"I will deliver you." Keep close to | able forebodings come to nothing. We Him, no danger, no difficulty will, or feared a shadow-a something which can so overwhelm you, but what you will never existed-forgetting the Lord's experience" the Lord is faithful." word-"He that toucheth you, toucheth Death's view may in weak moments cause you some trembling, but remember-"Oh death, where is thy sting? Oh grave, where is thy victory ? Thanks be to God, who giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." Triumph, hallelujah, Jesus reigneth, and we shall reign with Him for ever and ever. the apple of mine eye." What a blessed life would believers lead, did they but believe that all God's decrees should be fulfilled; that all their cares and anxieties cannot turn one hair white or black; that He, the Eternal God, knowing the end from the beginning, has also in his wise and sovereign purposes decreed the My fellow-pilgrim in this journey of means: or, would the all-wise God delife, do you go to the Lord for direction cree the end, and leave the obtaining of under your every trial? Are you so that end, the fulfilment of his all-wise firmly convinced that God's providence will, to an uncertain will of man, a poor, ruleth all things, even the very least? frail, unchangeable being? Away with Does it lead you to Him to guide and such degrading views of the Jehovah! direct you? Is the glory of God that Known unto God are all his works from for which He made all things the chief the beginning of the world, Acts xv. 18. plea in your prayer? The world, we Or, how could the Lord say to Daniel know, go to the world for counsel; they xii. 13,-" Thou shalt stand in thy lot forsooth, think that it is beneath the at the end of the days,"-if God had not dignity of God to trouble Himself, as I decreed it, and had it in his own power have often heard it said, with these trifles. so to effect it? If people have a free-What! beneath the dignity of a father will, as some say, what will become of to feel for, to listen to, and supply all God's providences, or of the prophecies ? his beloved children's need? (Phil. iv). Or, has God no power? Is He a You, beloved of your Father, you know Monarch who has no power to cause his that every blessing is secure in covenant will to be obeyed? This is indeed to love. This holy confidence again, show- bring Him down lower than any earthly eth that we, poor helpless creatures, feel sovereign! You shrink from this thought, the need of God's protecting care. The and yet, are you not daily acting, as if you life of David furnishes us with abundant did believe the LORD to be such a proofs of this kind care. The sojourning powerless being? Your anxieties and of the children of Israel through the wil- carefulness plainly prove how little you derness, what glorious instances does feel, when you pray "thy will be done." this give us of His protecting power. Ah! did we know and feel more the Think of Jacob, Daniel, the three youths sweet, the precious meaning of the word in the fiery furnace; Jeremiah, the "Father," how blessedly should we roll apostles, your own life, with mine, affords our every care with child-like confidence us ample proof of the Lord's merciful upon Him who loves our assurance and forbearance and protecting watchfulness. praises, as much as our prayers; and inI, at least, know that mine does, and with deed what are prayers without faith? thankfulness sometimes trace back this The apostle James assures us, "that a protecting love and care. Ah! where, faithless man is like a wave of the sea, where should I have been had his un- tossed to and fro by every wind." And seen hand not protected me, and pre- did Jesus undergo all his sufferings, envented me from sinking? I know where. dure every trial, experience every tempAh yes! in everlasting damnation, which tation, that He for your sakes might be I so richly deserve!-thine, O Lord, be a sympathizing High-Priest, and you not all the glory! The examples in God's trust in Him? Has the Father given word, the experience of our own lives, you to his beloved Son for an eternity of should teach us to trust the LORD, re-bliss? and will you doubt the end, whilst membering—" Trust ye in the Lord for the Spirit assures us, that "whom He ever, for in the Lord Jehovah is ever- loveth once, He loveth unto the end ?" lasting strength." Look at all God's Ah! how degrading to Jesus' finished promises, above all to Christ, in whom all these promises are everlastingly yea and amen. How ashamed should we not feel of our wretched doubts and fears! how oft have we not seen all our miser salvation work, how mistrustful of God's eternal decrees, how unthankful to the Spirit's work in your heart. Look upward-"the Eternal