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THE ILLNESS OF H.R.H. THE PRINCE OF WALES.

IN the OLD JONATHAN for the present month we have expressed somewhat at length our own feelings upon the above all-engrossing subject. In that article we have stated our recognition of the hand of God in this affliction of the Heir Apparent to these realms, and the Royal Family generally, as instrumentally producing a mighty reaction against the disaffection and disloyalty which were being gradually fanned into a flame by a miserable class of men who were springing up into a most unenviable notoriety by their seditious harangues. God, in His great mercy, has been pleased to adopt this remarkable course for not only repelling this unchristian and unconstitutional spirit, but for infusing throughout the length and breadth, not merely of the United Kingdom, but the world at large, a oneness of feeling, an identity of interest, a sympathy of heart, that, without doubt, has far exceeded everything of bygone date. Never, we believe, from the commencement of time has a more unanimous spirit of deep heartfelt sympathy been aroused than by the sickness (so apparently) unto death of the Prince of Wales.

Moreover, we conceive it is not a little remarkable that such a marked and manifest answer to a nation's prayers should have been vouchsafed at a period in the world's history when a strong current of infidelity had set in; when men in high places were so publicly and so presumptuously casting off all fear of God. We rejoice in the goodness of the Lord, as well as admire and adore His mercy, in the condescension and grace thus displayed towards us as a land and nation.

And now, as God knoweth, the one wish of our heart, the leading desire of our soul is, that His Royal Highness (snatched as he has been from the very jaws of death) may, through the precious grace and power of the Holy Ghost, leave that sick-chamber another man-a new man in Christ Jesus! Our prayer both publicly and privately has been, that, in immediate connexion with, and as a blessed result of his affliction, he may enter again upon the life given him, as from the dead, with this fixed, this holy, this unhesitating and unblushing resolve, "AS FOR ME AND MY HOUSE, WE WILL SERVE THE LORD."

God, of His great compassion, grant this additional mercy! May this one prominent wish and desire be laid upon the hearts of our readers! May they publicly and privately wrestle at the throne for this wondrous boon! And then how richly and manifestively will the fruits of such new life appear in the character, conduct, and Christian course of the Prince of Wales.

The Rock has so well and so vigorously written upon this all-engrossing theme, that we cannot forbear quoting the following:

"A tidal-wave of prayer rolled through the country on Sunday week which, we may hope and believe, will have saved the Heir Apparent for the kingdom; and, perhaps, a kingdom for the Heir Apparent. It was a 'great salvation;' and so signal an answer to prayer, that the secular journals of all classes have acknowledged the plain connexion between cause and effect, in the standing miracle of covenant prayer. From the Daily Telegraph up to the Times, such things have been written, as, for pathos, Evangelical piety, beauty, Christ-like sympathy, and revived loyalty, have driven not a few of God's waiting people to their knees-not now to pray for the Prince, so much as to praise God for saving the

country, and giving rich promise that Englishmen need not be ashamed of their Christianity before the world.

"The Constitution (as God's instrument) saved the Prince; and the Prince has saved the Constitution. Truly may we lift up our hearts, our hands, and our voices, and cry 'Saved!' But how has this reciprocal salvation been effected? We have seen that the Prince represents the Constitution, by the acute sympathy which has opened the hearts of the people from one end of Great Britain to another in prayer, and shut up, or postponed places and appointments of dissipation; like Nineveh, England has really mourned, fasted, and mightily cried unto God. For the first time in the history of our land, the electric telegraph has been used to throw England, as one man, upon its knees. The Providence of God ordered that this should not be, however, until the very acme of the crisis was reached. When the beloved Princess for a short time quitted the sick room and went down to Sandringham Church, she, as it were unconsciously, lead the prayers of an entire nation. The very effect of the telegrams arriving in church time had a truly electric effect upon the congregations! All England in spirit worshipped in the sick-room at Sandringham on that Sunday when a widowed Queen was bending over a dying son, and that son, England's future King. The very accessories of haste gave that thrill throughout the congregations, which telegrams give everywhere; but how much more on Sunday, at such a time, and in church! It imparted a domestic character, moreover, to the national sympathy. How true is it that

"God moves in a mysterious way

His wonders to perform;

He plants His footsteps in the sea,
And rides upon the storm.

"Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take;
The clouds ye so much dread
Are big with mercy, and shall break
In blessings on your head!"

