murderer Saul: he heard-he conferred responsibility is not lessened, because it not with flesh and blood, but followed is God's own will and deed, for the Jews Jesus, through evil and good report. were absolutely ignorant thereof, and And ever since, and now, to all who feel acted from hatred and malice. The Fatheir sins a burden, who hear, or read in ther laying upon the devoted victim, the the Scriptures, "Come unto me, weary iniquity of all his people, they are freed, and heavy laden;" who hear Christ's not only from sin and its iniquity, but voice, by the glorious Spirit, brought from all, and every consequence thereof; home to their hearts, to them it is the and now they see and enjoy a finished voice of power; they hear it, they feel it, salvation in the death of Jesus. This and like the 3000 on the day of Pente- mercy being extended in the heart of cost, they follow Jesus. Sweet and every renewed son and daughter of Christ, blessed voice; it alone convinces of sin, by the Holy Spirit's work, and by Him of righteousness, and of judgment. alone; "Ye must be born again," said Secondly, It is a voice of mercy. Yes, Jesus, and indeed they are made new the poor storm-beaten mariner does not, creatures: the Spirit's work in the heart in the tempestuous gloomy night, look is not a momentary thing, and then left more anxiously for the morning than the to themselves-far from it, godly sorsoul, convinced of sin, longs for the voice row the Spirit worketh in their heart, of mercy, and not till he hears, "I am never again to be repented of; they inthe Way, walk ye therein," does he feel creasingly feel their own depravity, and himself at rest. Mercy strews the young receive an increase in the knowledge of believer's path sweetly with a simple re- God; they learn more sweetly, more liance upon Jesus; what a pity this voice simply to rest upon the Lord, to come should not always be heard and observed out of self, and learn to sink upon Jehoby them. Mercy, not their own good vah, as their All, and in All. This voice works, nor happy frames, nor feelings, is of mercy is known in those precious the ground of their hope-yea, of all visits of the Spirit-Jesus their glorious their safety. It was mercy which God Saviour shining within them, upholding the Father displayed in choosing any one them under their distresses, in their sorout of the fallen race of Adam, as monu- sows, their trials, their weak moments, ments of his mercy; He might have left their temptations; yea, even when God every son of Adam in his wretched fallen hides his countenance, He does not state, and justly have left all to share the utterly forsake them and ah! when sentence, thus visited by the Lord's voice of mercy, the voice of love and of communion, how the soul rejoices; yea, though they behold themselves within all black and deformed, and they can bring forth nothing but complaints, yet Jesus comforts them by his Almighty Spirit ;

Dying, thou shalt die :". but mercy, sovereign mercy-for there is no other reason found out as yet, nor do I believe ever will be found out, why Jehovah should save any one individual of the fallen race of Adam, and give up angels to everlasting damnation. Wonders of love to God belong: Jehovah's" Fear not, I am with thee.' In these wisdom alone found out a plan, or rather hallowed moments, they are enabled to ordained the plan, whereby the Church tell the Lord all their secrets, thoughts, in the time-state should be saved, and and deeds, which they would not, for all yet infinite justice be satisfied, and pre- the world, reveal to man; and in return, served, and everlastingly be glorified. they receive from Him the sweetest asJesus Christ the righteous, He, who surance of his reconciled love-the parknew no sin, was, in the fulness of time, don of all their sins, their interest in to " be made a curse for us, for cursed everlasting glory. The Spirit witnessis every one who hangeth upon a tree." eth with their spirit, that they are the And the atonement of Christ being suffi- children of God: if children, then heirs cient to save the sinner, satisfying God's heirs of God, and fellow-heirs with justice, He came, He suffered, bled, and Christ Jesus," Rom. viii. 16. Their bliss died; as the Apostle Peter beautifully on earth, their bliss for eternity, is seexpressed it on the day of Pentecost: cured, and in holy triumph they are enActs ii. 23, "Him (Jesus) being deli- abled to fall on Jesus's bosom, knowing vered by the determinate counsel and Him to be the "chief among ten thouforeknowledge of God, ye, with wicked sand, the altogether lovely." hands, have crucified and slain." Man's

(To be continued).

