ought, to all eternity; for although I was helped to tell to those around me, in some degree, how bountifully the Lord had dealt towards me, yet I longed to do it more; and I knew that in heaven alone poor redeemed sinners can rightly esteem and worthily celebrate the praises of that precious Lord Jesus Christ who has brought them from darkness to light, who delivered them from the curse of that law which they had violated, and saved them with an everlasting salvation. plied to my soul by the Holy Spirit, and, and bless my precious Redeemer as I that God the Father sees no sin in His people worthy of eternal death, because He looks upon them in and through His perfectly righteous and precious Son; and, according to His own plan, He can be just, and the justifier of them that believe in Christ Jesus. The other text was from the 8th chapter of Romans, 35th, 36th, 37th verses, beginning with, "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ ?" and ending with, "Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors, through Him that loved us." What a sweet thought it is that nothing -even sin, that worst of all evils-can ever separate the redeemed soul from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Those two sermons, under the preaching of which I was much refreshed, seemed like a preparation for what followed. I thought they were remarkably suitable for the last that I should hear; for neither myself or anyone about me thought it possible, according to human appearance, that I could live many days. The Lord sustained and supported my soul, by bringing many texts of Scripture to my mind, and hymns that were suitable and profitable for me to meditate upon. The Lord made me perfectly willing to leave this world of sin and misery; and if I knew my own thoughts, the chief desire of my soul was to depart and be with Christ, where I should be for ever free from sin, and where I should be enabled to praise Contrary, however, to my expectation, the Lord, in His wise counsel, saw fit to restore me, and bring me, as it were, from the borders of the grave, and gave me a larger portion of health than I had for many years enjoyed. In this sickness I experienced much of the Lord's faithfulness, love, mercy, and grace, by feeling the truth of His promises, "that as thy day thy strength shall be;" that He rests in His love; that "He will have mercy upon whom He will have mercy ;" and that "by grace we are saved." Truly I can say, the Lord made all my bed in my sickness; and when tribulation abounded, I found that consolation much more abounded. And I humbly trust I shall not be allowed to forget God's goodness to me, but that I may remember it in time to come, as an encouragement to trust in the Lord at all times, and to hope in His name, and to be thankful for the great things He has done for my soul. THE FALL OF MAN. ALL men might justly be left wallowing in that miserable condition to which they were reduced by the apostacy of Adam; and God might have passed by the whole race of man. The holiness of God is not blemished by His secret will to suffer sin to enter into the world. To say, God doth will sin, as He doth other things, is to deny His holiness; to say it entered without anything of His will, is to deny His omnipotence. In the fall of man, God did not hold the reins strict upon Satan to restrain him from laying the bait, nor restrain Adam from swallowing the bait. God left Satan to his malice of tempting, and Adam to his liberty of resisting. Some people, it is feared, follow the gospel as a shark follows a ship-for a dinner.-Madan. IS THIS AFFLICTION ACCIDENTAL, OR FROM MY FATHER'S HAND? WHEN a crown is made which is to encircle the brow of an earthly monarch, gems which have been most carefully prepared and polished, and gold which has been many times in the fining-pot, are used. No diamond "in the rough," nor the smallest portion of unrefined gold, would be allowed a place in such a crown; and if such care is taken that the diadem of a mortal king shall be in every way a proper ornament for a regal brow, let us not wonder that the jewels, designed for the "crown of rejoicing," for the "King eternal, immortal, invisible," must be cut, and ground, and polished, ere they shall shine with the necessary resplendance; nor that the gold which shall form the setting of those jewels, shall be seven times purified. The refiner of the gold will not leave his precious metal to be wasted or lost; but will watch and wait until every particle of dross is removed, and until it is so pure that his own image is reflected therein and the lapidary will not finish the polishing process of his rubies and diamonds, until they reflect back the sun's rays from every point. Nor will Jesus lose sight of His precious jewels, nor of His gold, or His silver, until the day when He shall appear to make them up; when they shall be a "crown of glory