God is thy Refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms.' In the 3rd place. Thankful joy. If the Jehovah's help causes thankful remembrance; if it encourages to holy confidence, it no less creates holy joy! How sweetly does the prophet Isaiah, in that delightful little song, the 12th chapter, set forth the believer as he should live, and through grace does live: holy faith inspired by the blessed Spirit, for it is his work alone in the heart; causes this trusting upon the Lord, and enables the believer to sing, and with joy to draw waters out of the wells of salvation; for, although I have no doubt but it is a prophecy of the glory of the Lord Jesus upon the earth, when He shall have brought in, and gathered together the outcasts of Israel, when He shall unite Jew and Gentile in one fold, under one Shepherd! yet the believer feels the sweets of this blessing now in his spirit-he draws with joy! Well may he draw again and again! deep, unfathomable deep is this well! deep as God's sovereign love! high as heaven! precious as the whole of redemption! and ah! who of all God's dear children can ever express the preciousness of this finished salvation work? the Spirit's teaching opening a new and afresh the mines of God's love to the poor believer, "For ever telling, yet untold." blessed Spirit, bringing home the pro- much for the presence of Christ in your soul. What will make heaven so blessed, but the presence of the LORD Jesus? And shall not these mercies create a holy, a Give Him no rest here, He is ever nigh! thankful joy? shall not the bliss of being Make Him your Confident, and you will chosen by the Father from all eternity never be disappointed. Look to Jesus as a vessel of mercy to be saved from all in expectation daily, hourly, of his precisin by "the one offering of Christ upon ous coming. How cheerfully, yea, how the cross," and from all the consequences triumphantly does the life of the believer of sin hereafter; of having the Spirit roll on, in spite of the cloudy hours or witnessing with our spirit, that we are days which hover over him, whilst exthe children of God, fellow-heirs with pecting to hear the sound of the trumpet Christ Jesus! shall not the blessings calling, awaking his people! what joy, flowing from God's eternal love; of regeneration; separating us from the world; sinking upon, and hanging on Christ; enabling us by faith to live above this world, and out of love, feel that love is the best antidote against sin, a sweet resignation to all God's will, enabling us to say, Father, thy will be done?" Shall not all the blessings of the ordinances of the Gospel, whilst we are here in this wilderness, surrounded by enemies, assaulted on every side, beset by sin within and without; yet having the Gospel to comfort us by the what rapture, what glory shall possess your soul; eye has not seen, nor has ear heard! True, but it is glory unspeakable. Now, then, rejoice, rejoice! the Lord will come, and come a second time without sin unto salvation. In holy rapture and boundless joy God's believing people take up the song-and say, Come, O come, thou precious Jesus, Amen. To be continued. BIBLE-WORDS.NO. 4. DEAR FRIEND,-Our next word is Rev. our precious Saviour loved to be thought xxi. 6, "I am Omega" (the end). Is of each moment, by all his children in not the little word I very sweet? as if heaven and earth; that whether they think of what has been begun, or will be | What thanks we owe thee, and what love, Oh, that we felt more entire dependence 66 even the salvation of our souls." 6, that of government peace of Jesus, there will be no end. As (Psal. cvi. 27), " Thy years shall have no end." Ruling for ever over his happy redeemed people, as (Heb. vii. 3), having neither beginning of days, or end of life, as to His divinity; yet as we read (Luke xxii. 37), "The things concerning him had an end." As to his work on earth, days of his also with all his people; as we read in mourning came to an end; as they will Matt. xiii. 34, "At harvest, end of the world, when they will all be gathered into his barn." As (Dan. x. 13), "Each Again, Jer. xxix. 11, "I know the stand in their lot at end of the days." thoughts I think towards you, thoughts of As (Dan. viii. 12), "At the time appeace, and not of evil, to give you an expect-pointed will the end come." As (Isa. ed end." Is it not, as if his thoughts of love xlvi. 10), "Appointed by Him who deto his poor people, were much occupied clares end from beginning. with this expected end, when He will say to each with joy, "Your winter is past, and time of singing is come." As James v. 11, "Ye have seen the end of the Lord, that He is very pitiful, and of tender mercy;" pities his poor people in their