The Rev. Daniel Moore, of Holy Trinity, Paddington, in the course of his sermon last Sunday observed :-

Hardly, my brethren, will you expect me to close my sermon to-day without referring to a subject which, for some days past, has been uppermost on all tongues, nearest to all hearts, mentioned most fervently in all prayers. I allude, of course, to the precarious condition of the Prince of Wales. When we met last Sunday, it seemed as if the spirit of the Royal sufferer were hovering between two worlds. We could only pray; and we did pray, that if consistent with the designs of Infinite Wisdom that precious life might be spared; spared for the nation's sake, unable to contemplate a fatal termination without the gloomiest political forebodings; spared for the Queen's sake, whose cup of sorrow, filled already to the brim, would by the addition of such a bitter drop, be running over; spared for the young wife and children's sake, on whom this feared calamity would fall with a pressure more terrible than under a like sorrow would be felt by the humblest subject in the land. And now beyond hope, and almost against hope, contrary to our fears, and as it were in reproof of them, a favourable turn in the malady of the patient has vindicated the power and efficacy of a nation's prayers. Yes; perish the chilling philosophy that would disconnect the two things; that would bind fate, and Providence, and human skill, the forces of nature, and the right arm of God Himself, by laws, which prayer must be as impotent to modify as the voice of a monarch to roll back the advancing tide. We have not so learned Christ, nor the relations of Gospel promise to the conditions of the world in which we live. Beyond and outside the remotest horizon of mundane science lies a reserve of Divine possibilities, which, while making use of science, and acting in harmony with material laws, may, in answer to the united supplications of a people, evoke into existence new forms of remedial agency, and justify the title of Him that sitteth in the Heavens to be regarded as "the God that heareth prayer." And now, brethren, will you not be encouraged to pray yet more earnestly,

that God would complete His work? You have been taught to pray, and wisely taught, that if the sickness of our Prince should prove a "sickness unto death," "the sins of his past life may be done away by the blood of Christ;" will you not now pray yet mere fervently that if this life should be spared it may be consecrated to the glory and service of Him to whom it is due; that being brought back again from the gates of death, the soul of the young Prince may be fired with the one thought, “What shall I render unto the Lord for all the benefits that He hath done unto me? How

may I glorify my Saviour? How may I spread the knowledge of His Gospel through the length and breadth of the land?" How may I become fitted to wield the destinies of the great empire to which it seems to be the will of God to call me? O brethren, do let us all pray very earnestly for the sanctifying of this affliction, both to the Royal sufferer, and all those around him. We are a loyal people; have never shown our loyalty more than within the last few days; when, as if by one fervent and simultaneous outburst of sympathy with the throne and its sorrows, we had determined to reduce to a level below their own native insignificance, those small persons who would fain try their prentice hands at mending upon monarchy. But oh! let our loyalty be religious. Let our patriotism be Christian. Let our grateful appreciation of what we owe to the monarchical institution be seen in the fervour with which in the closet, in the family, in the church, we pray for our Queen and all the Royal Family, that they may be partakers of "all spiritual blessings in Christ Jesus," thus turning into warm heart-breathings those suffrages in our Liturgy, to the sublime beauty of which, it is to be feared, constant familiarity has made us too little sensible; "Endue them with Thy Holy Spirit; enrich them with Thy Heavenly grace; prosper them with all happiness and bring them to Thy Everlasting Kingdom through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

A NEW YEAR'S GREETING

TO ALL WHO LOVE OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST IN SINCERITY AND TRUTH, GRACE, MERCY, AND PEACE FROM GOD OUR FATHER AND FROM THE LORD JEsus.

SPARED, preserved, and strengthened to pass through 1871, may we now enter on its unknown follower with increased faith and hope! We cannot have completed another year without having learned somewhat more of the faithfulness, power, and love of our covenant-keeping God. Felt weakness has driven us to Him for strength; lamented failings and shortcomings have thrown us upon His loving-kindness, pity, and forbearance for the forgiveness of all our transgressions; and have we not cause again to "set to our seal," and say, "He is faithful who hath called " us, who also will do it?" During the past year many loved ones have entered on their rest. We have lost their company below, but they have gained the blissful shore where there shall be no more night, no more suffering, no more sin. What a mystery this is to sense! how real it is to faith! We need to have our habit of faith strengthened that the actings of our faith may be more vigorous. Are we satisfied to let the unknown to-morrow bring with it what it may? This is the position we should seek to attain to, and desire to occupy. This is the extent of the promise, "As thy days, so shall thy strength be;" this is the compass of the prayer, "Give us day by day our daily bread." And thus it is that, living by the day, we receive the fulfilment of the promise, "to hoary hairs will I carry you." What a blessed employment it would be for the new year to count up our mercies! Should we not soon be lost "in wonder, love, and praise?" Human nature takes a delight in thinking about trials and losses, vexations and crosses, but, in the light of the goodness and kindness of our God, these all vanish away; but our mercies, the knowledge of Jesus in His covenant character and relationship to our souls, access through Him, the help of the Spirit to our infirmities, a sip of the brook by the way, and the prospect of the full satisfaction of

all that our enlightened and living souls are craving for, these are written as it were "with an iron pen and lead in the rock for ever." Then, too, the "nether springs " of a bounteous Providence, never dealing with us after our sins, always bringing us by some way that we knew not, and providing for all our real wants in a way that makes those that are imaginary, take wing! Let us, beloved, seek for grace to look above; to the eye, the hand, the heart of our loving Father in Christ our Lord, and rest assured peace and tranquillity will flow into the soul, and the mouth will be opened in thanksgiving and praise. "Ebenezer!" "hitherto hath the Lord helped."-Believe me, your loving brother in Him,

ALFRED HEWLETT.

