9 TO THE LORD?" And the reason given by God the Holy Ghost, in Moses's ministry, was "that he might bear all the iniquity of the holy things of Israel." (Exodus xxviii. 36-38.) What a singular text! Not of their sins, but of their holy things, that he might present them perfect. And I should have said, 'My dear sir, did you ever read in the New Testament, "For of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God the Holy Ghost is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption?" Are you going to snip off the sanctification out of the text, and put it somewhere else? Never! Then if redemption is imputed, and brought home by power, righteousness is imputed; and sanctification is imputed. But who was I, to go and quarrel with the good man for that?" We shall leave our readers time to think upon this ere we proceed further. WILLIAM FLETCHER. SUCH is the name of a "soldier preacher," who fought for his Queen and his country in the Crimean war, lost his arm, but found salvation in the Saviour of sinners; and has, for years, been a bold preacher to the masses, some of whom have rejoiced in hope of eternal life. "The life of William Fletcher, the converted soldier," is published by Messrs. Figg & Co., 98, Lower Thames street, and is a life full of incident on both sides of the great question, "What must I do to be saved?" Mr. Rawlinson, of Halifax, writing of the character of Fletcher's work, says: "I candidly believe that our brother Fletcher is one of those 'ram's horns' which God in His wisdom is making choice of in these days to do the work (God helping him) which many others have failed to accomplish, 1 Cor. i. 25-28, Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men. For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called; but God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; and base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to naught things that are: that no flesh should glory in his presence." We have conversed with serious Christians who have heard men of the class called "revival preachers," and the conviction is, God is using them as hunters and fishers to "pluck brands from the burning," and who are afterwards gathered into the fold of Jesus. Most of them flock to, and settle down in the Metropolitan Tabernacle; but some few are led under other ministers, and receive the truth with gladness. These pioneers have their work to do; like Saul of Tarsus, when first converted, they confer not with flesh and blood; but go and preach all the Gospel they have learned unto the heathen. May our God increase and prosper them. Death of the Rev. G. D. Doudney. THIS much anointed and favoured servant of God finished his earthly course, May 19th, 1865, in his 55th year, at his residence in Plymouth. All peoples who know the Lord experimentally, and who ever heard or read the writings of Mr. G. D. Doudney, of Charles Chapel, Plymouth, most sincerely praised God for a minister so Christ-like and useful. Mr. Joseph Flory, in his letter to us, says: "Our departed brother in Jesus was an encouraging preacher; and after being occupied in the Master's vineyard for about fourteen years, with tokens of the Divine blessing to many, the Lord said to his servant last Friday at noon, 'Come up higher.' I believe his last expressions on his dying bed were full of confidence and joy. Mr. Doudney preached May 7th, both morning and evening, from 1 Peter i. 1-9; dwelling particularly on the words, 'To an inheritance incorruptible;' indeed, there was an evident unction resting upon his soul: and this was especially felt when he administered the Lord's supper on the same day. From the pulpit that evening, he said, some persons thought him consumptive, but (he added) I may live for years, and preach to you, which I trust I shall, for Christ's sake. But when he had said this, he remarked to a friend at the foot of the pulpit stairs, 'I heard as if a person spoke into my ear, "What if this should be the last time!" On retiring to the vestry, he said to Mrs. Doudney, 'I feel so weak, I shall never go into the pulpit, or preach again.' From that time to his death, he suffered much; but his end was peace. His remains were interred on Tuesday, May 23rd, at the rural Parish Church, Eggbuckland, about two miles beyond the deceased's residence; the service was conducted by Mr. Greaves, rector of Charles Church. Between twenty and thirty coaches, &c., followed the hearse; and a large concourse of friends on foot, shewed their attachment to the departed. He was a loving man, and was warmly loved in return.” LINES. On Hearing the Bell Toll for the Interment of Mr. Doudney, late of Charles Chapel, Plymouth, my thoughts ran thus: MAN of God, thy earthly building Is awhile forsook by thee; But the toll for its interment Does awake the thought in me. God to carry out His purpose, Known to Him, for what and why, In the presence and the fulness Of our Saviour, God, and Friend. To Thy holy name, we give; Thro' the pipe we found much sweetness, And with giant-strength proclaimed, Then the ear and heart received it, Wish him back, for creature comfort; May 23rd, 1865. The Table of Shewbread: OR, A PORTION FOR EVERY BY GIDEON. SABBATH. as it say, SUNDAY, JUNE 4TH.-A DOUBLE PROMISE. "Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and He shall sustain thee."-Psalms lv. 22. THESE words suppose thee to have a burden-a load to carry-under the weight of which thy soul is bowed down, and yet they reveal to such, 1. A privilege-cast THY burden; it is thine in particular-" every heart knoweth its own bitterness." That burden is a special "gift (see margin). There was GIVEN me, says Paul, a thorn in the flesh. Yes, it is given God's people to feel sin; and it is given them to have sorrow, and every man his own load just as he can bear and as he needs, according to the gift of the measure of Christ. But, then, it is our precious privilege to come by faith and cast all upon Jesus Christ: God laid all on Him. He bare our sins in His own body on the tree. Faith does, were, in us, what God did for us; we come thereby to Christ and Lord, this burden is so heavy I cannot bear it; undertake for me-manage matters for me." The words are not so much a command as a direction. David was brooding over the dreadful wickedness of Absalom and Ahithophel-the one his son, the other his friend and adviser, but both in bitterest cruelty, and without cause, sought his life! As the Psalmist thought on their conduct the Holy Ghost came in and said, "Cast thy burden upon the Lord." And so he says to the poorburdened soul. And, 2. Gives a promise-" HE SHALL SUSTAIN THEE.” He is pledged to this in the covenant of grace, and will never forego His word. He is pleased to do it. Yes, thou art not so willing to put thy case into the hands of Jesus as He is to manage it for thee. He knows what sore temptation means; He is touched with the feeling of our infirmities. Hence, when we are weak then are we strong; when we see our danger then it is we are safe, because we flee to the Lord, who is the refuge and strength of His people-a very present help in trouble. Dear soul, may the Spirit help thee to bring THY BURDEN. Yes, thine; and be it what it may, sin, suffering, or sorrow, and cast it on the Lord, and He shall sustain thee. Amen. SUNDAY, JUNE 11TH.