4th. And dares in the face of Jesus Christ to look at eternity. We must now hasten on or we shall have our dear Editor saying "we cannot allow you so much space G. C."-So we'll come at once. Chapel, Bermondsey; subject-the trial of William Palmer." Will this do, child of God, for a "Sabbath evening" treat for you? Away with such trash. What is the "Food for the flock ?" Our Lord's gracious assertion meets the inquiry; 3rdly. The "food" for the flock. He says, My flesh is meat indeed, and Starving Sabbaths sicken for the week's my blood is drink indeed." We are anxieties, while a refreshing in the pre- quite aware that, from this precious assence of the Lord in His sanctuary seems sertion the Church of Rome deduces its to brace up for fresh battles. To be in the flagrant dogma of the corporeal presence Spirit on the Lord's day-how sweet of Jesus at the sacrament. We are also the influence how substantial the joys! aware that obtuse and abstruse theologi how strengthening the tendency! And cal works have been written by both there is nothing that brings about this Evangelical and Tractarian preachers of happy state of things like a pure whole- the Established Church from this passome ministry, where Christ is made sage; but we have read none of them. "All and in all;" where there is pre- With our Bible in our hand, and a feelsenting Him to the eye of faith in all ing sense of the requirements of the life His perfection, in all His suitableness, of God in the soul, our simple view of in all His loveliness of character, and in the Lord's assertion is as follows:all His blessed work and righteousness" My flesh is meat indeed." The becompletely wrought out for a poor per- liever in Him shall be nourished and supishing sinner; and oh! how mortifying ported throughout his career homewards to the parched soul to have a precious by all those spiritual benefits and blessings Christ brought out to faith's view, so which accrue from Jesus, having by covethat there is a beginning to taste and nunt arrangement become the God-Man. feel the sweetness of the food, when the" My blood is drink indeed." The sumview dissolves, and there comes forward, ming up all by the shedding of His in its place, the dungeons of self-the precious blood, has brought pardon and monasteries of creature righteousness-peace to the poor hell-deserving sinner; so the frigid influence of a co-partnership that we may consider His doing, or the in the matter the rattling of the chains of the poor fettered prisoner-you show him his pardon in the King's name, and tantalize him by telling him to come through those bars and fetch it. But, beloved, it behoves us to inquire what may be considered the "food" for the flock. Dr. WATTS* sings of grace, benefits therefrom, as the meat.indeed, and His dying, or the efficacy thereof, as the blood indeed. Here we might, did space allow, trace our adorable Saviour throughout His earthly course, and see how every point of His character and work becomes our meat indeed and we believe that Christ's doing should dovetail into the "That lights our passions to a flame;" Christian's daily march; he should move and of heaven as a place where we as a member of His mystical body. Christian! here is a touchstone for you. *Shall pluck new life from heavenly trees." Are you, for instance, giving way to an Child of God will this flowery bowery excited temper, or acting otherwise unfood suit you? Well, then, here is ano- becomingly? Think of this. A Christher sort of food presented for your crav-tian should move as a member of His ing" A sermon will be preached on mystical body; he should take his Master Sunday Evening Next, at Jamaica Row as his model; he should strive to possess and exercise the mind and spirit of the * Dear Reader, do not mistake us by think- Saviour; the God-Man should be his ing that we are censuring Dr. WATTS's hymus. guiding-star. There are some sweet and most blessed hymns Christian; a loving Christ, a loving A lowly Christ, a lowly in the doctor's book that have cheered on many Christian; a sympathizing Christ, a a saint of God; but we do say some expres sions therein, while highly poetical, are de- sympathizing Christian; a cross-bearing cidedly unscriptural. But, above all, keep Christ, a cross-bearing Christian; yea, clear of that pretty, fauciful, gurgling stream, even a crucified Christ, a crucified Chrisknown by the name of "Lynch's Rivulet." tian: as far, mark! as example and disBeware! beware! its surface may be smooth cipline go. Otherwise He was the suband enticing, but underneath it has entwin-stitute and the sufferer; we are the ing weeds which will drag you down into a saved and the solaced. He fronted the most dangerous embrace. enemy, and made a passage; we pass "Give me through the passage thus made unscarred. are expanded through