Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB
[merged small][ocr errors]

No rude alarms of raging foes,
No cares to break the long repose;
No groans to mingle with the songs
Which warble from immortal tongues."

I forget the different scriptures which
at intervals I quoted, but among them
was that from the 43rd of Isaiah, "When
thou passest through the waters, I will
be with thee; and through the rivers,
they shall not overflow thee: when thou
walkest through the fire, thou shalt not
be burned; neither shall the flame
kindle upon thee."

She

calm. I felt the power of that word, and it melted my heart with joy and gladness before the Lord, in this renewed proof before my eyes, of what He was able to do in the very article of death. "Why," said I, "that is what the Lord did for Daniel. He was weak, and the Lord spoke to him, and then he said, Thou hast strengthened me.' And Paul said, 'I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. When I am weak, then I am strong.'

دوو

Whatever doubts or fears about this case I may have had aforetime, they were now all removed. I felt this sweet word, and this blessed assurance, could only be from the Lord himself. That was not the time, those not the circumstances, for deception, or the playing a part. It was evidently reality. Her poor, anxious mother, standing by, felt the force of that sweet word, "The Lord has strengthened me.'

دو

I now unhesitatingly strove to pour in of the oil and wine of divine consolation. I had striven before to the utmost to probe, and to try, and to test; I had again and again quoted David's words,

66

Search me, O God, and know me; try me, and know my thoughts; and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." Can you say that? again and again had I asked. Yes," she would say.

"Is

*

[ocr errors]

66

'Nothing in my hands I bring,
Simply to thy cross I cling."
that your language ?"

was the answer.

It was just about this time, and in direct answer to one of these scriptures, that she made a remark, which, together with its effects, I think I shall never forget, she was at the time in the most entire prostration, she had not the slightest power over her frame. If her leg was moved, her mother must move it for her. She could not of herself. Her arm was simply all she could move. She had not taken so much as two-pennyworth of bread for six months, her mother said. She had been kept alive by liquids and little stimulants. was the merest skeleton; her skin hardly covered her bones. For weeks before, it had broken through; but withal, there was not, as far as I heard, the slightest semblance of a murmur. But now, in these circumstances, and with the death-rattle in her throat, she suddenly said, upon the quoting of one of the scriptures to which I have alluded, 'It is gone." "What is gone?" said My weak spirit.” What do you mean ?" "I was weak," she replied, "but now the Lord has strengthened me." And it was evidenced in her countenance, and from her whole bearing, that He had done so. Oh, with what power that word from that dying one's lips came! It was such a reality. It afforded such a blessed proof of what the Lord was able to do in the very swellings of Jordan. word blood. There was such a triumphing over the extremest weakness, and such a perfect say,

I.

.

[ocr errors]

66

"Yes,"

"Jesus, thy blood and righteousness,
My beauty are, my glorious dress;
'Midst flaming worlds, in these arrayed,
With joy shall I lift up my head."
She responded in the same heart-felt
way; and though her words were few,
they were evidently followed by the
most fervent mental ejaculations. Con-
tinually was she to be seen looking up
in simple, earnest prayer. Once, in the
last day she spent on earth, when I
quoted the verse,

"There is a fountain filled with blood,"
she seemed as it were to grasp that
"Blood!" she whispered
to herself. "Blood!" as much as to
"that's it; there's
my hope.'

دو

But to return: I now felt I dared not doubt, and I did my utmost to administer consolation.

All your sorrows left below, And earth exchanged for heaven." "Would you come back ?" "Not for fifty worlds," she said. "Not for the crown of England ?" No," said she, that would bring trouble with it, and I should not know the future; but I do know my future."

[ocr errors]

Once she spoke of the night she had before her, and seemed to dread it. "Oh," said I, "I don't think you will see to-morrow morning." "Don't you? Oh, the Lord grant it, if it be His blessed will. I should be so glad not to open my eyes upon this world to-morrow morning."

When I repeated the lines,

"Jesus can make a dying bed

Feel soft as downy pillows are ;
While on His breast I lean my head,

And breathe my life out sweetly there," she exclaimed, "Beautiful." And again, when I quoted the verse

"There shall I bathe my weary soul,

"Your sufferings will soon be over. A little more faith, and a little more patience. The worst is over. I don't think you will suffer; but simply sleep or glide away." She said something about the death-struggle; but was cheered in a moment by the hope that it would be nothing. "One moment in heaven," said I, "and you would forget a thousand years' suffering on earth. Oh! think of what awaits you-where you are going to-who you will see. Jesus, face to face; not as the man of sorrows now; not sweating great drops of blood falling down to the ground; not in His dying agonies! but on His throne! The Lamb on the throne! Shall I read a verse or two about it?" "Do." 66 And I saw no temple therein, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon to shine in it; for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof." "What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great.. tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple: and He that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more: neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. For the Next morning the closed shutters Lamb which is in the midst of the throne told me the conflict had ceased, and that shall feed them, and shall lead them unto all was over. Upon reaching the house, living fountains of waters; and God I found she had only tarried in this vale shall wipe away all tears from their of tears a little more than two hours Mother," said she, eyes." God Himself to wipe away all 66 tears from their eyes. "Don't you 'get your supper quickly, and I shall think that worth waiting for, and soon go after that." And so it was, for about eleven o'clock, without a struggle, fering for ?" "Yes.” and scarcely a sigh, she fell asleep in Jesus. Blessed, blessed be His glorious

