sinners, who are vile:
Sweet Saviour! take my heart.
Come thou weary sin sick soul,
On the Lord your burdens roll,
Make Christ Jesus all your trust,
Come! and you shall not be lost.
Trust in Him, and now believe,
Sovereign grace can you relieve;
Sweetly will the Saviour smile,
In "compassion," though you're vile;
On you, He will look, and say,
"Now YOUR SINS ARE PUT AWAY."

T. W. M.

beseeches them as 66 brethren, by the mercies of the only Saviour from the wrath to come. It Trifle no longer, dear reader, with your God." When a believer knows his freedom is of the highest importance to see that how-mortal soul. Be affectionately warned. Time from condemnation through Christ Jesus, he ever deep the conviction, however much their flies rapidly. Jesus comes quickly. The will find that knowledge amply sufficient to feelings may be moved, or their intentions door will soon be shut. Christ, the risen Son constrain him to seek a closer conformity to well meant, apart from faith in Christ, there of God, who died on Calvary for sinners, is Christ. If we are believers in Jesus, we are is no salvation. It is to be feared that some now the way; and He saves all that come to saved, we are "not condemned," our standing rest in their good desires, others in their Him. Now is the accepted time. To-day is secure, we have new natures, and, there- amiability, and others in their good works, is the day of salvation. To-morrow may fore, we shall seek after holiness. We are and never trust in the Lord Jesus Christ too late. NOW, "Believe on the Lord the temples of the Holy Spirit, and shall be for salvation; notwithstanding it is written, Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved." led, guided, supplied, and comforted by Him, "Neither is there salvation in any other: for through the fulness which we have in Christ, there is none other name under heaven given and which He will take and show unto us. among men whereby we must be saved." One word to the unbeliever. What are Many become sensible of this when it is too

"Welcome all by sin oppress'd,
Welcome to the Saviour's breast;
Nothing brought Him from above,
Nothing but REDEEMING LOVE."

be

The God who paid the Debt.

heaven, and had sent the preacher, to say to all, "Come unto me all ye that labour," &c. A POOR negro on the Coast of Africa, who Long before he came to the close of his felt some concern about his soul, applied to sermon, the Spirit of God had been pleased his priest, who gave him various directions, to touch the heart of the poor negro, and to which were all unavailing. He was so dis- enlighten his mind; he started up from the tressed in his mind, that he went wandering seat, but without tone was heard to say, while about from place to place, without meeting | he clasped his hands together, and the tears ran with anything to comfort him. One day as down his sable cheeks, "Me have found he was sitting in a solitary manner on the Him! me have found Him! the Christian's beach, some English sailors came ashore to God dat pay de debt!" After the meeting, get water. As they were rolling the cask the minister had some further conversation along, one of them heard the moaning of the with him, and was rejoiced at the state of his poor negro, and going up to him said, "Hallo, mind. An opportunity was afterward taken shipmate! what's the matter with you?" The to send him to Africa. negro began to tell his tale of woe in broken language, but was hastily interrupted by the sailor exclaiming, "Oh, I see what's the matter with you, you must go to England, and there you'll hear of the Christian's God, who paid the debt." These words were spoken in a careless and thoughtless manner; but they made an impression on the mind of the negro, and he determined to proceed to England. He travelled a great many miles until he came to an English settlement, where he got leave to work his passage over in a ship that was lying there.

During the voyage he would frequently approach one sailor and another, and say, with great simplicity, in a plaintive tone, "Please, massa, you tell me where Christian's God dat pay de debt?" The seamen, who it appears were all irreligious, only laughed at him, and concluded he was mad. The ship arrived at London, and the negro was put ashore at Wapping.

Some

Having no money to receive, he wandered from street to street, and whenever he could catch a single passenger, he would stop and say, in the most melancholy manner, “Please, massa, you please tell poor black man where Christian's God dat pay de debt?" told him to go about his business; some gave him money; and others, supposing him to be deranged, passed on; but he met no one to answer his question. In this manner he continued to stroll about, as devoid of comfort in England as in his own land; and frequently would he steal down some by-place, and give vent to his soul in accents like these: "Ah! me no hear of Christian's God dat pay de debt; me walk, walk, day, day, but me no hear. White man tell me in Africa, go to England, but me no find; me go back, me die dere." He saw some people on the Sunday going into a large house, which he concluded was the temple of the Christian's God; he followed them; he heard a sermon, but he heard nothing about Christ. It was all unintelligible to him, and he still remained the subject of despondency, and still went mourning about. A gentleman accidentally overheard him one day, while he was complaining to himself of his unsuccessful inquiry after the Christian's God. He spoke to him, and directed him to go to such a place that evening, and there he would hear of the Christian's God. He went, and heard a sermon by that gentleman, on the suretyship of Christ, in which he described sin as a debt, and Christ as paying it, and the price he paid, and that he was ascended up to

THE SINNER SAVED.

"Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden,
and I will give you rest."-MATT. xi. 28.

"TELL me, happy Pilgrim,

How you sought and found,
All your peace and gladness,

On this barren ground.
Why are all our pleasures

Dull and tame to you;
And your anxious hours,

Seem so far and few?"
"Not from Earth or Nature,

Stranger, doth it spring,
Birds that build the lowest,

Soar aloft to sing.
So my strain is gladdest,

When from earth I rise,
Farthest from my home-nest,
Nearer to the skies.
"Once like you I questioned,

Life seemed nothing worth;
Death a gloomy vision,

And I wandered forth,
Seeking something better
Than the worldling's lot;
Rest, and peace, and pardon,
But I knew not what.
"Thus I worked and fretted-
Strove to keep God's law,
New made vows--and broken
All the fruit I saw.
Then I heard of Jesus!

And while drowned in tears,
He drew gently near me,
Quieting my fears.

"Come,' He said, 'poor sinner,"

(O! that welcome word,
Seemed the sweetest message
My poor heart had heard.)
'Come! My work is finished,
And thy labour lost;
See thy soul's redemption,

And the price it cost!'
"Then I told Him over

All my life of sin;
'Now,' I said, 'or never,

Will He let me in!'
Not one thought I'd given,
All these long years past,
To the dear Redeeemer

I had found at last.

"So I spoke, all trembling,

'Lord! it is not fit That a ragged beggar,

At Thy table sit.

I would change my garments,
And would fitted be,
For the King's own presence,
Who takes heed of me.'
"Soft He spake, so sweetly
'Seek no other dress,

Not a thread is lacking

In my righteousness;
I a mantle give thee,
None besides have wove-
Take it-be partaker

Of my Father's love!
"All the wrath-thy portion
I have borne from God;
From thy sins I wash thee,

In my cleansing Blood.'
Then I cried, 'O, Saviour!

In Thy boundless grace,
For the chief of sinners,

Thou hast still a place.'
"From that day I knew Him,

Christ! my Priest and King!
Father! Friend! Physician!
Can I cease to sing?
Nay, until He call me

From my work below,
I will sing His praises,
Wheresoe'er I go.

"Enter stranger! Welcome!
See the way is clear;
"Tis the Friend of sinners
That awaits thee here.
Come! believe, and trust Him!

Grace, He'll, ne'er deny,

Since He saved a sinner,

Such an one as I."

Woe to Doubts.

A. S.

"WOE," says Thomas Adams, "to that religion which teacheth even the best saint to doubt of his salvation while he liveth. Hath Christ said, Believe; and shall man say, Doubt? This is a rack and strappado to the conscience; for he that doubteth of his salvation, doubteth of God's love, and he that doubteth God's love, cannot heartily love Him again.

If this love be wanting, it is not possible to have true peace. O the terrors of this troubled conscience! It is like an ague; it may have intermission, but the fit will return and shake him. An untoward beast is a trouble to a man; an untoward wife is a greater trouble; but the greatest trouble of all, is an untoward conscience. Blessed is the man whose sins are forgiven; where there is no remission of sins there is no blessedness. Now, there is no true blessedness but that which is enjoyed, and none is enjoyed unless it be felt; and it cannot be felt unless it be possessed; and it is not possessed unless a man know it; and how does he know it that doubts whether he hath it or not?"

66

What think ye of Christ ? IT is written, Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ, is born of God (1 John v. 1); and "If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." (Rom. x. 9.) My salvation, then, depends upon my believing with my heart on the Christ.

Few profess to "search the Scriptures." How many are contented if they read a portion of the Bible as a religious duty? They think they know all about Jesus Christ, without being at the trouble of searching the Scriptures.

But do you yourself believe that Jesus is the very Christ of Scripture?