such training, and His whole work, in all its bearing, may by the help of such food. well become "meat indeed" to our Christ, or else I die; I shall grow lansouls; the blessings therefrom will sus-guid and sickly; let me hear of His name tain throughout the journey homewards and fame-let me daily learn Him. and then also his blood is "drink indeed." Away with the trash of a flesh-pleasing We can easily arrive at how it is so, if ministry. Strip the dish of its creature we ask ourselves the question, "What garnishing, and give me the pure Pashas it it done for us?" Yes, in His blood my sins are drowned, And with my Lord I shall be crowned; To sing through everlasting day, My Jesus took my sins away. Precious blood! This is what we want from the pulpit. Bring out the Paschal Lamb; away with the tinselled altarcovering. We want not subjects foreign to this great subject. In Christ there is "meat indeed," and "drink indeed;" in Him the child of God sees such a fulness, such depths, such heights, such breadths, that he wants no other theme in the sanctuary. He finds Christ to be marrow and fatness, and that there is no such thing as becoming a stalwart Christian, unless his spiritual muscles and sinews chal Lamb. Beloved, what subject can be sweeter than this that has occupied us as our that we poor creatures of a day shall be monthly conversation with you, the fact ished, brought up, and brought through supported and sustained by Deity-nourthis thorn-strewed journey of life? Oh! when such a theme assumes its reality before us, how paltry everything that this dying world presents seems. Depend upon it, our peace, comfort, and establishment in the Divine life are proportioned to our living upon Jesus. Farewell, beloved. It is no slight mercy to be feeding upon this "meat indeed," and this drink indeed;" and to be enabled to say with Isaiah, HE IS OUR REFRESHING.' رو May the Lord own and bless these few scattered "Notes" to the strengthening of his people, and His dear name shall have all the glory. Amen. 5, Oliver Terrace West, G. C. 46 BIBLE WORDS. To the Editor of the Gospel Magazine. DEAR FRIEND,-Our next word is "From Thee the over-flowing spring, Our souls shall ever drink a fresh supply." 'Day after day, "Till from Fountains above, We drink in draughts of everlating love;" as in Rev. vii. 16, 7, they shall thirst no living fountains of water. Perhaps the more, for the Lamb shall lead them to want supplied (of fresh enjoyment of His love) even before felt. Again, Isa. xl. ix. 10, they shall not thirst, "For he that hath mercy on them shall lead them" -the same Almighty Shepherd feeding "Our first reference is Isa. lv. "Ho, his flock in heaven. Again, Isa. lxv. 13, every one that thirsteth come to the"My servants shall drink, but ye shall waters; hearken diligently unto me, be thirsty" what a contrast! the thirst let your soul delight itself in fatness." of the one satisfied with exactly what O, is it not drinking in Jesu's words that suited its need, while the other is unrefreshes the thirsty soul, as in next re- satisfied, for ever. Again, Psal. xlii. 2, ference, John iv. 13, "If any man thirst, let him come to me and drink!" O, may Is to feel our need of Him." My soul thirsteth for God," nothing less can satisfy-friendship with God for ever: again, Psal. cxliii. 6, "My soul thirsteth after thee, as a thirsty land;" again, Matt. v. 6, "Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled;" now every longing of their heart fully satisfied by Him, who as Neh. ix. 15, "Broughtest forth water for them out of the rock for Thus God the Father, God the Son, L. G. WORDS FOR THE WEAK AND WEARY. J. M., SURREY.-Remember it is | nostrils," and the want of sympathy through much tribulation we must in an earthly brother, will show you enter the kingdom." Amid all your more fully the value and the preciousfears it is clear that you do not lack ness of a Brother born for adversity," this family feature. The rest in Jesus of "a friend that sticketh closer than you have sought will be the sweeter a brother." Jesus will not suffer Himfor the delay; and the more poor self to be supplanted by earthly ties helpless nature is foiled, the stronger and human relationships; hence the the conviction that the blessing, when painful but profitable lessons one has bestowed, is of Divine Sovereignty, and oftentimes to learn of human frailty rich, discriminating grace. Your recent where, naturally, one might look for disappointment is to teach you to sympathy and affection. cease from man, whose breath is in his THE SOUL CLEAVING TO JESUS. "Who is this that cometh up from the wilderness, leaning upon her beloved?” WHO is this. I see approaching, From the wilderness she's coming, Is her precious, precious Lord! But see how heavily she's leaning Song viii. 5. On her own