eye kept continually looking unto and along this scarlet line, throughout this discourse; and oh, may both minister and people be kept continually looking unto and along this scarlet line, and thus be kept under its sweet constraints, bindings, and influences. Thus it is my earnest prayer that God the Son, by imparting his blessed Spirit, may take this cord and bind it around our souls, and waft them up at this time into the third heavens, that we, like the prophet, while mounting up in the chariot of love, may let our mantles of earthly affections, gods, and pleasures, fall to the earth, 'forgetful of the things which are behind, and press forward to the things which are before.' O ye sons and daughters of God and the Lamb, behold this scarlet line, bind it around your hearts by faith, for upon this hangs your eternal all. It has throttled the devil, it has pulled out the sting of death, and fastened the head and the members so blessedly together, that neither death nor hell, sin or the grave,_can ever separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus.' It is strong enough and long enough to flog every thief out of the temple, and to upset the seats of those who sell doves, and the tables of the moneychangers; and, on the other hand, it is both long enough and strong enough to bear the weight of all the election of grace, and extended round the north, the east, west, and south, from pole to pole, wherever there is a strayed sheep or lamb of Christ's to be found upon the face of the earth, and pull him by its constraining influences unto the "Good Shepherd and Bishop of his soul.' There is no lamb of Jesus' fold can stray beyond the limits of this scarlet line, or break down while leaning it; for it was this scarlet line that Abraham rejoiced to see in his day, and which, by the eye of faith, he saw clearly, and was glad. Upon this scarlet line, poor murdering and adulterous David hung when he came to die; and so did Noah, the preacher of righteousness, although he tasted of the blood of the grape; and so did Paul, though he held the coats of those while murdering the martyr Stephen, and persecuted to death the election of grace; so likewise poor Mary Magdalene, though she lost her earthly character, and justly so too, yet she was enabled to swing upon this scarlet line; and a dying thief, though stained with crime, and upon the gallows tree, could look upon it, while Jesus stood crucified by his side; yet his blessed Saviour could exhibit it unto him, and render it precious unto him by giving him, even in the eleventh hour, faith to embrace it. One end in the hand of a crucified God, and the other in the hand of a dying thief, what, dear Christian friends, could separate or equal this! upon Amazing pity, grace unknown, "Yea, all the election of grace, from Adam until now, and from now till the solemn blast of the archangel's trump, that ever have or shall arrive to glory, it must be by resting on, rolling on, and swinging on this scarlet line. O poor sinners, do not be afraid this line will give way. No; only be sealed by faith upon it, and may God the Holy Ghost attend upon you, and lift you this day into the mansions of love. Then all I can say is, Hang on, hold fast, and remember the line is to hold you; and when you cannot hold yourself, or hold this line, the line will hold you; for the righteous shall hold on his way, 'yea, though death and hell obstruct the way.' The Old Bible and the Old Christian. [WRITTEN EXPRESSLY FOR THE EARTHEN VESSEL."] "Behold, I and the children whom the Lord hath given me, are for signs and for wonders in Israel, from the Lord of Hosts, which dwelleth in mount Zion." Isaiah viii. 18. In the course of visitation amongst the poor and the needy in my neighbourhood, I was directed (not by chance, for that word is not comprised in the spiritual vocabulary), to a man in his eighty-sixth year. His room was the scene of neatness and order, and its whole appearance gave credit to the partner of his days; they had seen better ones, so far as temporal estate is concerned, and were now reduced to a state of poverty. The information that on visiting this man I should find a "living Bible," somewhat hastened my footsteps. I confess, that the singularity of the description, heightened within me a feeling closely akin to curiosity. On entering the apartment my eyes alighted on a venerable looking personage indeed. The grey hairs told a tale of many summers in the land of pilgrimage, and the intelligent look, together with a placid smile which ever and anon played upon the features, told plainer than words could express that I was in company of a man of no ordinary stamp. After a formal salutation, and a little "small talk" incidental to my introduction, the subject turned upon spiritual matters. The principles of the