sorrows, which there is a needs be they should pass through on their way to their journey's end. But as (Eccl. vii. 8), "With them the end is better than the beginning" they will then with wonder, Think on toils and dangers past, when enjoying, as Rom. viii. 22, the end, everlasting life, having had their fruit unto holiness. Happy for us, as Isa. ix. Again, (Matt. xxiv. 14)," Gospel shall be preached, as a witness to all nations then shall the end come." Again, (2 Pet. iv. 7), which we may well choose as our closing reference, "The end of all things is at hand; be sober, and watch unto prayer;" 17th verse, "What shall the end be of those who obey not the Gospel? Say ye to the righteous, it shall be well with them; but woe unto the wicked, it shall be ill with them." Dublin. Yours, &c., L. G. A REMARKABLE DISPLAY OF THE SOVEREIGN MERCY OF GOD, IN THE CONVERSION AND HAPPY DEATH OF A YOUNG MAN, WHO DIED IN THE 21ST YEAR OF HIS AGE. "The memory of the just is blessed."-Prov. x. 7. "It is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy. ."-Rom. ix. 16. was Francis. I said, Yes. She said she was desired to call on me, and request me to be so kind as to visit a young man who was very ill. I consented. She left his address, and departed. MY DEAR FRIEND,-The deeply-inter- | SOME time ago an elderly woman came esting and touching narrative that accom- to my door, and asked me if my name panies this, I had copied from a book in my possession, but out of print, so I suppose there would be no impropriety in your printing it, either for the Magazine, or separately, if you thought it advisable. Doubtless you have often heard of dear Old Francis, the Baptist Minister, who went to see this young man. Unspeakably blessed arrangement! affording under realization, a calm, settled conviction, that "He doth ALL things well." Yours in the best bonds, M. L. R. Having attended many sick persons, and generally finding their distress to arise from the alarms of natural conscience at the approach of death, and that such persons, at these seasons, look anywhere rather than to Jesus for relief; so they often send for one they suppose to be a saint, in order to make him a mediator between God and them; This furnished me with text and sermon, and my tongue was as the pen of a and their prayers a bridge to bear them over the stream, knowing of no better atonement than this. Hence their lan-ready writer. I said in my heart, I shall guage is, "Give us of your oil, for our lamps are gone out." I mention this, not as an excuse, but as the real ground of my discouragement and backwardness in attending to many calls of this sort that I have had, and do have continually. The promised visit, through a multiplicity of concerns and those very feelings, was delayed for perhaps two or three days; when the old woman came again to my house, and after apologizing for troubling me, said that the young man was still very desirous of seeing me. I made an apology for my non-attendance, and promised her I would be with him soon. Accordingly I went. Upon entering the room, I saw a young man sitting in an arm-chair, apparently in a deep decline. I sat down by him, and conversed very seriously with him about his neverdying soul, and endeavoured, in as plain a way as possible, to speak of sin, its nature and consequences, and the way of salvation by Christ Jesus. He listened with great attention, but scarcely said a word. Upon committing him into God's hand in prayer, with all that had been said to him, and about to leave the room, he pressed my hand, and looking earnestly in my face, said, have no more need of the old woman coming after me, but if spared, will soon see you again. I went to prayer with him, and he appeared to join with me in heart. Upon leaving the room, he took me by the hand, and with great earnestness and affection said, "Sir, you will not make it long before you come again ?" I I answered, "No; if God spare me, will see you again soon. On my third visit, I perceived his eyes brighten. On my entering the room, he said, 66 Sir, I am very glad to see you.” I sat down, and discoursed with him; and he opened his heart more freely than he had done before, saying, "I am a poor, sinful, vile, young man; I am but twenty years and a half old, and I have spent these years in sin; and never, till the hand of God was laid heavy upon me, did I feel the least concern about my soul; I will hereafter tell you all about it; at present, if I speak my mind, I cannot help saying (strange as you may think it) I now and then have a little hope. I, even I, do sometimes entertain a hope of being saved; and sure I am, that if ever Christ saves such a wretch as I, there can be none in all heaven that will have cause to sing