—OUR ONLY SURETY. "I will be surety for him."-Gen. xliii. 9. So said Judah to his father to induce him to let his beloved Benjamin go into Egypt; and Jacob allowed the lad to go down. How was it that God, the Father of His elect, the Church, His Benjamin, allowed her to fali? For we could have been brought into the guilt, bondage, and ruin that sin brought upon us but by His permission. And often has it puzzled the child of God why He should have allowed the objects of His love to have been brought into such a plight. And He never wanted, unless our Elder Brother had stood up and said, "I will be surety for them; of my hand shalt thou require them; if I bring them not to thee and set them before thee, then let me bear the blame for ever." Thus were the sheep given to the chief Shepherd, in the counsel of grace, before the foundation of the world; their numbers told and their names entered in the book of life; their foreseen sins and shortcomings all placed to the account of the Shepherd and Surety, who cheerfully undertook the whole for them, and for them only. Ah! you say that word for them ONLY. How shall I know if I am one of them? O the groans, and sighs, and tears, the tormenting days and sleepless nights, that some have had on this one question, "What if my name should be left out, When thou for them shalt call!" Well, have you come to Him? Come of necessity, as ready to perish with a rope round your neck and a "God be merciful" in your mouth! Do you so come every day? Then He is your surety, for he said, "All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out." Blessed "no wise"-on no account. See, then, poor soul, in thy Surety-thy debt paid, thy penalty endured, thy league responsibilities taken from thee, and thy salvation made as sure as infinite love and wisdom and power could make it; and all in harmony with justice. Praise God. Amen. SUNDAY, JUNE 18TH.-A SUCCESSFUL PLEADER. "Now to appear in the presence of God for us."-Heb. ix. 24. WE glory in the death of Christ, but not in a dead Christ; He liveth, and, though He be now exalted to the glory He had with the Father before the world was, He is not unmindful of His poor brethren on earth. Sometimes when our natural relations get up a little in the world, they forget those who still remain in poverty and difficulty, and would if they could deny that any relationship exists. Ah! there is a deal of what may be called the pride of family; we should all be pleased to claim kindred with some great one. And what if we could? Death will soon come, and then what advantage is it to have been the son of a prince? Only that of being laid in a more splendid grave. Not so with the dignity arising from kindred to Jesus. Nothing can break the relationship, or alienate His affections from us. (See Rom. viii. 38, 39.) He ascended to His God and ours, to His Father and our Father, and " now appears for us" who believe. O believer, remember what a Friend thou hast on high! He is not ashamed to call thee His brother, and He pleads thy cause, His blood speaks for thee in heaven, His eye sees thee, His hand defends thee, and having the keys of the kingdom and all the fulness of truth and grace in himself, He will supply all thy need. While He is there thou canst not be shut out, every member must be with the head. While He is rich thou canst not be poor, for if a child, then an heir of God and joint heir with Christ. As long as He lives thou canst not die, for the life of every believer is hid with God in him (see Col. iii.). Then be of good cheer, the forerunner hath for thee entered, His dear hands are busy preparing thy home for thee, and soon thou shalt see His face and hear Him call, Friend, come up higher," and then thou shalt be like Him, and for ever with Him; yes,— N "There we shall see His face, And never, never sin; And from the rivers of His grace, SUNDAY, JUNE 25TH.-REFRESHING SHOWERS. My doctrine shall drop as the rain," &c.-Deut. xxxii. 2. SOME people say doctrine is dry, but that must be a mistake; true, the doctrine of grace is not to be confounded with the grace of the doctrine. But we cannot have the one without the other, any more than we can obtain water from the well without something to draw it with. Anyhow, Moses, the man of God, says his. doctrines were not dry, for his speech was to distil as the dew. My reader, art thou a true believer in Jesus? then thou art a plant in God's garden, and the vegetable tribes could just as well live and flourish without dew and shower, as thy soul without the truth. The doctrines of the Gospel are the meat and drink of the Lord's people, by the power of the Holy Ghost. But still, we are ever kept mindful of our dependence, we cannot cause it to rain when we please, no more can we enjoy the truth when we please. The felt dependence makes the mercy sweeter when it comes, and awakens thankfulness to Him from whom it comes. 1. The dew comes gently. How gentle are the secret whispers of the Spirit to the ear of faith. 2. The dew revives and refreshes the drooping plant. When the truth enters the soul by the Spirit, how we are lifted up and comforted. 3. The dew or shower causes fragrance and fruitfulness, often have I realized a delightful perfume after an hour's rain. And O how the Gospel causes the souls of the saints to give out the fragrance of prayer and praise, to bring forth fruit unto God. Space forbids enlargement. But be much in the doctrines, wait and look toward the sea of God's love, and though the little cloud like a man's hand seem so small, it shall drop upon the "showers of blessings." Adieu for another month. NEARER to Thee, Almighty God, Faith to chase our doubts away; And with Thy will rest satisfied. And there we would more often sing. THEE. Nearer to Thee! - Spirit divine, Thou Guide to all the chosen fewTeach us earth's baubles to resign, And seal the promise home anew: To all the children taught by Thee; |