glorious doctrines of divine sovereignty were the heart-felt theme of this dear man of God, whilst fleshly religion and creature-merit was condemned in a manner which many would brand as uncharitable, but which I could readily distinguish as the "zeal which was according to knowledge." In the height of his condemnation of false doctrine, he was somewhat harsh-spoken, but a natural warmth of temperament, combined with a burning desire to maintain the honour of Him whose he was, and whom he served, explained it all. At the period of this visit I was "halting between two opinions" on matters of doctrine, and I shall ever remember with heart-felt gratitude the deeply instructive lessons I learned from so valuable a tutor in the school of Christ. He was indeed a "father" to me in its spiritual significance; and whilst as an instrument of Divine appointment, he has my gratitude, a covenant God and Father shall have all the glory. My aged friend was particularly fond of a Bible over two hundred years old, and to which were added free grace notes of a highly instructive character. It is printed in Old English, and somewhat difficult to be read, from its antique style; but after being supplied with his " eyes,"-as he was wont to term his spectacles, he would delight in reading from the inspired volume the passages calculated to inform the ignorant, with a view to my spiritual profit. My dear and aged friend (ah! I bless his memory still; it is hallowed within me!), had a singular gift of "discerning the spirits," and he required but a short interview with a man, ere he could tell that which was of the flesh and that of the Spirit. "Wolves in sheep's clothing" (i.e. mere professors of religion), were regarded by him as far inferior to the worldling, who made no profession, and consequently never disgraced it. Referring to a certain period in his history, when Christ became so endearingly precious to him, he spoke with heavenly emotion of the raptures he enjoyed during this season of blessedness, which unfitted him for business, and everything connected with the transitory things of time; the aged man remarked, "No poor girl could ever have felt half so much as I felt during this time of love; I was indeed sick of love." After this powerful witness of the Spirit of adoption, a settled calm and "the peace which passeth all understanding," succeeded it, and wrought in the subject of our sketch, the conviction that all religion but that of the heart is base and worthless, even as spurious counterfeit is but the imitation of genuine coin. Truly, the children of God are a "peculiar people;" they are indeed "signs and wonders" in Israel! On one occasion when speaking on the freedom of the will, and showing that it is alone by the intervention of Sovereign grace, that man is prevented from filling up the measure of iniquity which ends in spiritual death, our hero asked for his Dictionary, which being brought, he read its definition of the word "free" as follows: "FREE, v.a. to render free; to set at liberty; To rescue from slavery or captivity; to manumit; To loose; to rid from; to clear from anything ill; (Used with of, or from),—to clear from impediments, or obstructions; To banish, to send away, to exempt." Having read this, he endeavoured to show how the law had no dominion over the Christian, in a condemnatory sense, because when Jesus ascended up to heaven "He led captivity captive;" and whom the Son makes free is free indeed. Many were the visits I paid to this aged sufferer, in each of which I could exclaim, from feelings of gladness, "It is good for me to be here." Ah! dear reader, depend upon it, "it is better to go to the house of mourning, than to the house of feasting." In the former there are instructive lessons to be taught, and to be realized; but the latter brings its own bitterness, and alas! how often it proves that the evening 'amusement is the source of a morning's unhappy reflection! 1 The limits of your Journal will not permit a lengthy narrative of dear Mr. Gotch (for that was his name, and he was a near relative of Dr. John Gotch, of Oxford, who was written to repeatedly but would not reply. This, however, may have been the effect of every letter sent to him having miscarried; and it requires no small amount of charity to arrive at such a conclusion as this), so I must draw to a close. On entering his humble little room for the last time; a candle stood on the table flickering in the socket, but by whose feeble light I could see that my dear old friend had the sure appearance on his venerable features of the close approach of death. The wife had temporarily left him to accompany her daughter to her situation after a permissive absence; and it was in the interim that the great enemy had marked him for his own. 