Alinighty Friend; Her Beloved had been with her, As her Guide throughout the way; Found his promises refreshing, Fed and lived upon his word; Holy converse oft enjoying, Sweet the moments as they fled;. Of his kingdom, and his crown; On her own Beloved's throne. Thus amidst her perfect weakness, She is pressing on her way; Sing loud her song of gladness, "Jesus is my Joy and Stay." But she still is cleaving closer To her own Beloved's side; Shortly will the marriage union M. E. L PREFACE TO GURNALL'S" CHRISTIAN IN COMPLETE To the Editor of the Gospel Magazine. MY DEAR FRIEND AND BROTHER,I have no doubt that you, and many of your readers are acquainted with that precious work-the CHRISTIAN IN COMPLETE ARMOUR, by W. GURNALL-yet perhaps few have read the preface to the first edition, as I find several copies are printed without it. I have got it copied out for you, and have no doubt it will be read with profit, if you will insert it in the Magazine. Let us have it all in one number. I am one of those who think that pieces lose half their interest by being served up at two or three different times. 66 Excuse my freedom, and believe me, any of you stand fast in the Lord, and die as I see others stand fast in their sins, not to be moved with the entreaties of the Gospel, which have wooed you; and why should not the life of your souls be much more precious in your own sight than mine. But I forbear; I would not willingly be thought, as some husbands are, to be kinder to you abroad before. strangers, than I am at home.' What I present you with in this Treatise, is a dish from your own table, and so (I hope) will go down the better. You cannot despise (though the fare be mean), except you blame yourselves, who chose the book. I cannot be earnest with others, to bestow so much time as to read over these plain sermons, lest it should be to their loss; it were but to call them from gathering sheaves in the more fruitful labours of others, to glean a few ears, MY DEAR FRIENDS.-Solomon saith, and those but thin also, in mine; yet with The desire of a man is his kindness, you, my people, I may be a little bold. and a poor man is better than a liar," Physicians say the mother's milk, though (Prov. xix. 22). If you be of his mind, not so weighty as another's, if no noxious I dare promise these notes (which I here humour be tasted in it, because natural, devote to your service) a kind acceptance is more proper for the child than a at your hands. You will find me to be stranger's. And I think it would not be the poor man by the mite I present you an error, if I should say it held in the with; but the hearty desire of your eter-milk which the minister gives to his nal happiness, from which it comes, will (I hope) clear me from being the liar. I never could be so serviceable to you as many ministers are to their people, having been with you in much weakness, and still it is the good pleasure of God I should be staked down to a short tedder of strength and other abilities; I have reason, therefore (that I may, though not recompence that want, yet express my deep sense thereof), to crowd the more love into the little I can do for you-and truly my heart is enlarged to you, and to God, for you. If anything makes me loth to be gone into another world, (which my drooping house bids me above many to prepare for) it is not the least to think I shall leave no more of you walking in the way to eternal life, and you who are on your way thither in no closer Gospel order for your mutual help and comfort in your journey; yea, while I am among you, little do you think how much of your poor minister's life lies at your mercy. If I should measure my life by the joy of it, then in uprightness I can say with Paul, I live as I see flock. A people conscientiously lying at the breasts of their own minister (if the milk he gives be wholesome), may expect the blessing of God for their nourishment, though it has not so much lusciousness to please the curious taste as some others. Well, whatever these sermons were, some of those few spirits which you found in hearing, will be missing in the reading of them. It is as easy to paint fire with the heat, as with pen and ink to commit that to paper, which occurs in preaching. There is as much difference between a sermon in the pulpit and printed in a book, as between milk in the warm breast, and in a sucking bottle; yet what it loseth in the lively taste is recompenced by the convenience of it. The book may be at hand when the preacher cannot; and truly,. that's the chief end of printing, that as the bottle and spoon is used when the mother is sick or out of the way, so the book, to quiet the Christian and stay his stomach in the absence of the Ordinance. He that readeth sermons and good books at home, to save his pains of going, to S AUG you, hear, is