Isa. vi. And from a view of his own inherent impurity, and a view "he trembled and durst not behold." See Acts

of God's majesty, vii. 32.

(To be continued.)

(For the Spiritual Magazine.)

A FRIEND THAT STICKETH CLOSER THAN A BROTHER.

"There is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.”—Prov. xviii. 24.

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HERE is an assertion made, “ There is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother;" but it leaves us to find out the friend to whom it refers. We are assured by the text that there is such a friend, and surely such an one is worthy of being sought after. Sometimes we have heard of a good friend,'' a staunch friend,' a hearty friend,' a sincere friend,' a constant friend,'a bosom friend,' &c. &c. But alas! how often have such friends proved a broken reed to those who have leaned on them?" their peace has fled, and hope expired." As to human friendship, it may not be too much to affirm, that those who have tried it most, have known most of heart-rending, bitter disappointment. Cowper considered a friend a rare thing; for on being asked by a servant to let him go to see a friend, the poet exclaimed,

"A friend, bring me my coat, and tho' the night is raw,

I'll seek him too, the first I ever saw.'

There is a sort of charm in the word friend; it supposes that such a character has done some good, or bestowed benefits on another, and this leads us to expect that he will continue to do so; but O how frequently in such cases is the hand withdrawn, smiles turned into frowns, and the bosom that had been warmed and cheered with promises, chilled by an angry and stern refusal.

A genuine, sincere, real friend, can only be known by trial; and that trial must run through all the

"Changing scenes of life,

Of trouble and of joy"

to the very brink of death's cold stream, or it falls short of this high profession. Well, there is a friend that will do all this, and more too-" A friend that sticketh closer than a brother."

We should observe, that the text reads in the singular number, "a friend ;" only one such friend: and it may be enquired, who is he, and where may he be found? This friend himself gives the direction:"Search the scriptures, for in them ye think ye have eternal life, and they are they which testify of me," John v. 39. He whose "delights were with the sons of men," was known to the church under the old testament dispensation in the character of a friend, for she exclaims, "This is my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem," Sol. Song v. 16.

In the first place we may notice, that the Lord Jesus Christ is known to his church, as a tried Friend. He saw her in her low estate of guilt, pollution, poverty, and misery; and having in covenant undertook to redeem her, did in the fulness of time come forward on her behalf, gave a perfect obedience to the divine law, magnified it and made it honourable; and to deliver her from the fiery stroke of offended justice, received it into his own heart, and thus redeemed her at the price of his own most precious blood.

Secondly.-The Lord Jesus Christ is a faithful Friend. Faithful in the performance of all his promises: not one shall fail; heaven and earth shall sooner pass away, than one jot or tittle of all that he has promised to his believing people should not be accomplished. He will never disappoint their expectations. "He is not a man that he should lie, or the son of man that he should repent." What he has said he will do. The believing soul may confide in him as a faithful Friend.

Thirdly. The Lord Jesus Christ is a perfectly disinterested Friend. He knew the wretchedness of his church, and could expect nothing in return from her. She has nothing of her own to present, for all her righteousnesses are as filthy rags." Whatever she has to present acceptable, are what he himself has freely bestowed upon her.

Fourthly. The Lord Jesus Christ is an everlasting, unchangeable Friend. A friend that loveth at all times, and of course under all circumstances, without any possibility of his heart being alienated from those whom he loves. No; he will not listen to the base insinuations, or the charges of the enemies of his people. He "hateth putting away;" he "rests in his love." Are they called to pass through floods, and through flames? he goes through with them, and bears them through all-and

Fifthly. The Lord Jesus Christ is an almighty Friend. Are the enemies of his Zion many and strong? He is mightier than them altogether. Are his followers weary and faint? He giveth them power, or supports them by his arm; an arm that has borne millions of souls into glory; an arm upon which thousands of fainting souls are reclining at this moment, going up from the wilderness of this world to their eternal rest above.