louder. But I have a very important question to ask, which, if you should be enabled to answer, will afford me great relief: it is this as I before observed, a little hope now and then breaks in upon my mind, amidst ten thousand fears, lest my hope should be but presumption; at such a time, and when in Sir, I hope you will excuse my trou-possession of this hope, I am preparing bling you; but the young man feels very anxious to see you again." "I hope, Sir, it will not be long before I see you again." I replied, "If the Lord please, I will see you again soon." A few days had elapsed after my visit, when I again beheld the old woman making up to my door. She addressed me thus 66 I said, Tell him I will shortly call upon him." perhaps to go to rest; and bolstered up in the bed (for I cannot lie down), I endeavour to commit myself into the hands of God, praying that if He should take I went, and entered into a long dis- me before morning, I may be found saved course with him. While I was speak-in the Lord. When I feel this hope, I ing, he several times interrupted me, to ask questions of such a nature as revived my heart, and induced me to hope that God had taken him under his tuition, and that my labour would not be in vain in the Lord. The inquiries he made were to this effect : "Whether God ever left his people to spend all their days in sin, and then saved them at last? What repentance was; how we might know that we were not deluded ?" &c., &c. can pray and praise, love and adore, and can bear anything the Lord puts upon me, continually wondering that I am out of hell; and at times the Lord appears to hear my prayer, and grant me a comfortable night; but the next morning, perhaps instead of feeling humble and thankful, and disposed to pray, I often find my heart as hard as a stone, and can neither pray nor praise, though sensibly loaded with favours; here, then, is my difficult question, Could this happy frame overnight have been from the Lord, and I feel so dull, hard, and stupid, the very next morning?" "My dear friend," said I, "before I attempt to answer your question, permit me to ask you a very plain one. Do you think, supposing that you could retain the happiest frame of mind, that ever you had, from morning till evening, and from evening again until morning, incessantly and uninterruptedly-do you think this would atone for one of your sins ?" To which he replied (putting his hand into his waistcoat pocket), Struck with surprise, which I endea voured to conceal, I said in a seemingly indifferent way, "Who marked out these?" He replied, "I did, Sir." I inquired, "What was your motive for doing it ?" He answered, "I will freely tell you. My mother, with whom I live, knows not God, nor the way of salvation. I feel frequently a very great concern about her eternal welfare; and as I have expressed to you before, I dare not say I am without hope (wretch as I am), but that by the sove "I think this will answer that ques-reign grace of God I shall be saved at tion." last; though this hope is accompanied with a thousand doubts. Wishing to communicate to her, in as plain a way as possible, the sole ground of my hope of life and salvation, it came into my mind the other day, while sitting in my chair, to make use of this simple hieroglyphical representation of the same; to show that it was not upon the ground of my prayers, tears, and repentance, that I hoped for mercy, but that it was entirely drawn from a hope of an interest in the blood and righteousness of Christ." At such a testimony as this my very heart and conscience replied, Thou art saved! and I secretly blessed God that I had been called to visit him. Surely this third visit was a useful one to my soul; nor do I think it was unprofitable to him. At length we parted, but not without difficulty; for I hardly knew how to leave him, and he was unwilling to let me go. After committing him into God's hand, which I did with thanksgiving, I left him for that time. I soon paid him another visit, when, upon my entering the room, he smiled on me with something of heaven in his countenance; and holding up his hand, which was little else beside skin and bone, he exclaimed, "Look at this thin hand, Sir, and though I am such a poor pitiable object, I would not exchange situations with the most blooming youth in the land; for I am persuaded that this body of mine will be eternally glorified with Christ." I replied, "If you were to doubt it yourself, I would not dare to doubt it concerning you." We instantly fell into a most profitable discourse, in the course of which he said, "I one day promised to tell you how I first came to have any real concern about my soul. I was bound apprentice to a good man, but was loosely and wick |