He is, but I cannot say positively that He is. I do not feel fully assured upon the question. But he goes on meditating until he realizes what he tells us in the 1st versenamely, that the Lord heard.

"I have considered the days of old, the years of ancient times. I call to remembrance my song in the night: I commune with mine own heart: and my spirit made diligent search."

When Jacob was about to return from Padan-aram to his father Isaac, indeed, when he was returning I should say, he pleaded a promise which the Lord had given him twenty years before that. And so it is with all Christians; they are obliged sometimes to go back to the days of their youth, and remember their sorrow in the night even so far back as that, to get something like a comfortable evidence that they belong to the Lord; and it is a privilege to do so. Now if we believe the doctrine that we may be children of God to-day, and not children of God to-morrow, that we may be converted and then unconverted again; if we believe this, I do not see what good it would be to call to remembrance the past manifestations of the Lord's mercy. But it is our comfort to know that it is the truth, that he who is a child of God to-day is a child of God for ever. If a man be a Christian once, he is a Christian for ever. And therefore, the Lord's people may safely call to mind the former manifestations of His loving kindness as evidences of present interest in eternal things.

"Will the Lord cast off for ever? and will he be favourable no more? Is his merey clean gone for ever? doth his promise fail for evermore? Hath God forgotten to be gracious? hath he in anger shut up his tender mercies? And I said, this is—"

my belief, my sentiment, my religion. Why, say you, it does not read like that.

But it would have done if he had been a Wesleyan. People that are free willers, that is the way it would have read. I have sinned away the Lord's mercy, and the Lord's grace, and the Lord's promise; I have changed His love into hate, and I have changed His grace into grief, and changed His Gospel into law and this is my creed. No; the

to be lame with one foot, but to be lame as Mephibosheth was, with two feet, is very bad. Now then, the Psalmist knew that his religion was a living, supporting, self-acting, imperishable religion; and when he was thus exercised, through the weaknesses of his nature, as to the departure of the Lord's mercy, he sums it up thus :

"This is my infirmity: but I will remember the years of the right hand of the most High."

That is, I will remember God after the order of the man of his right hand, after the order of the mediation of Jesus Christ.

A THORN IN THE FLESH.

To

DEAR BROTHER IN CHRIST,-How mysterious are the ways of God! A dear friend at Bristol asked me whether I knew you, to which I replied, I saw you once, but believe my late husband knew you better than I did. I also told him I had one of your books lent me, called "Faithful Records of Jehovah's Mercies;" but before I could read much of it, it was taken away. my great surprise, my friend sent me one of your books, and in it I found savoury meat, such as my soul loveth. Indeed, I had a feast of fat things. When you speak in your book of what God has done for his people, I can but rejoice, feeling that I know how to weep with those that weep, as well as rejoice with those who do rejoice. You, my dear brother and sister, have been brought through deep affliction and severe trials; and, in some of your heartrending sorrows, you pourtray my

own condition of anguish as much as though you had really stood by and witnessed it. O my brother, when I read your soliloquy on the death of your dear children, I, and my dear girls, were all bathed in tears. On the 8th of January, 1866, a dear boy of mine went to London, where his brother-in-law obtained for him a comfortable situation. Letter after letter stated that he was well and happy. On the 7th of September, however, he was taken ill, and on the 10th he returned home. The doctor ordered him to bed immediately, when he continued to get worse every day. Oh, my brother, I think you can enter into my feelings, when I saw my beloved boy so ill, and to all appearance, without a change of heart. I prayed and wrestled with God for the salvation of my dear child; and told the Lord he had bidden me call upon him in the day of trouble; and that none knew so well as He did, the extent of my trouble; for my soul was in an agony. The Thursday before he died, he called out "Mother." I asked him what he wanted. He said, "My father called me;" but I could not understand what he said, because as you know, I am deaf. He again said, "Mother, I hate sin." I ejaculated, "Thank God." On Lord's day morning, Satan came in upon him like a flood; and, as the dear boy said, he had set upon him with all his host. Ah, my brother, it was dreadful to be with him for about an hour, while the conflict lasted; but glory be to God, my dear boy cried out, "He is gone." He also cried out three times "I am saved." After this, he seemed very happy, and said to his sister Charlotte, "Look at that beautiful angel! Her beauty will never fade away! There!" he said, "there is the white flag of peace!" He lay all the Lord's day afternoon in prayer and praise, when his voice became so much changed. that we could not understand all he said. I stood by him, bathing his head; but did not think my dear James was so near death. He died without a struggle or a groan; and I have the happiness to believe that he is gone to that rest

