THE QUEEN.

THE GOSPEL NET.

FAITH.

LOOKING out of his window one summer | faith to us all. He takes hold of his evening, Luther saw on a tree at hand a twig, tucks his head under his wing, and little bird making his brief and easy dis- goes to sleep, leaving God to think for positions for a night's rest. "Look," | him."

THE FRIGHTENED FISHERMAN

OR, THE FAITHFULNESS

OF GOD DISPLAYED IN HIS PROVIDENCE.

'And it shall come to pass, that before they call I will answer: and while they are yet speaking, I will hear."-Isa. lxv. 24.

thy tribulation! Join in the song, "Oh that men would praise the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men!"

THE following short history, as strongly illustrative of the gracious dealings and covenant faithfulness of our God and Father towards His beloved children in providential matters, might find a corner About the commencement of 1858, in the Gospel Magazine. How prone are K., a fisherman of this town, a man poor the blood-bought family, the objects of in this world's goods, but rich in faith everlasting and exhaustless love, as Is- and a heir of the kingdom, was enabled rael of old, to murmur and doubt! by the aid of some friends to raise by Though redeemed of the Lord from the loan and subscription a sum of money hand of the enemy, and gathered out of towards the building of a boat, in which all lands, yet, at the first difficulty, un- he might carry on his business with mindful of former and repeated deliver- more independence and prospect of comances, how soon do they call in question fortably supplying the wants of a family -if not the love of God-at any rate, dependent on his exertions. The boat their interest in that love which has was commenced in May, and approached been so often sweetly sealed to be their its completion in October; during which own in the banqueting-house of their time various sums were forwarded to Beloved. If one may speak for others, the builder at Eastbourne. Receipts it is indeed a hard matter daily to bless were duly received for these sums, but God in all His providential dealings, and without any legal stamp upon them. In in the exercise of a living faith to see October, however, the last sum was forthat all things are working together for warded, and a stamped receipt for £36 our good, and to shout, "Oh give thanks duly arrived from the builder. Who can unto the Lord, for He is good, for His judge of poor K.'s consternation when mercy endureth for ever.' Thanks be almost immediately after this a letter to God, who always makes us to conquer, arrived from a pious woman at Eastnot in ourselves, but in our Lord Jesus bourne, informing him that the builder Christ. Beloved one, thou who hast of his boat had decamped, having prefelt with me in this, be encouraged! viously made over the boat to two creThou standest not in or by thine own ditors for £20. It immediately appeared faith, but in the faith of Him. "O thou that the stamped receipt which K. held of little faith, wherefore didst thou was of a date posterior to that of the doubt ?" Thou hast not faith to walk transaction by which the boat had been upon the water, but thou canst not sink made over to the creditors. Here was a to the bottom. Remember, that though trial for faith. Where was the £20 to thou believest not, "yet He abideth come from? And yet, without that, faithful; He cannot deny Himself." how could the boat be saved? And Thou changest perhaps daily, but He is would not the whole £36 be lost too? "the same yesterday, to-day, and for The poor fisherman felt that all these ever." He says, "I am the Lord, I things were against him. His hope change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob from man's efforts was apparently cut are not consumed." This trial of thy off; but he had a Friend on high-one faith is necessary, and for thy good, or who sticketh closer than a brother-one it would never have been permitted. It who directeth everything in the love of is to lead thee from self and all created His heart, and by the power of His support, in order that thou mayest cry hand. To the well-known mercy-seat aloud to the Lord in thy trouble, and did K. in his extremity betake himself. then He will gather to Himself great Fervent and repeated were the prayers glory by saving thee out of all thy dis- which he sobbed out. That night, as tresses. Rejoice, then, tried one, in this | K. himself relates, he was in and out of

bed till morning in an agony of prayer. | position affairs had taken. Upon arrivHe would find relief on his knees; but ing at the office, one of the creditors anxious and perplexing thoughts would taking a chair, said, "This is for my fill his breast upon entering his bed friend K. We do not want to hurt him. again. Were these prayers unheard, We have got a good dinner for him to unaccepted, unanswered? Oh, no! eat, and a good bed for him to lie on; They were answered; for, "it shall come nor do we want the assistance of any to pass, before they call I will answer; lawyers. We can settle all this matter and while they are yet speaking, I will by our own selves." The lawyer rehear." Let us stand still and see the turned to Brighton, declaring that he salvation that God wrought for this poor could make nothing of it at all; but that faith-tried man. it seemed quite evident that they were all friends together, and had no need of his assistance. And so it is ever the same. The world cannot comprehend the invisible tie that binds Christians together; it is all foolishness to them.

other," was the remark made 1800 years ago; and it is the same that is made at the present day. They see it, but they cannot sympathize with it, or understand it..

