Hold up, hold out, tho' weary, wait,
Christ Jesus knows thy fears;
Relief will come; it may come late;
They reap who sow in tears."

"Three times to preach to-morrow," I said to myself, “ and not a single clean thing belonging to me! I looked round; I looked out; I tried to look up; but, alas! all was a blank. If I had carried my sermons with me, I should have despaired altogether. But, although I had not so much as a clean handkerchief, nor coat, nor Bible, nor any necessary left, I knew the LORD could enable me to preach, if it were his will.

At Ely, I telegraphed for my things. No use. They were gone. At Littleport, I searched, asked, ran about, and told my tale to all who did in office stand; but none could help.

Poor "Little Village Preacher!" How destitute and desolate thy fate appeared. The day was gone, the clouds of night were gathering, and big and black with rain they looked. What to do I could not tell. But, onward, I felt I must go

"Pilgrim strangers! onward wend,
Clinging to our living Friend-
Though the fig-tree yields no fruit,
Though no vines, nor olives shoot;

Yet-ah-ah! this seemed hard to reach—)

Yet-the song of joy we'll raise

Our salvation's God to praise."

I left the station at Littleport in a very unhappy state of mind; being told it was quite impossible I could have my things; and as I walked out of the station yard, my very kind friends, Mr. John Porter, and his wife, hailed me from their cart; for they were waiting to carry me to their home.

A thousand nervous fears possessed my soul; but I mounted the seat, and soon the rain began to descend. "Wet through," thinks I, I soon shall be, and what then shall I do? Not one of us had an umbrella, or any protection from wet or wind. Bless the LORD! the rain went off, and our horse went on, and soon on Brandon Creek we found the place of rest. That night, however, I did mourn in my soul. Could I feel the Lord mine? No! I tried to be as composed and cheerful as possible; but some

THE OLD TYPE-AND THE NEW TEMPLE,

WHEN

HEN I left home this morning, I was in spirits low in a low place. My family was preparing to leave the little cottage where we have resided for three years; and to remove nearer to our chapel. This removal was not pleasant to me. I felt inwardly rebellious; and very grieved. In the course of the day, THE EARTHEN VESSEL for April came into my hands, and looking over the contents of "The Table of Shewbread," I saw these words, "there_remaineth yet very much land to be possessed:" and although I had no sensation feelings, yet, there was a kind of laying these words in my mind, and they revived my spirits a little; and on coming home, on setting down in my retired chamber, and on turning to my old concordance I found them in Joshua xiii. 1. "Now Joshua was old, and stricken in years; and the Lord said unto him, thou art old and stricken in years; and there remaineth yet very much land to be possessed.”

My thoughts followed directly in a spiritual channel, and if I describe them, or a few of them, it may lead others to think also. Well, I said to myself, "Yes! it is evident that there is very much land yet to be possessed. This is clear.”

First, from our present imperfect state and condition: for, what are we actually in possession of, as yet? It is true, we have the great map, the Bible; but how little do we understand it. We have the Gospel; but how little do we realize its saving and sanctifying power. We have, (by faith,) the glorious purchaser and proprietor of the land; but how weak the service we render to Him. In the graces of the HOLY SPIRIT, we have the first-fruits of the heavenly country, but too many of us feel these fruits are not so manifest as gracious souls must, at times, desire. In an experimental point of view, there is much land to be possessed. Divide this land, experimentally, into seven portions; and see how much remains to be possessed. First, there is Believing with the heart unto righteousness. How grand is the old Testament record of this, in the days of Jehoshaphat a

great multitude came against him. What did he do? He gathered the people, he set himself to seek the Lord, he proclaimed a fast, he honoured God, and God's spirit came upon Jehazriel; who assured them that the Lord would fight for them, and their Jehoshaphat cried out, "Hear me, O Judah, believe in the Lord your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper."

They went forth singing and praising the Lord; the Lord set ambushments against all the enemies, they smote one another, and not one escaped; but Judah gathered up their riches, in great abundance. So in new Testament times, the Apostles have gone forth crying to convicted hearts, "Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved." Thousands have believed; and have found happiness in Jesus here; and holiness in heaven with Him for ever.

We possess this part of the land in some measure, but there is very much land yet to be possessed even here. But few enjoy that faith which to the soul gives rest, and lays it safe for heaven and happiness in the one glorious person, the Lord Jesus Christ.

THE SOUL'S FAREWELL TO EARTH.

BISHO

ISHOP HALL, a goodly writer of many works, shortly before his death, and when hourly anticipating his departure, penned the following soliloquy to his own soul, the perusal of which may be acceptable and profitable to our readers:—

And now, what remains, O my soul, but that thou do humbly and faithfully wait at the gate of heaven, for a happy entrance, at the good pleasure of thy God, into those everlasting mansions?

I confess, should thy merits be weighed in the balance of a rigorous justice, another place, which I cannot mention without horror, were more fit for thee, more due to thee; for, alas, thou

hast been above measure sinful; and thou knowest the wages of sin-death. But the God of my mercy hath prevented thee, with infinite compassion (Ps. lix. 10); and, in the multitude of his tender mercies, hath not only delivered thee from the nethermost hell (Ps. lxxxvi. 13); but hath also vouchsafed to translate thee to the kingdom of his dear Son (Col. i. 13). In him, thou hast boldness of access to the throne of grace; thou, who in thyself art worthy to be a child of wrath, art in him adopted to be a co-heir of glory, and hast the livery, and seizin given the beforehand, of a blessed possession, the full estating wherein I do in all humble awfulness attend. All the days, therefore, of my appointed time, will I wait at the threshold of grace, until my changing come; with a trembling joy, with a longing patience, with a comfortable hope.

Only, Lord, I know there is something to be done, ere I can enter. I must die ere I can be capable to enjoy that blessed life with thee; one stroke of thine angel must be endured in my passage into thy paradise. And lo, here am I before thee, ready to embrace the condition; even when thou pleasest let me bleed once to be ever happy. Thou hast after a weary walk through this roaring wilderness, vouchsafed to call up thy servant to mount Nebo; and from thence, afar off, to show me the land of promise, a land that flows with milk and honey. Do thou but say Die thou on this hill,' with this prospect in mine eye; and do thou mercifully take my soul from me, who gavest it to me; and dispose of it where thou wilt, in that region of immortality. Amen, amen. Come, Lord Jesus, come quickly.

Behold, Lord, I have, by thy providence, dwelt in this house of clay more than double the time, wherein thou was pleased to sojourn upon earth; yet I may well say, with thy holy patriarch, Few and evil have been the days of the years of my pilgrimagefew in number, evil in condition.

Few in themselves, but none at all to thee, with whom a few years are but as one day. But had they been double to the age of Methuselah, could they have been so much as one minute to eternity? Yea, what are they to me, now that they are past, but as a tale that is told and forgotten?