ends, together with anything more that kind friends may send me in the meantime. 66 Truly, the "Praise Such, dear friends, has been the marvellous result of my appeal at the close of last year. What shall we say to these things? Lord hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad." Him all ye His people!" "Bless the Lord, O my soul!" Little did I think in December that more than two hundred would respond to my appeal for Ashantee; little did I think the work would branch out in the way it has. Feeling the movement is entirely of the Lord's doing, I trust to continue sending out parcels of precious seed to our garrison towns and naval stations, providing friends will go on furnishing my basket with good things. Already I hear of large parcels on the way. One correspondent writes:-"I beg to offer you, if acceptable, some few years of the GOSPEL MAGAZINE, say, commencing at 1850, to the present time." Another lady says: -"I have a lot of GOSPEL MAGAZINES, &c.; also some of Huntington's volumes, which I should be pleased to send you for the gracious object you have in view." A third party writes:-"Having just had a Memoir, written by my late fatherin-law, reprinted, shall I send fifty copies, with some others, which may prove useful by the blessing of the Lord?" A fourth letter enquires if some monthly parts, or bound volumes, of the "Gospel Advocate" and Gospel Truths" would be welcome." 66 Truly in all this the Lord's voice is heard on the waters; and shall I, dear Lord, say no when Thou art so plainly telling me to go forward? I need hardly say there are many little expenses connected with the carrying out of this work, which amount to a good round sum in the aggregate, making it burdensome for one to bear, but which might easily be borne by many-realizing the work to be from the Lord, and for His glory. I feel free to make this statement, and to ask kind friends to help me in this matter. But it may be asked, what expenses are there to meet ? First, there is postage, no small item; secondly, there are additional and other charges on parcels received (it being impossible for the sender to pay the full carriage through London, or when the parcel has to travel over more than one company's line); then there is the cost of packing and sending the boxes from Salisbury to the port of embarkation. I ought to mention that the friend who kindly undertook to defray the incidental expenses of the box for Ashantee has reimbursed me £2 11s. 2d., which sum I had paid away up to the 10th inst. I may mention, for God's glory, that this gentleman's kind offer was in answer to prayer, and I cannot but believe that other friends will come forward in the same way, to help on this gracious work for the Lord amongst our soldiers and sailors. Another way of promoting this good cause, would be for readers of free-grace magazines to obtain from me the name and address of some Christian seaman or soldier, to whom they might forward their spare monthlies. Another plan would be, for parties living near each other to make up a box of sound reading, apprise me of the same, and I would send them an address, and procure a passage for the box in some man-of-war. This way would save time, trouble, and expense. Others might wish to make some Christian soldier or sailor a present of Hawker's Portions, or some other sound work that the little flock of this regiment, and that ship, might cluster around, and hear the wonderful works of God. How often I hear the cry, "I cannot support this society, it is so sectarian; I cannot help that movement, it is Arminian.' Well, there is a great truth in all this, and would that the Lord's living family tasted not and handled not of any undertaking that did not ascribe the whole work of salvation altogether unto our covenant God. Here, then, is a work that every lover of free grace may heartily take up; here we need know no sect and party, but stand shoulder to shoulder, and. with one heart and one mind, do all we possibly can in the strength and for the glory of our one Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. May the thought of some 300 regiments and corps, and some 230 men-of-war, stimulate us all to turn out cupboards, overhaul our library, open our purses, and draw us to a throne of grace. Let the following letter, just received, speak for itself: "Having read of your purposed work to raise a sum (£400) to send therewith the GOSPEL MAGAZINE to military and naval stations, for the use of our soldiers and sailors, I very gladly forward you by P.O.O. £1 towards the same. I wish it were more, though I have no doubt that the amount you aim at will be raised. I only wish that there was a more general and hearty effort on the part of those who esteem the pages of truth themselves to spread such before others. I have also thought that if the "Gleaner," say, were sent out for the children of the soldiers, good might be done. I am truly glad to see that you have engaged, in the Lord's strength and help, to spread truth in the way referred to, and may it provoke others unto such good works." Believe me, dear sir, Salisbury, January 17th, 1874. Yours in hope of eternal life, CHARLES BRIDER. P.S.