"BLESSED ARE THEY THAT HAVE NOT SEEN, AND YET HAVE BELIEVED."

[Readers, here is a letter, and a most | but he will join me, in saying he can be precious letter too; but how it came, or from whom it came, to us, we cannot remember. We know nothing personally of the writer, or to whom it is addressed; but there is such a fulness, and point, and power, in this precious epistle, that our hearts are united in bonds of eternal union to its beloved unknown writer. For ourselves we desire some of those covenant blessings she is coveting; yea, more, we wish a large outpouring of them upon our dear readers. In these covenant blessings are wrapped up covenant secrets, known only to the covenant family; and in what striking contrast do they stand to the superficial profession of the day.-ED.]

To a Friend.

quite submissive under the cross, just whenever the Lord enables him to be so. I have got as far as this, and never expect to get beyond it; and whenever the Lord is pleased to let me be rebellious, and fretful, and impatient (and I need not say how often that is, need I?) He lets me know it is to “humble, to prove, and to show what is in my heart," and thus "boasting is excluded," and these things are brought in amongst the "all things" that work for our good. I have a very eager wish to learn the lesson Paul wrote of, "in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content." Well, that wish must have been given by the Lord, or I never could have had it; and he does not give desires, and then disappoint them. He brings about his MY DEAR BROTHER IN THE LORD,-I purposes in ways very different to the was much pleased to receive your letter. expectations of our reasonings, and very I had not thought you "unkind "in not opposite to the reports of sight and writing, though I had many times wished sense; and we may bless Him that it is so; to hear from you, and many times had for thus, we are kept more and more defelt inclined to write, and inquire how pendant on Him. May you and I, dear you were progressing in your journey. friend, become very much more helpless And now, my dear friend, do not (if you than we have ever yet found ourselves can help it), think me "unkind" for to be; so that we may not venture to saying, I rejoice in finding by your stir, or even to think, without our Jesus letter that you are meeting with hard to direct and to teach. Well, He does usage, passing through trying, painful all for us; but I long for us to know circumstances. I long to be done with more of what He has done, and is doing, murmuring" (and so do you, I know) and will do, and then we shall glorify your murmurings are not against us, Him more. Rejoice in Christ Jesus, but against the Lord." Jesus has so and have no confidence in the flesh." sweetly made me sensible, that every Oh, my dear brother, you are, and will place we go into, however painful, how-be yet more, for "pressing forward." ever difficult, is appointed by his own Our dear Lord often gives me a cry for love and wisdom, and for the blessed you, that He will make Himself more purpose of bringing us further acquainted known to you, open up the treasures of with Him, that I am growing in love, his love to you. I get such sweet and even with sufferings, both for myself and blessed glimpses (sometimes I call them for "brethren beloved in the Lord." more than " glimpses") as make me We want (don't we?) to have fellowship long and pant for more; and often my with our precious Jesus! And how can heart seems almost broken with the dewe, but by passing through some of the sire I have to be able to tell others what things that He passed through, having a I see in Jesus. But oh, what a blessed taste [oh, how small a sip!) of his cup mystery "the secret of the Lord" is! of suffering. Besides, his mighty power, "When it pleased God to reveal his Son his watchful care, his tender love, are so in me." blessedly made known to us when we are brought to "suffer as a Christian," that we are made willing to follow the Lamb whithersoever He leads. My brother seems to hint that he finds a difficulty in being submissive at all times;

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How I long to unlearn everything I have learnt from every teacher except Jesus, and to be kept continually at his dear feet, waiting, and watching, and learning, and loving. Oh, to be able to cast away all the circumstances-to have nothing to look at but the one pre

A FEW RECOLLECTIONS OF THE LORD'S DEALINGS WITH THE LATE WILLIAM TIPPER.