which God has prepared for all them that love Him. He died at the age of thirteen years, greatly beloved; for he was kind and affectionate to all who knew him. I used to say that my boy was given me to protect me in my old age. But the Lord's ways are not our ways, nor are His thoughts our thoughts. The Lord has been pleased to take away the desire of my eyes with a stroke; and 1 long for the time to be able submissively to say, "Thy will be done." I have four daughters, two of whom, the doctor says, are paralysed! What is the cause of Mrs. Taylor being a cripple? Give my Christian love to her. Yours truly, S. MASON. Yoxford, Suffolk, January 28th, 1867.

had

DEAR BROTHER BANKS,-I purposed writing to you for the April Vessel. But it pleased our heavenly Father to afflict me very sorely, so much so that for some days it seemed as if my pilgrimage was nearly ended. But He has had mercy on me, and in some measure restored me. I have not been able to preach since the 17th of March, except a short sermon last Lord's day morning, April 14, from Prov. xvii. 17. "A friend loveth at all times."

And what rendered the affliction more severe was the Lord being pleased to hold back the face of His throne. All was darkness and sable night when all the wild beasts of the forest did creep forth. O what a burden of guilt, fears, and sorrows I had to endure for six or seven days! It seemed as if all hell was let loose against me. My own conscience brought long-forgotten sins to remembrance, presenting to my view many hypocritical acts and wanderings of mind in the solemn service of God. It appeared as if my religion had all been merely in the flesh; and the Comforter did not speak a consoling word to my poor, tired, distressed, tempest-tossed soul. Deep

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called unto my deep, until hope seemed to be about expiring, and awful despair to take possession of my heart. My body almost exhausted, and my poor mind bewildered, I was falling into a slumber, when I was suddenly aroused as by a sweet and gentle voice saying, "Call upon me in the day of trouble, I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.' Also the following:-"I shall not die but live, and declare the works of the Lord." I felt a power attending these words which led my mind sweetly and softly out in prayer, and enabled me to plead the divine promise. I felt a little reviving in my soul, and hoped the Lord would fulfil his word in my experience. The pain of body returned with increased violence, so that I thought I could not survive much longer. Satan rushed at me with his fiery darts. In an agony of body and distress of soul, all I could say was, "Lord, fulfil thy promise, and send me deliverance from Satan, sin, and self, so that my soul may glorify thee, and if consistent with thy will, relieve my poor body from these severe pains.' It

pleased the Lord in a few hours to grant me my request, and send me help from His holy hill. The severity of the pain abated. My mind was brought into a calm feeling, and I trust I could praise the Lord. From that time (March 24), I have been slowly recovering. Last Lord's day, Brother John Skipworth, of Billinghay, preached for me. The Lord was in our midst. I hope (D.V.) to preach next Lord's day. The friends have been very affectionate and kind. I should have re-written this, but I have already had to take the part of three days to do this. So I hope, my dear brother will accept it as it isoverlooking all imperfections, as a token of unabating Christian affection, from his sincerely, in the bonds of the Gospel of Christ, DAVID WILSON, 42, Wormgate, Boston, April 23rd.

P.S.-I had the pleasure of baptizing four young persons, two males and two females-in the General Baptist Chapel, kindly lent us for the the occasion, on the 28th of February last.

THE CROSS OF CHRIST.

BY SIR MATTHEW HALE.