争 I freely admit that my nervous temperament was never put to such a test as this before. Speech had nearly failed this saintly sufferer, but as well as he could articulate he praised God and spoke in his usual kindly tone. I remarked to the effect that I should follow him, and he responded in a manner which I have often thought on, "Yes, you will,— but keep close-keep close !" One remark of his I well remember, and it was this:-" "There are but two in's, the one is Christ in you the hope of glory, and the other, 'you in Christ a new creature. The spiritual reader of this brief sketch will agree with me that there is a freshness and a beauty in these passages of Scripture, enhanced as they are, by the knowledge that they sprang from the lips of a dying man. Several friends ministered to the temporal wants of the departed, amongst whom must be recorded Mr. Parks,, the worthy rector of Openshaw, who "lent unto the Lord," by a practical response to an appeal made, and afterwards sent kindly letters of Christian sympathy. Thus ended the days of one who indeed was "a sign and a wonder" unto many, and the last of his lessons was that of showing to those around him how a Christian man could die. He leaves behind him a widow to struggle on with the adverse legacy of poverty! 4, Wakeling Terrace, Barnsbury, N. JOHN HARVEY. CUT FLOWERS FROM SPIRITUAL GARDENS; OR, SEEDTHOUGHTS FROM PLANTS OF GRACE. BY MR. ALFRED PEET, OF SHARNBROOK. TRUTHS of daily use are like bread and salt; whatever else is on, these must be on the board every meal. "I will not be negligent," says Peter, "to put you in remembrance of these things, though ye know them." Adversity, like winter weather, is of use to kill the vermin which the summer of prosperity is wont to breed. The best ground, untilled, soonest runs into rank weeds: such are God's children, overgrown with security, ere they are aware, unless they be well exercised both with God's plough of affliction, and their own industry in meditation. When Jehovah saith, "I will," it is enough; every inferior power must submit and fall before His irresistible arm, which alone is sufficient to execute His own will. A servant of God may be brought very low, but never so low as hell. Nothing may appear but the smoke of ardent desires. Still it may with propriety be said, Was there no fire, there could be no smoke. Christ makes all his ministers true and experimental witnesses. Witnesses of His power, His work, His love, His goodness, and His care. He makes and keeps them sensible of their own impotency. He appoints their work, He directs their course, and holds them as stars in His own right hand. He, as a sun, fills them with Divine light, by the communication of His Spirit, so that they shine both to the salvation of the elect and the condemnation of the reprobate. Both men fearing and devil fearing are very common among us; but it shows our weakness, when through fear of either, we shrink from yielding obedience to God's commands. In the course of our conduct we should not say, Will this be offensive to such and such a person, and consequently be the means of my losing thereby, but will this be pleasing to the Almighty and beneficial to my soul; if so, then through grace, by His permission, I will do it. While we thus fear God, we are warranted to turn every other fear out of door to find lodging where it may. While we remain in this world we must not, nay, we cannot obtain freedom from these four things, namely, tribulation, temptation, persecution, and war. Nay! Shall peril, bonds, or martyrs' stake Shall angels, powers, or death, or life, Cannot those hosts combine and rise- "In all these things " I boldly say THE BITTER CUP. "The cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it ?"-John xviii. 11. 1. Musing of all my Father's love, I've mixed it-drink it up.' My heart did sink-I could no more rejoice. 2. O Father, dost thou love thy child? One day, my child, I said to thee- Pluck'd from a beauteous bow'r: Did you complain? or, take it thankfully? 3. "One day I gave thee pleasant fruit How pleas'd, how grateful you did seem: Thee; faithful may I prove! Your heart was full, with joy your eyes. did beam. 4. That flower was mine-that fruit was mine This cup is mine, And all that's in it comes from me. Forgive my naughty will. But what's the cup; may I look in and see? 5. "You see, my child! You must not see! Christ only saw His destined cup of bitter gall: No, child, believe; Meekly the cup receive, And know that love and wisdom mixed it all." 6. O, Father, must it be? "Yes, child, it must." Then give the needed medicine; Be by my side; Only thy face don't hide; I'll drink it all-it must be good-'tis thine. Christ condemns none, and will not condemn any at the last day; it is the law condemns sinners, and Christ as Judge, will only pronounce the sentence of the law. |