A Strong Consolation. MINIATURE SERMONS FOR THE PEOPLE, BY SAMUEL J. BANKS, "A strong consolation,"-Heb. vi. 18. THE Consolation of Israel is the only true consolation for the rich saint or poor sinner, i.e., for the true believer in, or anxious inquirer after, Christ as their only Saviour. The short text before us speaks of "a strong consolation." Reader, I pray you follow the remarks thereon; and may the Holy Spirit lead you to trace your full interest in its spiritual blessings; and if I am permitted in this humble way to impart any portion of comfort to those who really desire it, all the glory and honour shall be ascribed to Him from whom all blessings flow, and to whom most assuredly all the praise belongs. 46 Poor sinner, perhaps your language under your present feelings is no hope;" but as I hear you give expression to this, and a number of kindred thoughts respecting yourself, I feel I have before me one who not only needs, but for whom this " strong consolation" has been actually provided; for he who feels himself sufficient needs not the sufficiency of another. He who thinks himself quite healthy does not feel the need of the physician: He who feels satisfied that he is walking in the right path seeks no direction from any guide; but you are not thus self-confident, your state is altogether different; yea, your cry more corresponds with that of the poor prodigal, "I perish with hunger," than that of the Laodicean Church, "I am rich and have need of nothing." To the latter such consolation would not be needed; but to the hungry soulthe one who needs help, and guidance, and all in Christ, and sees his own character in the Publican's, and whose heart presents that piercing cry, "God be merciful to me a sinner"-to such an one every bitter thing which tends to bring relief is sweet indeed. Your case is sad, your sins are many, your follies great; you need much, but deserve nothing but condemnation; yet, hearken, God deals not as man, but like Himself; this is His word, "If any man thirst let him come unto me and drink;" and, "Herein is love; not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins," ie., the God of love sent the Son of His love to manifest the greatness of His love, by bearing in His own body on the tree " our sins," for the very purpose that by His stripes poor wounded sin-sick souls might be healed; and is not this "a strong consolation ?" But I would not have you trust on any broken reed, or build your hopes on any sandy foundation; this man in his natural state is sure to do. "God forbid" that I should direct the hope of any poor sinner (I would be instrumental in setting right) to anything short of a true, and hence the only foundation, which is Jesus Christ. Just read those beautiful words in connection with the text, designed to comfort "the heirs of promise," from the 17th to the 20th verse, and notice the two pillars on which this strong consolation rests which is "set before us." It is well that the man of business should seek after such transactions which, as far as he can judge, will insure success. It is right that the "When about seven years of age, I was kicked violently by a bullock, and severely injured, and but for the blessing of the Lord, must have lost my life. It came to pass that a team of bullocks was standing before the house in which I lived, and, as I went up and stroked one of them, it kicked me with great power. From this age to about twelve I remember three other things wherein the hand of Providence was also very conspicuous in the preservation of my life. The first was, while I was in the act of catching a horse, so as to have a ride, it kicked me with similar, or even greater violence than the bullock; and again, my life being spared seemed as a special blessing of the Almighty. The next circumstance was, while bathing with some other boys, in a certain pond, I got a sheep-gate and put it into the water, and then laid myself upon it in order to swim or float to the opposite side; but when some distance on the water the gate turned over, and got me underneath it till I was almost drowned. How I was saved from the jaws of death at this time I cannot now remember; but it was a very narrow escape, for which I do wish to give all the glory to the covenant-keeping God, who hath said, 'Preserved in Jesus Christ, and called' (St. Jude v. 1). And the third thing was, as I was in the act of drawing up a pail of water from the well, through my being too short so as easily to reach the winch when at the top of its round, it slipped over my fingers, and flew back, giving me, in its progress, a very severe rap on my head, that knocked me backwards, and cut my head open, and for a little while stunned me. This was another very narrow escape from death; but by the blessing of the Lord, I recovered at this time also. Oh, what care is marvellously manifested by our covenant-keeping God towards His creatures! How tenderly doth He watch over His people, even from the womb. Blessed God! Well may my soul, in reflecting upon His goodness, break forth into praise, 'Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting, for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men' (Psalm cvi. 