SUBSTITUTION.

'Tis

WHEN We look at the cross, we see God dealing with our sins. true, Christ died at the hands of man, and in this we see the enmity of the heart brought out in the crucifying the Prince of life and glory; but, while we see this, there is also God's side, if I might so speak, God taking our sin and laying it upon Jesus, the Substitute-the One who was there in our stead. Thus, when I see God dealing with Him, I see Him dealing with my sin. When I see Jesus die, it is for me that I might have life. But the question may come, "How do I know that He has made complete atonement?" I look at the grave and see Him risewithout sin. I see Him raised by God, the righteous One. I see him enter heaven, and I know that He is accepted in that which He has done, and I read in the Word that I am "accepted" in Him; so that God beholds me no longer as in nature, but as one with Him, for, as He is, so are we"-"raised together and made to sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus."

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These are truths with which we are acquainted; but the mere knowledge of truth in the understanding is not enough, it is the having it abiding in the heart, the entering into it by faith, realizing our place as in Christ. Now, I believe, the more we realize this in our souls, that we are risen with Him and seated in the heavenlies, before God, without spot and blameless, the more we shall walk as those who have been redeemed—as those who are not of this world, but simply "strangers and pilgrims," waiting till our Lord shall come to take us to Himself. May we have grace given us so to act during the "little while" we are left below, bearing testimony to the name of Him who has loved us and given Himself for us, even Jesus, our Lord!

R. K.

A FRAGMENT.-Long ago I used to think, if I were the subject of any ailment which reminded me unmistakeably that it was the messenger to call me home and take me home, how rejoiced I should be; but now, alas! that advanced years and increasing infirmities convince me that my tarry here cannot be very long, my spirit for most part recoils at the prospect of death and eternity; and it is only as the Lord is pleased now and then to smile upon me, and occasionally to drop one of His precious "Fear nots" into my heart, that I can rise above my poor carnal sinking, cowardly self, and say, "O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law; but thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory, through our Lord Jesus Christ."

Anecdotes and Extracts.

EXTRACTS FROM THE REV. W. ROMAINE'S UNPUBLISHED

LETTERS.

WRITTEN BETWEEN THE YEARS 1774 AND 1792.

(Continued from Vol. vi., page 600.)

[We doubt not that the reader will see the singular appropriateness of Mr. ROMAINE'S remarks to the times in which we live.-ED.]

I PLEASE myself much with the thoughts of seeing you once more in the flesh, face to face; and it greatly heightens this pleasure that I verily believe our friendship will have no end. May we live and meet to confirm these agreeable hopes and prospects!. As to poor Lloyd, I know not what to do. I shall see Mr. Cadogan soon, and shall let you know the result. In a stormy world there is an Ark of absolute safety. So Noah found it; so do we-safe and happy, come what may, in our Almighty Jesus.

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Supposing that you had set out on your journey, I was upon my watchtower to look after you, and not in vain. As I prayed, so it is; may every petition which I have at any time put up for you and yours find as gracious an answer as in the present case!... I think I promised you some account of our word for New Year's day. It is generally Hebrew -something of Christ, useful, and easy to be remembered throughout the year. Jehovah Shalom was for the last year; Shiloh (Gen. xlix. 10) is for this. It means One who can give quietness; One who is able to free the conscience from guilt before God, and then to deliver a man in his heart and life from all distressing fears. We have an instance of the outward sense of the word now before our eyes. We have been lately at war, and are now happily at peace with all our enemies. The merchants feel it: they carry on their trade quietly. Nobody is afraid of the enemies' ships of war or privateers. No letters of marque are thought of. Insurance is become moderate; all danger being over, except the danger of the sea. The army is disbanded; the fleet is laid up. The inhabitants

of the sea-coast sleep secure from fear of an invasion. This outward quietness is the sensible evidence of what our Shiloh gives unto the soul. He quiets it, and secures it in quietness. He gives peace to the guilty conscience. And, when He gives quietness, who, then, can give trouble? Nothing can, but unbelief. If the storm rage, and the mountains shake with the tempest of the same; if He utter His voice, "Peace, be still!" there is a great calm. The heart lets go its fears, and is established, trusting in the Lord. And then He extends the influence of this blessed quietness to the tempers, to the life. He can, He does, make a poor creature secure under any trouble or temptation. He is the infallible remedy for all distressing cares and fears. Bad news, bad times, public calamities, civil wars only make our Shiloh more sought after, and His sanctuary more precious. Suppose the worst. Death comes-the king of terrors-he cannot frighten, because he cannot hurt; he has lost his sting, and he is the messenger of peace. "Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord." And then our most gracious Shiloh fulfils His name. He gives quietness and assurance for ever. Such is your Beloved, and such is your Friend. Oh, prize Him, and make much of Him! You do know Him, but you don't make use of Him as you may and ought. The chief part

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