Sixthly.- The Lord Jesus Christ is a watchful Friend, who neither slumbers nor sleeps. He observes all the plots formed, or forming for the destruction of his people, and declareth that "no weapon that is formed against them shall prosper, and every tongue that shall rise against them in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord; and their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord," Isa. liv. 17. This is a most blessed declaration of Jehovah calculated to calm the agitated bosom of the tried and tempted pilgrim, both as it respects his present security and future happiness.

Seventhly. The Lord Jesus Christ is a rich and condescending Friend. In him is treasured up all fulness of blessings, and he be

stows them upon the " poor and needy." He is rich in mercy to all that call upon him. O this is sweet to the soul that feels its guilty and perishing condition. He is rich in grace. The church in all ages has received of his fulness, and grace for grace, without diminishing in the least his plenteousness, in whom as the fountain of living waters he possesses an ever and overflowing fulness. And he is not only rich, but he is condescending: he counsels and guides the ignorant, supports the weak, sympathizes with the afflicted, gathers up the lambs of his flock into his bosom, and protects his sheep from the fury of earth and hell, comforts them in sorrow, in temptation makes a way for their escape, makes all their bed in their sickness, and when they die he comes and takes them to himself.

Eighthly. The Lord Jesus Christ is a bountiful Friend, and he gives freely and willingly. He gives "grace and glory," and withholds no "good thing" from believing souls. They ask in faith, and he bestows plenteously in love.

Ninthly. The Lord Jesus Christ is a bosom Friend. His people may tell him all their secrets. He will never betray them. They may roll their burdens, and cast their every care upon him, and he will sustain them. He careth for them, and declareth that he will never forsake them.

Such a Friend is Christ. What think ye of him, O ye weary, fainting pilgrims? Is not his name as ointment poured forth? We will not ask what this Friend of sinners has done for you; we will rather ask what has he not done? and what will he not do for you? This Friend that sticketh closer than a brother, has lived for you, and died for you, and is now praying for you at his Father's right hand; and will never give up your cause until you shall reach your blissful station, where are pleasures for evermore; where you shall see him as he is, and behold his glory. Take courage then; go forward; until at length you shall come off more than conquerors through Him who hath loved you, and given himself for you.

Waltham Abbey.

(For the Spiritual Magazine.)

OBITUARY OF MISS ANN ASHFORD.

R. G.

THE first conversation I held with Miss Ashford, was some months ago, when she, though very unwell, seemed not at all in fear of death. I was anxious to know from whence this confidence arose, and asked her some questions, which she answered very promptly; and I was happy to find her able to give a reason of the hope that was in her with meekness and fear. I went to see her again; and then enquired of her how she first came to know the Lord? She replied, that she lived till the age of sixteen without knowing there was a God; but one evening, her companions offending her, she thought, I will have no more to do with them. She came home, and was thinking how

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she could do without them, when something seemed to say twice to her, betake yourself to the Lord.' She went to bed, and in a dream the Lord appeared to her as a man in the midst of some beautiful green trees' she only saw his head, but the sweetness she felt whilst he talked with her, and she with him, she could not express; but when she awoke she could not recollect one word that had passed.'. Does not this sweetly accord with Immanuel's love-song in commendation of his royal and eternally beloved spouse, and also her souldelighting, heart-cheering, and mind-ennobling view of his divine Majesty by precious faith, under the anointings of Jehovah the Spirit, whose office it is to open up and exhibit the beauty, excellency, suitability, and all-sufficiency of the Lord Jesus to the mind of God's elect; to form Christ in the heart the hope of glory; and by taking up his residence in their souls, cause them, amidst all the oppositions and discouragements in their way, to go on through this wilderness leaning on Christ their only hope and help, Songs ii. 2, 3. viii. 5.