48; cvii. 8)." "Thus, you see, my dear reader, while we are living as without God, going forth from the womb to do evil, and to eternal destruction, His hand is over us in great mercy. This brings my age up to about twelve years, from which, to the age of fifteen, I went to work as a bricklayer's labourer." One other paragraph; and then unless our readers get the volume at Mr. Collingridge's, they must wait until we return to the life of Burch again. "I will here relate another very wonderful deliverance for me in providence, which happened while I was with the bricklayers. Being very fond of going up the new chimneys when they were built, the men that I worked with resolved upon a plan to sicken me for so doing, which was this they pretended to lay a wager that I could not go up to the top of the chimney in such a given time, and then asked me if I thought I could. I answered them in the affirmative, saying that I could, when they immediately pressed me to try. I therefore went and got into the chimney; but, no sooner was I out of their sight, than they threw some straw that they had at hand into the fire-place, and upon this some brimstone, and then set it on fire. But, here again, Providence was on my side very specially, for I was nearly at the top of the chimney before the suffocating stench reached me; nevertheless, it came up so powerfully that, to prevent being stifled, I was compelled or driven out of the chimney, and was obliged to slide down the roof, and then fall to the ground from the eaves, which happily being only about the distance of eight feet, and the ground being rather soft, prevented the fall from hurting me much. If I had not been so near to the top, the sulphurous scent must have stopped my breath, and then I must have fallen into the fire, and so might have lost my life; and this would not have been all, my soul must have dropped into hell. This was another token of the dear Lord's long-suffering mercy towards me; yet, so blind is man by nature, that he imputes it all to chance; it alarms for a little while, and then all wears off again, and he goes on in his old course, and forgets all about it. Thus it was with me, none of these providential mercies had the least effect upon my dead, stupid heart; but still, the remembrance of the goodness of God in sparing my life so often has been in some measure profitable to me since I have been called by Sovereign grace to newness of life, a 'life hid with Christ in God' (Col. iii. 3)." Two Assertions and Two Questions. BY JOHN CORBITT. "For the Lord of Hosts hath purposed, and who shall disannul it? and His hand is stretched out, and who shall turn it back ?"-Isaiah xiv. 27. THIS text contains two positive assertions and two important questions, concerning God's purpose and power and man's impotency. This important title (the Lord of Hosts) stamps the subject with the highest dignity. The Lord of Hosts, in a natural sense, is the commander-in-chief who is supposed to be wise, and is vested with unlimited command, and all under him must submit to his authority. But however strong and wise the commander-in-chief may be he is only a fallible man, for disease may seize his body or mind, and death may seize all his army, as it did Sennacherib's, and then he fails in all, and his title is lost with his host. But the Lord of Hosts in my text, our Commander-in-Chief, is not liable to any such change; He is able to keep Himself and all His hosts in a perfect state of life and health; for He speaks and it is done, He commands and it stands fast for ever. The Lord of Hosts mentioned in my text is the Lord of lords, the King of kings, the Ruler of princes, and the Captain of our salvation; the Lord over the hosts of angels, men, and devils; angels fly at His command, devils flee at His bidding, and hosts of men die beneath His frown. It cannot but be supposed that the allwise God had a purpose and a design in all He does; it would be worse than childish to suppose He had not, and madness to assert it, because that supposes inability both in the wisdom and power of God; and to own a God that is deficient either in wisdom or power is as bad as acknowledging the Pope. And to suppose Him that made a covenant, ordered in all things and sure, and chose His elect in His Son, wrote their names in the Lamb's book of life, and gave Christ to die for them, as doing so without purpose and design is the climax of ignorance. capitalist should invest his money where he can have needful security. But how much more important that the soul's eternal interest should be placed in secure hands where it can never perish. All this is presented to us in the Holy Scriptures; and in the precious words you have been referred to Jehovah is represented as seeking clearly to show to such refuge-seekers how secure He has made salvation for them. See how firm it stands, how sure it rests on these "two immutable things"-His word and His oath. O sinner, dost thou not see thine own picture in the manslayer fleeing to the City of Refuge with the avenger of blood at his heels, hasting, panting, longing for entrance within the gates; and now do you see his eager footsteps reach them, which fly open to receive him, and