Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

دو

one of the vilest sinners of the human race. A little before he died, when he thought himself within a few hours of dissolution he said "I have often thought it a hard thing to die, but now I find it a very easy thing to die, the presence of Christ makes it easy, the joy I feel from a sense of the love of God to sinners, from the thought of being with the Saviour, of being free from a sinful heart, and of enjoying the presence of God for ever, is more than I can express, O how different are my thoughts of God, and of myself, and of another world, from what they were when I lost my precious limbs on board the Venerable; it was a precious loss to me, if I had not lost my legs I should perhaps have lost my soul." With elevated and clasped hands, and with eyes glistening earnestness through the tears which flowed down his face, he said, "O my dear minister, I pray you, when I am dead, to preach a funeral sermon for a poor sailor, and tell others, especially sailors, who are as ignorant and wicked as I was, that poor blaspheming Covey found mercy with God, through faith in the blood of Christ. Tell them, that since I have found mercy none that seek it need to despair; you know better than I do what to say to them, but, Oh be in earnest with them, and may the Lord grant that my wicked neighbours and fellow sailors, may find mercy, as well

ás Covey. He said much more, but the last words he uttered were Hallelujah! Hallelujah!"

REFLECTIONS.

How much, under God, are we indebted to the bravery of our British seamen, and how high a claim these intrepid, and frequently mangled warriors, have on our gratitude and liberality. Their sufferings demand our sympathy; and their privations, the exercise of our generosity.

Let us adore the Divine condescension, in looking with pity, on this chief of sinners. And let us, ourselves, take encouragement from such an extraordinary sinner having obtained mercy. It is by such instances as this, of Covey, that the hopes of the humble, are encouraged; the arrogance of the vain, is checked; and the devotion and gratitude of the genuine christian, are cherished and invigorated. O matchless Grace! how free in its source! how sovereign in its objects and how invincible in its operations! See in this most brave, but abandoned seaman, a change, which surely all will admit to be the effect of the agency of the Holy Spirit. Here is a work, which is super-human.

Yes, the origin of that power, by which the will of Covey was led to embrace Christ, must be sought, not in fallen man, but in that God, whose high prerogative it is to be characterized, as the God of salvation. How extraordinary the dream! and, how exact its accomplishment! This dream, which we may call prophetic, was not from Covey himself. If not directly from God, it must have been, either from re presentations made to his mind, by disembodied, or angelic spirits, instructed and commissioned from God: and it shows, that what are called contingencies, are perfectly known to God; for what could be more contingent, than whether poor Covey should lose one, EITHER, or BOTH his legs, in the action? He, like all sinners, was in respect of spiritual things, according to his dream, out of his mind. All his actions were directed to a wrong end. For momentary gratifications, he was sacrificing his soul. Reader, is this thy case; may God correct thy misapprehensions; and determine thy choice aright. How admirably adapted was the discourse of this truly estimable Calvinist independent minister, to Covey's case! Nor let us over look the wonderful, and all directing providence of God in this affair; for, "The works of the Lord are great, sought out of all them that have pleasure therein. Despair, we are informed, for a while took

hold of his spirits. A conviction of our ruined condition, as sinners; and the absolute necessity of obtaining forgiveness, from a justly offended God; always, and necessarily, precedes a believing application to Christ for salvation. We fly to the refuge, under the consciousness of danger; and we apply to the physician, from a feeling sense of the dreadful malady of sin.

See, in this vessel of mercy, the influence of faith in the welcome tidings of pardon and eternal life, through Christ alone. His was, not a speculative faith in the gospel-it was a faith, which in its operative influence, almost over-whelmed him with pleasure having much forgiven, he loved much.

Who can read the account of dear Covey's affection to sinners, his deep self-abasement, his animated gratitude to God, and his triumphant exultation, in the prospect of eternity, without being filled with admiration of those noble principles, of doctrine and action, which thus enlarge, purify, and elevate the soul: and which, as we see in the case before us, disarms death of its terrors; blasts the Jaurels of the Grave; and opens the king. dom of heaven to all believers,

A GOOD WIFE A GREAT

BLESSING.

One Sunday, when I had done reading prayers at Madeley, I went up into the pulpit, intending to preach a sermon, which I had prepared for that purpose; but my mind was so confused, that I could not recollect either my text, or any part of my sermon. I was afraid I should be obliged to come down without saying any thing. But having recollected myself a little, I thought I would say something on the first lesson, which was the third chapter of Daniel, containing the account of the three children cast into the fiery furnace : I found in doing it, such an extraordinary assistance from God, and such a peculiar enlargement of heart, that I supposed there must be some peculiar cause for it; I, therefore desired, if any of the congregation found any thing particular, they would acquaint me with it the ensuing week.

In consequence of this, the Wednesday after, a woman came, and gave me the following account: "I have been for some time much concerned about my

« AnteriorContinuar »