in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of their God." This refining and polishing process is often very long and painful to bear, yet in the midst of the hottest furnace we are safely watched over by our great heavenly Refiner, who sometimes grants us a glimpse of our future distinction, which is even to adorn His own glorious brow, there to remain for ever (not as the crowns of earthly monarchs, which are worn awhile, and then laid aside to become dull and tarnished); and at the very longest the period is but short ere this happy consummation shall succeed to the manifold and various afflictions of the saints of God-afflictions which, although they are grievous to the flesh, are necessary for us for several reasons: for God's glory, for our own sanctification, and because it is the will of our heavenly Father that through much The tribulation we should enter the kingdom. He hath appointed us unto afflictions (1 Thess. iii. 3). What a precious thought is this-"He hath appointed us;" and remember, not only "appointed us unto afflictions," but appointed the afflictions for us. It is not mere chance or accident which subjects us to the bitter sufferings through which we are sometimes called to pass; it is no accidental burden which weighs us down to the very earth; but the appointed trial. very distress has now come upon us, and at the very moment in which it was foreordained by our covenant-keeping God that it should come to pass. And what a God is ours in such a moment as this! "He knoweth our frame, He remembereth that we are dust;" and He will not afflict us beyond that we are able to bear: and when surrounded by suffering and distress, His grace, which has ever been, shall still be sufficient for us. The omnipotent arm is never weary, but ever underneath for our support, and outstretched for our defence; the sympathizing ear is never closed against the cries and prayers of a chosen people, but ever listening to the sighing of the contrite heart. The omniscient eye is ever watching over the sheep of the pasture. Behold, He that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep." 66 Think for a moment of the peculiar relationship existing between God and His people. He is their Father, and they are His sons and daughters, chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world. There cannot be a closer or more tender relationship than that existing between a parent and his children, in this world; the father loves his child, and it is because he loves him, and because he is his child, that he inflicts chastisement upon him, that he may become more pure and more obedient. But although the love of an earthly parent is strong and abiding, how all earthly love, and the most tender of ties, sink into nothingness when compared with that brimming ocean of almighty love which is and has been eternally flowing out to the child of God. This ocean is fathomless and boundless, and is ever full when but look right away from all temporal things as the causes, only regarding them as the instruments in the hand of God, how much more of quiet and of comfort should we enjoy. Oh, for stronger faith to penetrate these dark clouds of trouble, and to fix our eyes unwaveringly on our loving and all-wise Father, who will never appoint us any trial which shall not in the end bring fresh glory to Himself, and work out the sanctification of His children. earthly streams run dry. So, because to increase our distress; if we could our heavenly Father loves us, and because we are His children, "He chastens us for our profit, that we may become partakers of His holiness." Chastisement, then, is a proof of sonship; and surely, with this blessed truth on our mind, we ought to rejoice rather than complain when we feel the hand of the Lord upon us for "the Lord scourgeth every son whom He receiveth." And yet, how often are we ready to sink under our trials, and to cry out, in bitterness of spirit, "Hath God forgotten to be gracious? hath He in anger shut up His tender mercies ?" Even those of His dear children who have trusted His name for years, and who have found Him ever faithful who promiseth, and have in numberless instances experienced His mighty delivering power, are sometimes tempted to cry out, with David, "I shall perish one day by the hand of Saul." But no enemy, though he be ten times as formidable as Saul was to David, shall cause us to perish, or pluck us from the everlasting hand of our great Shepherd. We too often look upon our afflictions as arising from various earthly causes; this only tends Let us then ever seek to show forth His praise, by our patience under afflictions; not repining at the hand which has kindled the flame, but praising and blessing Him who hath chosen us to be among that third part which He will bring, but it shall be through the fire (Zech. xiii. 9). And let us look forward with stronger confidence and brighter hope to that time, when, completely purged from every spot and stain of sin, and made perfect even as He is perfect, we shall be as pillars in the glorious heavenly home prepared for us by our God, to go no more out (Rev. iii. 12). Stratford. H. E. W. SATAN. 