OUR Saviour chose that time to die, when the passover was slain; that time wherein Adam was created, the sixth day of the week at evening. He chose that time for his body to rest in the grave, and his soul to rest in paradise, wherein his Father rested from all the great work of creation, the seventh day of the week; and he chose that day to rise again which his Father chose to begin the creation, the first day of the week; that the same day might bear the inscription of the creation, and the restitution of the world; and that, as in that day the Lord God brought light out of darkness, so this light, the light that enlighteneth every man that comes into the world, should in it arise from the land of darkness, the grave. "This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it." The time of the day wherein our Lord arose, was very early in the morning of the first day of the week, as it began to dawn, when it was yet dark, or scarcely full light; and the manner of it was full of wonder and astonishment. An angel from heaven comes down to draw the curtain of our Saviour's grave, and with an earthquake rolls away the stone that covered it; the keepers who had watch, fully observed the order of their commanders, were stricken with astonishment, and became as dead. Our Lord, who had power to lay down his life, and power to take it up again, re-assumes his body, which, though it hath tasted death, yet had not seen corruption, and ariseth, and thereby proclaimed the completing of our redemption ; and therefore it was not possible He should be longer holden of it. It is a victory over death and the grave for us. When our Lord raised up Lazarus, he came forth of the grave bound hand and foot with graveclothes. Though he was for the present rescued from death by the power of Christ, yet he must still be subject to it; he is revived, but yet riseth with the bonds of death about him; he must die again; but when our Lord riseth, Heshakes off his grave-clothes, the linen that wrapped

his hody in one place, and the linen that bound his head in another. Our Lord being risen, dieth no more: death hath no more power over Him.

"BELIEVE ON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST AND THOU SHALT BE SAVED." -Mark you, this is no wholesale and universal proclamation, or announcement! Nay-it is a most special answer to a question which the SPIRIT of God had brought forth out of the Philippian jailor's soul, when that troubled sinner feared the wrath of God would sink him into eternal death. With what agony he cried out "WHAT MUST I DO ΤΟ BE SAVED?" And I may add, with what divine authority did Paul direct the poor fellow to the Person and Cross of Christ. Now Paul saw why the Spirit would not let him go into Asia-nor to Bythinia. Now Paul saw why he had to come into Macedonia-and why he must be cast into prison-it was that he might, instrumentally, pluck the brand out of the fire.-C. W. B.

REFLECTIONS BY A YOUNG CHRISTIAN.

THIS is my birthday. To-day I enter my twenty-second year, but shall I complete it ?-or will this frail, fleeting breath be stopped, and I be clasped in the arms of death? Lord, thon knowest.

When I look back and view the hand of God towards me, how He has upheld me, and caused me to hear His voice, can I trace the cause? I find it not in myself, but 1 read of the everlasting love of God, there I trace the cause: 'Twas this one love (as the poet sings) that sweetly forced me in.

I am happy in closing another year of care and sorrow, happy that I am another year nearer my heavenly home; that a few more rising and setting suns at most, and all sorrow, with the frown of the world, will no more trouble me. I shall hear no more hard speeches, no more unkind reflections, my motives no longer mistaken, no tempting devil to annoy, and my unbelieving heart will cease to wander, and sin for ever be extinct; it is with pleasure mixed with gratitude I trust, that I reflect upon

the Lord's gracious dealings with me; but, oh! what a mercy! My God altereth not His purposes of grace. He is unchangeable. In this world there is nothing but change. Change is written on all with which we have to do. Perhaps there is even mercy in this though we do not see it at all times; things which I hold so dear, and which I would keep such firm hold of are taken from me lest I should make idols of them.

O Lord, make me more submissive to thy holy will, and enable me to lean with child-like trust on the bosom of my dear Saviour, who loved me and gave Himself for me. Amen. MARY ANN.

NEW BOOKS.

DR. JOHN MASON'S "PARADISE
""
RESTORED

Is rapidly passing through the press, and will make a three-shilling volume, full of the flowers of the happier climes. Dr. John Mason's work, "Three years in Turkey," is the best guarantee the Christian public can have that anything which flows from his pen is worthy of the deepest consideration. Already a long list of subscribers to Paradise Restored secure for it a wide circulation. That, however, is the least part of the enterprise. The grand question is this: Is it true that the curse shall be removed?-That the thorns and briars Ishall all be turned into the sweetest blossoms? And instead of these cloudy, stormy, gloomy, dirty, sinful, sickly, sorrowing, groaning, decaying, departing, and dying scenes which now meet us on every hand-instead of all this scene of mortal misery, will the Almighty Redeemer purge, purify, and restore to the earth more than its original beauty? Ah! yes; we cling to the hope that He will; but when the learned doctor's book comes out, we shall, God helping, refer to it more largely.

MR. JAMES GRANT'S LAST BOOK.

This prolific penman having

finished his three thick volumes in endeavouring to overthrow the idea of a pre-Millennial Advent, has reached his climax as an author, by just issuing a pretty small volume, bearing the following delightful title, "The