The first text she remembered that made any impression on her mind, was one she had heard preached from at B-S- "Yet doth he devise means that his banished ones be not expelled from him.” She said, it would often come to her mind, but am I one of these banished ones?' Yet still she went on as thoughtless as ever, and was very fond of the theatre and novels. In 1826, she heard Mr. T- preach from, "You hath he quickened who were dead in trespasses and sins ;" and also from these words, "Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son." Under these two sermons God was pleased to convince her of her lost estate by nature. And now she had some very alarming dreams, and could not rest day or night: she used to dream she was throwing large stones towards heaven, and that flames of fire were descending upon her. This dream, which was no doubt from the Lord, shews the enmity of the heart; the law worketh wrath; " by the law is the knowledge of sin ;"" the carnal mind is enmity against God." Our great apostle found it, (as all God's elect do in measure,)" that when the commandment came, sin revived and he died," to all hope of being saved by a covenant of works. This, as it did in the case of our dear sister, fits us for Christ, Gal. iii. 24.

The last time she went to the theatre, she thought the place would fall upon her, and in great terror went out; but immediately she got into the street, she thought, what a fool I am to pay my money for nothing! she went in again, but no sooner was she seated, than she again thought the place would surely fall upon her. She then left, but called as she went home for a novel; but her convictions increasing, she became very miserable, and went with a young friend first to one chapel and then to another. At last she went to BCfrom the 9th Psalm, 18th verse, "For the needy shall not always be forgotten;" and the Lord was pleased to break in upon her soul in such a sweet and powerful

and heard Mr. W

manner, that she thought she should have fainted. He was pleased to reveal his pardoning love to her soul, and that for the time cast out all fear, and sweetly constrained her to love him in return. She continued very happy some days, but then her joy subsided, and she was tempted to think it all a delusion, and got very dark in her mind; and Satan used to be telling her, she would never hold out to the end,'' it was no use for her to try, she had better give it up ;' but while at her employment the Lord gave her a sweet season, and she was enabled to overcome the temptations of the wicked one. I once said to her, how sweet it was to be assured that God had loved her with an everlasting love? She said, 'that passage had been sweet to her a few hours before," Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love." Another time she was blessing and praising God for his goodness to her; and said, 'if she had a thousand tongues they should all be employed in praising her Saviour and her Redeemer.'

The next time I went to see her she was very low, mourning the absence of God; and said, 'I want Jesus! I want Jesus! none but Jesus! I do love him, but I want him!' I replied, he would come again, and spoke to her of the experience, illness, and happy departure of Miss D———. She seemed much relieved, and said, "I thought there was none like me, but that is just like me.' I told her, I thought she had not so many changes; but she said she had, only she had no strength to tell me. For two or three months she enjoyed such peace and comfort she could not express; but now she could see she began to get proud, and the Lord withdrew to prove to her the truth of his own words, " without me ye can do nothing,"

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I asked her if any portion of God's word was brought to her mind that she should like to be preached from at her funeral? She said, no, for she did not wish any thing said about her.' A few minutes after I had left, the 20th verse of the 22nd chapter of Revelations came to her mind, and she made choice of that for the purpose. A friend who went to see her found her in great pain, but happy; all she could say was, "death is swallowed up in victory!" She rested better that night, and thus the Lord was pleased to grant all she sighed for when I was with her. I called again, when she chose the hymns she would have sung, the 17th and 18th hymns in the first book of Watts, "O for an overcoming faith," &c. "Hear what the voice from heaven proclaims," &c. and took her leave in an affectionate manner.

I saw her once more before she died; she was speaking of her inability to do any thing. I am not (said she, with a sweet smile,) like the pharisee, who told God what a many things he had done; O no! I hate the word doing; I can do nothing.'

The evening before she died, she asked a young female present if she had prayed for her, and desired her so to do. When she was going to leave her, she said, 'I am waiting! I am waiting!' and then fell asleep in Jesus, on the morning of February 22, 1831, aged twenty-eight years.