The next day K. proceeded to Eastbourne with a lawyer, who kindly consented to act for him, and see what could be done. In the train again K. was in tears, inwardly begging the Lord to appear for him, to make his way clear" See how these Christians love one anbefore him, and give him favour in the eyes of the creditors. Arrived at their destination, they proceeded to the beach; and there was the boat ticketed for sale in the hands of the bailiffs. The two creditors happened to be standing by As for K., he was taken home to the the boat. They were very respectable house of one of the creditors. The persons, and quite unknown to K. They claim upon the boat was at once, given found out his business, and upon receiv- up, and he himself restored to full posing an affirmative answer to their inquiry session. Warm offers were made to as to whether the boat was his, they advance any money that he might need, proposed retiring to the office to talk and to fit out the boat for him; but the matter over. On their way thither these the grateful and happy fisherman K. thus audibly gave expression to his could not accept. But after partaking feelings-"This is a very bad job for of refreshment, they all sat down togeme, but I trust that the Lord knows all ther with the family; the Word was read, about it." Few words indeed, and sim- and prayer offered, and a season of reple; but see what an effect they have freshing experienced which will be forproduced upon the creditors! A warmth gotten by none who were present. There and friendliness is added to the courtesy were no dry eyes. K. cannot now tell which had previously marked their man- what was felt by all; it must be left to ners. Whence that sudden cordiality those who have experienced such mowith, and interest in, the poor fisher-ments to realize the felt presence and man? Ah! the two creditors were sons preciousness of Christ in their midst, of God-sons of the same Father with which each of that small party enjoyed: poor K., heirs of the same promises, and as also their union with Him and one joint-heirs with the same blessed Saviour. another. All were humbled in the As K. afterwards well said, "Instead of dust, and none would have wished one falling, as I expected, among lions, I event altered in that chain of circumfell among lambs." The subject of their stances which had thus brought them conversation now changed; but it was together, and which all knew had been evidently one of far more engrossing in- ordered by their all-wise and loving terest. To the whispered communica- Jehovah. It was only after keeping K. tions of his lawyer not to talk so much, several days, and making him sleep in and perhaps spoil the whole business, the bed that the minister had lately K. replied, "All right, Sir; I sha'nt occupied when on a visit, that the two spoil matters. We are not talking about creditors allowed him to depart in peace the things you suppose. They are with his boat. brothers of mine." The lawyer remained silent; he could not understand the new

It was thus that the Lord, in the most unlikely manner, wrought out a deliver

ance for His servant out of his distresses | what a God is our God! In His wisdom when he cried unto him-"The righteous and wonderful foresight, He brings His shall see it and rejoice." And so it was dear children into positions-trialsin this instance; for when, in a touching sorrows; hedges up their way; affords letter, K. wrote to his friends in Brighton, them for the time being not the slightest. to tell of the goodness of the Lord, and semblance of deliverance. All is blank. his own remarkable deliverance from his All is perfectly dark. Destruction seems threatening troubles, there was great inevitable. Then by grace divine, and rejoicing, and the words, "It is the by the precious power of the Holy Lord!" were in every heart and on every Ghost put forth in the soul, "they cry lip. Let us praise the Lord and take unto the Lord in their trouble, and He courage, for our God is at hand, and not helpeth them out of their distresses;" afar off, and will appear for the succour and well indeed may we add, "Oh that of all those who trust in Him. "Whoso men would praise the Lord for His is wise, and will observe these things, goodness, and for His wonderful works even they shall understand the loving to the children of men." kindness of the Lord" (Ps. cvii. 43). Brighton. T. B. L.

[Reader, if you could refrain from mingling your tears with that precious weeping group, it is more than one we know could do. "Not tears of sorrow, but of joy," as a blessed woman once said to us on the beach at Dover. Oh,

Why, that poor fisherman, with his £20 deliverance, was a far happier and richer man than multitudes with their tens of thousands. We were never less disposed to envy the rich than now. Oh, how much they lose of the good hand of God, as seen in the daily remembrances and gracious and all-bountiful supplies of His poor and needy ones.-ED.]

BABES-THEIR POSITION AND NOURISHMENT.

Can a

THE foregoing subject, beloved, has | in comparison with our God? lately opened to us in this way. Who woman forget her sucking child, that she lives nearest the mother? The babe. should not have compassion upon the From whence its supplies? From the son of her womb? Yea, they may forbreast-warm, and fresh, and nutritious. get; yet will I not forget thee. Thou What prompts the mother to impart? art graven upon the palms of my hands; The cry, the look, the turning to the yea, thy walls are continually before me. breast with that significance of expres- Depend on it, that he who carries merely sion which only a mother understands. his hand-basket, and gets his supply What a tie! what a bond! what a one- from on high just as he from day to day ness of life! The babe and mother one! needs, knows what the warmth, and And then how sweet its repose! How freshness, and nutritiousness of the supfree from care! perhaps the faint relic ply is; whence it comes; what its of the sob or sigh, as it slumbers upon effects; how great the blessedness of the bosom after participation; and what having at hand a bountiful Benefactor, a yearning of heart does that very sigh Friend, and Portion! God all-sufficient! produce! How intense that mother's-nigh at hand, and not afar off" a emotion! Beloved, what's that mother very present help in trouble."-EDITOR.

As long as there is fuel in the heart for a temptation, we cannot be secure. He that has gunpowder about him, had need keep far enough off from sparks; he that is either tender of his credit abroad, or comfort at home, had need

shun the very shadow of sin; and he that would neither wound conscience or credit, God or the gospel, had need hate the garments spotted with the flesh.Brooks.

PART OF A SERMON

PREACHED ON LORD'S-DAY EVENING, FEB 6, 1859, AT THORNTON CHURCH,

LEICESTERSHIRE,

BY THE REV. S. ADAMS, M.A., VICAR.

"Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore."—Psa. xvi. 11.