WILLIAM TIPPER was first awakened | united in the bonds of matrimony with to a knowledge of his lost state and condition, under the ministry of the late Mr. Parsons, of Chichester, and led to see, nothing but an interest in the blood and righteousness of a precious Christ could ever make him acceptable in the sight of a holy God. Having been at that time a labouring countryman, he walked many miles every sabbath for some years, to hear the word of truth delivered by Mr. P; and would often delight to dwell on his dear Lord's goodness to him in those days.

Whom once he loves, he never leaves,
But loves them without end.

In the last weeks of his life, while laying
awake at nights he would often repeat
with much solicitude-

when assembled with the "little flock for,
with whom he was united in Christian
fellowship, he often found it good and
profitable to his soul to be there, and
although extremely diffident lest he
should appear presumptuous in express-
ing himself on things of vast and eternal
moment, when called on to beseech a
throne of grace; such was the earnest
and sweet simplicity with which he
would solicit a blessing from the Lord,
that his brethren and sisters highly
valued him as a sincere and devout
Christian. The sequel showed they were
not deceived by proving to all who
visited him during his last long affliction,
"Jesus only" was the Rock on which
all his hopes were centred. About five
years since, it pleased the Lord to lay
him on a bed of severe suffering of body,
and terror of soul, respecting his eternal
state, but the "Angel of the covenant
appeared to him, and "did wondrously."
His room soon echoed with his songs of
praise ;-

دو

"And is my name enrolled?
Do thou my soul assure,
Am I within that fold,

Which Jesus keeps secure? Then hold my feet in Zion's way, 'Till thee I meet in endless day." His dear wife would endeavour to comfort him by bringing to his mind his former experiences; but he would say he could not rest upon them, he was so afraid of deceiving himself and others. A fortnight before he died, he was taken with a violent vomiting, which all thought he could not survive; in the midst of it he kept beseeching, "Oh, Lord, appear for me! Be with me in the hour and article of death!" Suddenly he exclaimed, "Bless the Lord! Praise the Lord! I would not exchange with the kings of the earth." His sufferings were at the time intense; his wife asked him why he rejoiced so, he said, “The Lord has heard my prayers." some hours, darkness overshadowed him, were his constant exclamations; and it and the enemy was permitted to throw seemed as if the whole book of God was his last and most fiery dart. A few hours in his heart and mouth, as he kept re- before he was taken home, to reign with peating verse after verse, fitting every his beloved Lord for ever, his dear wife, part as a delightful chain; then saying, who had lain down at his side, while "Oh! how sweet to my taste, sweeter others were watching him, was aroused than honey, or the honeycomb." As he began to recover, every thing he heard by his cries and extreme terror; starting or saw of the world, created the great-not turn himself before), he exclaimed, up in bed (although so weak, he could est loathing and disgust. At last he was able to go forth again to his avocation in life, and often deeply mourned the absence of the Bridegroom of his soul, who was all his salvation, and all

Jehovah hath triumph'd, his people are free, and "I am free;" with

"Here shall the weary sinner rest,

When worlds come tumbling down,"

his desire.

In November, 1853, he was again confined to his house with every symptom of rapid consumption, and truly, to use his own words, he was "A great sufferer in his poor body." During the first part of this illness he was very dark in mind, and would cry out for the Lord to have mercy upon him, with the greatest earnestness. One day, after peculiar distress of soul, these promises came sweetly and powerfully to him,—" At evening time shall be light;" and, "I will see you again. At the time, he experienced the utmost comfort and peace, and was enabled to stay himself upon his God; but the great enemy of souls would not let him rest long, and he would often cry out, in his conflicts with him,

-

"Did Jesus once upon me shine,
Then Jesus is for ever mine :"

it

وو

After

"I'm lost! I'm lost!" The most violent
conflict shook his frame, and his face ex-
cried he had committed the unpardonable
pressed the greatest horror, while he
sin. His wife, as soon as she could get
him to hear her, said, "No; you are not
lost; you are saved. It is written, A
troop shall overcome Gad, but he shall
overcome at last.' Presently a happy
smile spread over his countenance; he
laughed triumphantly, and said, "No
more conflict! No death for me!" And
began singing aloud, "Oh grave! where
is thy victory? Oh death! where is
thy sting?" Here his voice failed, the
death-rattles ensued; but at times,
when with much difficulty he could speak,
he said, "He is a faithful God. My
strength has been equal to my day.
When he was just going, he said, “Pre-
cious Jesus, help me!"-turned his head
in Jesus, April 24, 1854.
his pillow, closed his eyes, and slept

on

C. FLETCHER. Southsea, Portsmouth, Jan. 19, 1855.

MOMENTS WITH JESUS.