"Yet a season and we know, Happy entrance will be given;

suf

In seas of heavenly rest;
And not a wave of trouble roll,
Across my peaceful breast,'
she said again, "Beautiful."
"Shall I

pray with you once more ?" Do, please." I did so, simply committing and commending her to the Lord; and a little before nine o'clock, bidding her "look to Jesus,” wished her good-bye, believing our next meeting would be in eternity. She thanked me heartily for visiting her, and shook my hand affectionately, saying "Good-bye.

after I left her. ""

name.

NEARNESS OF DEATH.-Though thou mayest have been nearer death (in thine own apprehension) than thou art now,

yet it is certain death was never so near to thee as now.-Evans.

Review.

God is Love; or, Glimpses of the Father's | co-equal and co-eternal with the Father
Infinite Affection for His People.
London: Darton and Co., 58, Hol-
born Hill.

ON a former occasion we made a brief
reference to this work. We spoke in
terms of high commendation of it; the
consequence was, a certain individual
procured a copy of the work, and,
through its perusal, was brought to have
such a clear insight into the love and
tenderness of God the Father, in com-
mon with God the Son and God the
Holy Ghost, as to have the doubts and
mists of many years' experience most
blessedly removed. We thought that
one instance was a significant proof that
the book had not been written in vain.
It is a subject of immense importance,
and, under the gracious operation of
the Holy Ghost, this work is eminently
calculated to cheer and establish the
timid and the wavering. That was a
touching scene in our Lord's history,
when Philip said, "Show us the Father,
and it sufficeth us. Jesus saith unto
him, Have I been so long time with
you, and yet hast thou not known me,
Philip? he that bath seen me hath seen
the Father; and how sayest thou then,
Show us the Father?" and then the
Lord proceeds to open up and strengthen
the fact of the Father's indwelling in
Him, for verily, "in Him dwelt all the
fulness of the Godhead bodily."

Now, mysterious as this subject is, it is fraught with inconceivable comfort. The doctrine of the Trinity, and of the unity in the Trinity, is full of the richest consolation to the poor, sensible sinner; for in Christ centres the love, and the grace, and the power of the Holy Three in One. Christ is sent forth by the Father as the blessed evidence, proof, and token of His eternal and unchangeable love, pity, and compassion; Christ comes forth from the bosom of the Father, as participator in His own sacred person of that love; "I lay down my life," He says, "for the sheep; I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it unto me again ;" and the Holy Ghost,

and the Son, "takes of the things of
"" He
Jesus and reveals them unto us.'
it is who, by His own essential and
indispensable light, demonstration, and
power, testifies of, and applies these
great realities to, the hearts and con-
sciences of His people.

Now the great exhibition, so to speak, in the economy of salvation is Christ. He it is who is to be seen and heard ; He it is who walked upon our earth; He it is who spake as never man spake; He it is who went about doing good. Speaking after the manner of men, there was a something tangible in His person and work-something for even poor human nature to lay hold of. Hence antichrist, hence Satan, through the Papacy, trades upon the birth, walk, miracles, death, resurrection, and ascension of Christ; simply because here is a something to be seen and sense- -[mark, heard. In a certain

reader, we say in a certain sense]—no faith is wanting; sense and reason can grasp the whole. Not so with regard to the love of the Father, and the person and work of the Holy Comforter. Here faith is absolutely necessary; because, except in two or three instances with respect to the Father, when the heavens opened, and a voice from the excellent glory was heard saying, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye Him;" there was no outward or tangible demonstration; and the same applies to the Holy Ghost, except as to what took place on the day of Pentecost. Consequently it is by faith acting in and by the operation and power of the Holy Ghost, upon the Word we are led through the Son into a personal knowledge and apprehension of God the Father. Now, the work before us, as a means, sweetly conduces to this. It puts forth this great truth in a simple and encouraging way. It opens out the sacred mystery to the edification and establishment of the reader. Hence we cordially recommend the work, which has so speedily run into a new edition.

66

We are pleased, moreover, to find, and satisfaction to state, that we handed that Mr. GRANT, the indefatigable it over to a sick and deeply-tried author, has recently issued a companion friend, who realized considerable profit volume, entitled, The Comforter." and enjoyment in its perusal. We We shall (God willing) in a very early cannot but add our conviction, that Number, take up this volume also; these two volumes must greatly increase meanwhile it affords us alike pleasure the value of any theological library.