a thief to his soul in a religious | a great question some years past, Who habit; he consults for his ease, but not are you for? the not giving a good ac for his profit; he eats cold meat when he count to which hath cost many a life. may have hot; he hazards the losing the My dear friends, think solemnly what benefit of both by contemning of one. answer you mean to give to God and If the spouse could have had her beloved conscience, when they in a dying hour at home, she needed not to have coursed shall ask every one of Who art the streets and waited on the public. O thou for? It is an incomparable mercy, what need we offer sacrilege for sacrifice that you are yet where you may choose -rob God of one duty to pay another? your side: it will not be ever so-maybe He hath laid our work in better order; not a day to an end. If once in another one wheel would not interfere with ano-world, you must then stand to your cother if we did more regularly. A chief lours; now you may run from the devil's part of David's Arithmetic of numbering quarters, and be taken into Christ's pay. our days lies in what we call division, The drum beats in the Gospel for volunas to cast the account of this our short teers. O, the Lord make you willing in life, so as to divide the whole sum thereof the day of His power. I know you into the several portions of time due for the performing of every duty in. An instrument is not in tune, except it have all the strings, and those will not make good music, if the musician hath not wisdom to cause every string to speak in its due time; the Christian is not in tune, except he takes in all the duties of his place and calling; neither will the performance of them be harmonious in God's ear, if every one be not done in its proO, my friends, labour not only to do the duty of your place, but that duty in its own place also.. Hear when ye should hear. Know your time for closet, and time for shop; and when your retiring hour comes, a few minutes now and then spent in taking a repetition of what formerly you heard, shall not another day be reckoned with your lost time. per season. all would be on the surest side. O, what can you be sure of while under the devil's ensign, but damnation? The curse of God cleaves to him, and all that takes part with him. O, let not the little plunder and spoil of sinful pleasures and pelf, bewitch you still to follow his camp. What is that soldier better for his booty he gets in a fight, who, before he can get off with it, is slain upon the place? It is that thou must certainly look for. The piece is charged, and aim taken at thy breast, which will be thy eternal death if thou persist. God's threatening will go off at last, and then, where art thou? where, but in hell, where thy wedge of gold and Babylonish garment, thy wages of unrighteousness, will do thee little stead? O, neighbours! I am loth to leave you in the way where God's bullets fy; The subject of the treatise is solemn; but I must have a word for you, my a war between the Saint and Satan, and Christian friends, who espoused Christ's that so bloody that the cruelest which quarrel, and are in the field against Saever was fought by men, will be found tan: my heart is towards you, who have but sport and child's play to this. Alas! thus willingly offered yourselves among what is the killing of bodies to the des- the Lord's people to his help against the troying of souls? It is a sad meditation, mighty. He can destroy him without indeed, to think how many thousands you, but he takes your love as kindly as have been sent to the grave in a few late if he could not. God hath sent me (as years among us by the sword of man; Jesse did David) with this little present but far more astonishing to consider how to you and the rest of my brethren that many of those may be sent to hell by the are in his camp. May it be but to the word of God's wrath. It is a spiritual strengthening of your hearts and hands war you shall read of, and not a history in fighting the Lord's battles, and I shall of what was fought many ages past, but bless God that put it into my heart of what now is doing; the tragedy is at thus to visit you. O, hold on, dear present acting, and that not at the fur-friends, in your Christian warfare! let thest end of the world, but what concerns none take the crown from you. Whet thee and every one who reads it. The your courage at the throne of grace, from stage whereon this war is fought is every whence all your recruits of soul-strength man's soul. There is none neuter in come. Send faith oft up the hill of the this war; the whole world is engaged in the quarrel, either for God against Sa4an, or for Satan against God. It was promise, to see and bring you the certain news of Christ's coming to you-yea, for you, and assured victory with him." Read |