Oh,

MY DEAREST G. C. L.-I was thinking | pid, so barren, so depraved! I need so only a day or two ago, " Well, what a much discipline; so little to be trusted; rare thing it is for me to get a word di- so carried away by every trifle. Hence rect from the Lord. Time was when I it is absolutely necessary to "bring down had many. They used to be brought my heart with labour." I must be kept home with such sweet warmth and " 'poor and needy." I must have trouble; power, and in such exact adaptation to I must be the subject of fear; I must my wants." Not many hours after this, have something or other that I cannot I was placed in circumstances of trial. manage myself; or else the Lord never There was much to depress, much to dis- hears from me, except in that cold, icy, courage. Nothing tangible to cheer. A formal way that seems but the merest position (to say the very least) of heavy mockery, and which makes me most responsibility, and of personal danger. thoroughly ashamed of myself. Just under this heaviness of heart, and how shy I am, both at the throne and of when not at all looking for anything of the throne at such times. Jesus and I the kind, these words were brought to seem almost utter strangers. There is no remembrance ;—not with warmth, nor closeness-nothing drawing-no sweet power, nor comfort, but just in a way of endearing; but all is as frozen as a Desimple assurance that there were such cember day. But the moment trouble words;-" In due time thou shalt reap comes-just that kind of thing I cannot if thou faint not.” Nothing could have control-there is a must in the case then. been more appropriate. I had been I am in earnest then, just because I am fainting; and many times, of late, have compelled to be. been asking myself, "Why should I do this? to what purpose is all this toil? am I really called to this weight of care? is it not self-imposed? doth the Lord indeed require this at my hands ?" Such, of late, has been so much my reasoning. But oh this precious word! Soft as it was so gentle-so apparently without power; yet, dearest G., when I come to think upon it, I do find it so exactly what I wanted. I have picked it up as it were or rather, instrumentally, it has picked me up-and I feel myself hovering round and about his dear footstool, with a "Do as thou hast said." "In due time thou shalt reap, if thou faint not." Could I tell you (but I dare not) the fire and water into which I am plunged; could I tell you how many are watching and wishing for my halting; could I tell you how many snares are spread for my feet, and the venom that is spit out against me; you would say, "Oh, how gracious of the Lord to give such a word at such a time." "A word spoken in season how good it is." How does it draw one closer and closer to his own dear Person-helps one

Thus far had I written, dearest G., up to a somewhat late hour last night. retired to rest with this question upon my mind, "How shall we know that a promise or passage is from the Lord ?" and the conclusion that I came to was, by its effects. If it leads one out of self, draws away from the creature, loosens one's hold upon the world and worldly things, produces spirituality of mind, sharpens the affections heaven-ward, quickens one's tardy paces, and makes one, as it were, creep to the bosom of a precious Christ; that word must be from Himself! And (thanks to His great name!) I felt such was the tendency of the word adverted to yesterday. It was much needed, I assure you, in more respects than one.

But what can I say to you about the Lord's goodness this morning? Day had scarcely broke before I was awoke; and I lay musing, very much in the same strain as on the past night. I felt it a mercy once more to awake in safety, and found sweet peace flowing in from the recollection of the assurance, "In due time thou shalt reap if thou faint not." Whilst thus occupied, another dear portion was brought to remembrance just in the same way as that of yesterday. It was not with great power; not in that clear, direct, demonstrative way, which at once has brought its own conviction with it, as to whence