Obituary.

cares; having no children, and being
comfortably provided for, she was a
stranger to the trials which many of the
Lord's children have to wade through.
Her time was devoted to benevolent
purposes, and to the visitation of the
sick and encouragement of young con-
verts; her moral character without
blemish. Had she then
no trials?
Yes, for there needs must be a crook in
every lot. For many years our dear
sister was harrassed with the thought of
having committed the unpardonable
sin, and seemed never to have entirely
got rid of the dread and fear on that
account, and often in great darkness
would flee to the Word, and cry out,
"Yes, Lord, I do believe." Her con-
solation was in the unfailing promise of
Christ, "Whosoever believeth in me,
though he die, yet shall he live."

ON Lord's day, March the 27th, at the residence of Mr. John Webster, minister of Bethesda Chapel, Trowbridge, Wilts, Mrs. Mary Luke, at the advanced age of 95; nearly eighty years she had been in connexion with the church of the Lord Jesus Christ, and in early life had enjoyed the ministry of the Rev. W. Huntington, of whom she ever spoke with the greatest respect. In latter years, when residing in Plymouth, she was a constant attendant upon Dr. Hawker's Lectures, at Charles Church. Our dear sister was descended from a refugee family of French extraction, and attended the French Protestant church in Hoxton with her family. Her father dying at an early age she removed to Portsea, and there joined the church under the charge of the Rev. John Griffin, in 1802. Her views on baptism having for years been altered, she was baptised by the venerable Mr. Horton, and continued in that connexion till the day of her death. She often spoke with delight of the friendships formed at Portsea, and of their important results; many of these early and revered friends are fallen asleep; but some remain, who cherish for our departed sister feelings of veneration and respect. Here she formed an acquaintance with, and was after-mon was preached from John xiv. wards married to, Mr. Thomas Luke, a gunner in the Royal Navy, a connexion which contributed to her comfort, and with whom she lived in harmony for many years. He was, for a lengthened period after their removal to Plymouth, a deacon of Mr. Horton's, Morrice Square, Devonport. The life of our dear sister was devoid of family

Well, our dear friend is gone, and is now far from fear or Satan's wiles, hymning the praises of Him who loved her, and gave Himself for her. Truly may it be said, "Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord." She was interred in the cemetery in a freehold grave, near the venerable John Warburton, on the Saturday following, attended by the pastor, deacons, and elders of the Church; the funeral ser

1-3, to a crowded and attentive con-
gregation, on the Lord's-day evening,
by her friend and pastor, with whom
she had resided for several years, and
under whose ministry she had sat for
the last twenty years.

JOHN WEBSter.
Timbrel Villa, Trowbridge,
April 8, 1859.

THE GOSPEL MAGAZINE.

"Comfort ye, comfort ye, my People, saith your God."

"Endeavouring to Keep the Unity of the Spirit in the Bond of Peace."

Jesus Christ, the same Yesterday, and To-day, and for Ever. Whom to know is Life

[blocks in formation]

Eternal."

[blocks in formation]

"And the Lord descended in a cloud, and stood with him there."

Exod. xxxiv. 5.

"In the cloud!" mark this, beloved. There is something in it, be assured. Clouds, clouds, they are dark-threatening. Poor human nature shrinks from the cloud! Even the disciples of old "feared as they entered into the cloud." Clouds! not only are they dark-not merely do they hide the sun; ah! but they are harbingers of the storm-yea, they bring the tempest; and oftentimes how sad the consequences!

How the heart sinks at sight of the clouds! What's coming now? What fresh trial! what new difficulty! what unforeseen danger! Is my God about to leave me? Is He angry? Have I vexed Him, and is He about to chastise? Have I been nursing some idol, and is He about to take it away ? Has the world engrossed too much of my thoughts, time, and affections, and is the Lord about to embitter it, and to humble me before it? Have I been nestling in my bosom one of my God's foes, and is He about to show me that "I cannot serve Christ and Belial ?" that "the friendship of the world is enmity with God?" In lieu of the compliment and the smile, am I about to hear the exulting and the satirical inquiry, "Where is thy God now? What of thy high doctrine? Where thy vain boast ?-where thy confidence? -where thy triumphant, It is well ?" "

"Oh that I had been wise! Oh that I had foreseen this! Oh that I had not taken such and such a step! How foolish was I! Why did not I take heed? Might not previous experience have shown me the probable issue? Why was I so regardless? Why did I turn a deaf ear? Why did I not construe those very misgivings into so many godly cautions and admonitions, and why did I not by them say, Speak, Lord, for thy servant heareth? Show me now Thy way, and lead me in a plain path, because of

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]
« AnteriorContinuar »