66 We FEW are even the Christians who are souls. And, on the other hand, the multitudinous forms of religion, the various modes adopted now-a-days to win souls; the unusual bustle in the way of preaching; the rage manifested for religious excitement; the awful falsehoods told from many platforms and pulpits; the shocking blasphemy of many calling themselves "Revivalists," induce me to stamp this age as one in which Satan exultingly triumphs. Mark you, it matters not to Satan whether men are civilized or uncivilized-whether they hold by "a dreary Deism," or “a mystic Pantheism," or "a spurious Rationalism," or a debased Superstition;" his ends are accomplished if he can lead away the mind from the Scriptures of truth, interpreted by the Holy Spirit. On the one hand, the discoveries of the microscope and telescope, the discoveries in geology and astronomy, in chemistry and botany-(all good in themselves) are turned by Satan into a fearful engine for the delusion of Now, I am bold to say, the following is the use that Satan makes of both the operations amongst the poor, uneducated, facts just alluded to, viz., the discoveries immoral, debased, and degraded memof science, and the wide spread of bers of the human family; but he exerreligious profession. "It is possible," cises a fearful influence amongst the he suggests, "that as such and such highly educated, gifted, moral, and even discoveries have lately been made in philanthropic classes. Pride is as useful geology and astronomy, &c.-discoveries a channel for Satan to work in as vice. which great and good men, long dead, "Ye shall be as gods," was the fatal never dreamed of such and such dis- I sentence that overcame his first victims; coveries will by-and-by be made in "intellect without God" is securing to religion as will prove the utter falsity of him, and has secured thousands since. the present or past system.' And again, "There are so many opinions, so many creeds, and so many men of good intentions, agreeing to differ upon matters of religion now-a-days, that it evidently is a thing of no consequence what a man believes or disbelieves, so that he is sincere." "What!" insinuates Satan, "would you for a moment suspect the religion of that self-denying man, that amiable woman, that zealous minister ?" I can tell my reader, that I myself have been thus tried and tempted; I have literally been tossed to and fro by what are called "large, liberal, catholic, and noble thoughts;" I have been almost driven to despair, to deism, to an utter rejection of all religion, by such suggestions and temptations; so that I am a witness worthy of some credit in this matter. Hear, then, what I have to say. The Lord has brought me to see that it is possible for the wisest, the most self-denying, zealous, amiable, and gifted man to be under the influence of Satan. It is possible for a man to weep in the pulpit, to cry aloud in prayer; to be in season and out of season, proclaiming God's name and Christ's name, heaven, hell, and the value of immortal souls, and be under the influence of Satan! It matters not to Satan what a man preaches, or what religion he professes; yea, it matters not to him whether a man believes or disbelieves in Satanic influence, so that he holds not God's truth in his heart. What can it signify to Satan whether he can induce a man to soar upon the wings of pride, the pride of intellect, and presumptuously place himself beside Him who has declared that there shall be no boasting in His presence; or induce him to grovel in the purlieus of sensuality, and breathe out his soul in blasphemy? Nothing. It is all one to him so that he secures his victim. What can it signify to Satan whether he can overcome by a denial of all religion, or by the profession of a false religion? Yea, what can it signify to Satan whether he succeeds by the profession of a false religion, or by the profession (when it is nothing more) of the true faith? Nothing-literally nothing. His cry is for souls. He is a raging and a roaring lion, going to and fro throughout the earth, seeking whom he may devour, and can be as an angel of light when it suits his accursed purposes. Oh! reader, beware of Satan and Satanic influence. "Prove all things, and hold fast that which is good," not merely through the testimony of your teachers, but through the testimony of the Word of God. Believe me, that never was there a day in which it was more needful than the present, to ponder over the lesson taught by Christ,-"Judge not according to appearances, but judge righteous judgment." Even really converted men seem to be carried away by the specious appearances of the present day. The words of Christ seem to me