again close securing him from the power of the destroyer. Such a refuge, but infinitely more glorious, las God, by His grace so rich and free, provided for you, while Jesus Christ, with transcendent love, stands out and says to such as you who have fled for refuge, “I am the way;" "And him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out." Yet, look again and see, your consolation rests upon His power; His Omnipotence shall save you. "I will bless thee," said God to Abraham. From this day will I bless you is God's powerful truth to every sincere seeker after salvation, "Fear not." I can see much, very much cause for fear when man rests on anything of his own, and puts his trust in any other refuge but Christ, since "Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the Lord;" here is no consolation. But on the arm of Jehovah you may securely rest, for time and eternity; and there you have nothing to fear, you may listen to His word, you may trust in His strength; and there, and only there, find a strong consolation. Has any light shone upon thy soul? Do you see any beauty in God's great refuge? Does the thought give you any hope of safety for your soul in Christ? Then surely this is a strong consolation. To know yourself so helpless, sinful, needy, and Himself so "mighty," "holy," "rich," and saving to such, is the best news that can reach the sinner. In this provision see how secure, how full, how mighty, are the acts of love, to raise the soul (so deeply fallen) to such heights of eternal blessedness. Happy for thee if thou canst say as sweetly sung the poet― "Amidst temptations sharp and long, "The Gospel bears my spirits up, A faithful and unchanging God, Nor shall this consolation ever fail. Many of the blessings of the present life are valuable, and should be received with gratitude. But mutability is written on each of earth's blessings; not so with those that are heavenly; they are designed to give strong consolation when every time comfort has passed away, and the only change to which they can be subject is that in degree, from glory to glory," even from that which now mixeth with " our light affliction," which is but for a moment, to that "far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory." You will need no other, you will find none other of the slightest use in your great need. 66 66 66 This is that which has the " promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come." This life must shortly close, for it is but a span," a vapour,' а dream,” a tale;" but here is true consolation,—this mortal must (thus united to, and interested in Christ as the only, but all-sufficient Saviour) put on immortality; and though now bearing the image of the earthly shall shortly bear the heavenly. Death, which often frights us, shall be swallowed up in victory, and the eternal gates of everlasting glory open for our joyful reception— "There shall we see His face, And never, never sin; There, from the rivers of His grace, Drink endless pleasure in." Let me in conclusion ask you three questions Have you been taught what you are? Have you seen and felt what Christ is to the helpless sinner? Have you, by grace Divine, been permitted to drink some sweet draughts of such heavenly blessings ? If so, you have already known some, and shall yet know infinitely more of this "STRONG CONSOLATION." The Bitterness and the Blessedness of Grace in the Heart. A SERMON PREACHED BY THE LATE MR. ARTHUR TRIGGS. THERE are many things that will produce sorrow, when our desires, plans, and schemes, are frustrated. Paul assayed to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit suffered him not. I do not mean to say Paul was sorry about it, but I quote it to shew you how the plans of God's people may be frustrated. Now if it had not been the will of the Lord, I never should have left Plymouth, but it was of God; my desire and intentions were to live and die with God's church at Plymouth; but no, said God, you shall go to London for the comfort of My people there. Nevertheless, looking into the Word of the Lord, we see many such like things. Here is another instance that took place without sorrow, but the dear woman was obliged to preach a nice sermon to David. Ah! saith he, "I will cut them off before to-morrow, we have sent for bread, we have taken especial care of all he had, we will kill him for his unkindness," that was David's plan. What was the Lord's? That Nabal should die a natural death. And I do think if you have enemies the best way is to wait on the Lord, and never attempt to injure or speak evil of them; their time will come like Pharaoh's; but no evil shall befal a child of God. We will now come to ourselves for a moment. How many times have you planned something that should turn out prosperously, yet instead of prosperty, God may have surrounded you with deep adversity, and you have been constrained to cry from the heart to God that He would send prosperity? What do you mean? Not only temporal prosperity, but prosperity of soul; when such is the case, it is like to how Job expresses it, "When the dew rested all night on his branches ;" and when the showers come down, vegetation is made manifest, then we spring up L |