to be more ominous than ever in this day of preaching and lecturing, and forcing religion That Satan exists is as clear as that upon the attention of the masses,God exists. If the heavens declare the "Lo, He is here! Lo, He is there!" glory of God, and the firmament showeth But, oh! I warn you! Watch, and be His handywork, sin, and misery, and sober-sober in judgment, sober in evil proclaim the existence of Satan. trusting, sober in believing what you The Bible, from Genesis to Revelation, hear. What delusion there must be witnesses to his existence, personality, abroad! Sometimes I have noticed an and power. He does not confine his entire column of a newspaper filled with The Methodist believes in many essential truths, just as the Papist, but he also believes in the power of free-will to do good, and human merit, so that the truth is rendered nugatory. announcements from different preachers, | Atonement, &c. ; but he believes in the of different sects and persuasions, of worship and intercession of saints and their intention to preach upon the suc- angels, &c.; so that the truth is rendered ceeding Sabbath, upon the sublime mys-nugatory. teries of the gospel; and as I have glanced down that long list, in which were the names of Church of England men, of Presbyterians, of Baptists, Methodists, Unitarians, Swedenborgians, Lutherans, Calvinists, Ranters, and I The Unitarian believes in the unity know not what, I have involuntarily of God, which is an essential truth, and exclaimed, "Lord! surely all these can- though he eliminates from his system not be thy ministers; all these cannot the divinity of Christ, and the personpreach the truth as it is in Jesus; many ality of the Holy Spirit, and the Atoneof them must be adventurers and impos-ment, he substitutes a very high morality, tors! Which are they? How are thy and profound reverence for Jehovah. people to know? Or, is it a fact that The truth in his case, too, is rendered they all are true and genuine Christians, nugatory. though differing in church discipline, or in their mode of expression ?" And the answer invariably coming, has been, "All thy children shall be taught of the Lord." Then I have seen that Satan has been at work with his devices; and I have been led to cry unto the Lord more energetically, "Lord, teach me; Lord, keep me; for I can neither teach nor keep myself!" I believe it to be a fact, that though Satan is neither omnipotent nor omniscient, he is endued with tremendous power, and is wonderfully subtle, skilful, and ingenious. Though he is not acquainted with our thoughts, he knows that man has a conscience, and that that conscience must have a religion of some sort. Accordingly, he provides men with a counterfeit religion, taking care to infuse into it as much truth as will appease misgiving. In this respect, as has been well said, "he is like a dishonest chemist, who, whilst he professes to sell a certain acid for the restoration of health, takes care, before it leaves his laboratory, to mix with it a neutralizing chalk." The object of the man is to keep the patient on his books. The medicine does neither good nor harm. So is it with Satan, the truth he gives is mixed with a sufficient quantity of error to render it nugatory. It does the victim no good, it does himself no harm. I might illustrate this device of Satan for you thus, viz : The Papist believes in many essential truths, such as the doctrine of the Trinity, the divinity of Christ, the The Ranter believes in many of the essentials of truth, and professes to have an intimate acquaintance with the operations of the Spirit, but he confounds animal excitement with the Spirit's witness, and raves in presumption and blasphemy. The truth in his case, too, is rendered nugatory. The High Churchman believes in nearly all the essential truths of God's Word, but he believes in something more besides, such as the absolute efficacy of the sacraments, and is ready to pronounce an anathema upon those who smile at the absurdity. The truth in his case, too, is rendered nugatory. The Calvinist holds most glorious truths, but when imperfectly taught, he is just as decidedly under the delusion of Satan as any other religionist; for he will deny human responsibility, and confound predestination with fatalism; repudiating, too, all chastisement for sin. The truth, in his case, also, is rendered nugatory. It is so with all who are not really "taught of God." Satan has provided them with a counterfeit religion, a religion with a sufficient quantum of truth in it to appease the conscience, but a religion which, when tested by God's Holy Word, will be declared to be a Satanic sham! I warn my reader, then, against the devices of Satan. It is his policy to keep himself as much from public notice as possible. He is never better pleased than when men deny his existence, or when they are zealous for a counterfeit religion, or for a part of God's |