-Mr. Brider will thank the publisher to acknowledge £1 from Mr. F. Paffand, and 10s. from "A Friend," received for the gratuitous distribution of the GOSPEL MAGAZINE amongst our soldiers and sailors. This, with the £2 17s. forwarded, makes £4 7s. for this gracious work. AURICULAR CONFESSION OPPOSED ΤΟ THE FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES OF THE REFORMED CHURCH OF ENGLAND. To the Editor of the Gospel Magazine. But, SIR,-There is "a time to speak and a time to be silent," but I don't think the present is a time for a Churchman or Dissenter (that is, if he is a Protestant) to hold his peace and be quiet, unless he is one of those whom the Word of God calls "dumb dogs that cannot bark." if they cannot bark, they can do what is far worse-find fault, growl, bite and hinder honest dogs that would bark and give warning that a thief was approaching. The Word of God says, "As much as it be possible, live at peace with all men." But it is not possible, nor is it lawful, for those who fear God to be at peace with those who misconstrue, contradict, keep in the background, and ignore, the Word of God, and which the advocates of auricular confession most certainly do. I have resided over fifty years in Bath, and have, until recently, been under the impression that Bath was not only one of the most loyal, but also one of the most Protestant, cities. But I fear she can scarcely claim the latter honourable appellation now, or surely we should long since have had such a meeting that our protest would have been heard throughout the length and breadth of our land against those who, professing to be ministers of the Church of England, and in constant receipt of her pay, are yet doing all they can to undermine the foundation of that establishment which supports them, and whose servants and soldiers they profess to be. If that is not base dishonesty (if not treason), I know not what is. I have not a word to say against confession; on the contrary, I would to God there were an outpouring of His Holy Spirit into each of our hearts in real prayer, confession, and supplication. But not to poor erring, sinful man-whether king, priest, or peasant-but to the GodMan Mediator, who only is a prayer-hearing and prayer-answering God, and who alone can forgive sins. And therefore it is written, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness;" and, "There is none other name under heaven, given among men, whereby we must be saved," but the name of Jesus. Then, away with all Popish mediators, advocates, father-confessors, and the like, whether living or dead, saints or sinners. It is a dangerous, degrading, unscriptural, soul-deceiving (and, if grace prevent not), soul-destroying system, and auricular confession forms one of its vile parts, and which system, with its teachers and leaders, the Lord will, ere long, consume with the breath of His mouth, and destroy with the brightness of His coming." What a solemn warning we have in the book of Ezekiel, where the prophet saw six men, one of which was sent through the city to set a mark in the foreheads-of whom? Not the "Quiet Churchman," but "upon all who sigh and cry for the abominations that are done in the land;" and then the others are "to go after and smite utterly old and young, but come not near any upon whom is the mark." And where are the slayers to begin? Ah! where? Not at wakes, races, and drinking-booths; not in the gambling-saloons; not in the palaces of amusement; though all to be visited and destroyed. But begin "at my sanctuary," "at my temple," with my so-called priests, who, instead of following the example of "the Good Shepherd," and leading the flocks into " green pastures and beside the still waters," are shorn of their fleece, driven over the dark mountains of error, fed on husks and unto waters made, foul by their deceptive feet. 66 Will not the Lord visit for these things? Most surely He will. Then, is it not high time we lifted up our voices against the abominable practice; and, if the clergy will not take the lead, why not the laity set them an example?—I am, sir, your very obliged servant, Bath, Dec. 10th, 1873. ANTI-POPERY. Recueil de Textes pour les Jours de Naissance. London: Book Society, 28, Paternoster Row. Bristol: W. Mack, 38, Park Street. A BIRTHDAY Scripture Text-book in French! a novelty indeed; but one which, once seen, will doubtless commend itself to thousands. Of the Birthday Scripture Text-book itself we need say nothing. The fact of a quarter of a million copies being in circulation, during the eight or ten years since it was first published, is a stronger argument in favour of the volume than any words of ours. We rejoice to see the work issued in this new form, as it will be a means of introducing the Word of God and disseminating Scriptural hymns in entirely new spheres. The book is got up in the most creditable manner-the type, though small, is distinct; the borders neat; the paper beautifully white; the interleaving convenient; and the binding most attractive. The entire work is all that could be desired. HISTORIC STONES FROM THE KING'S HIGHWAY. [The annexed will, we are sure, be read with extreme interest by all those who love to watch the workings of full, free, and sovereign grace. Well might the writer (having, as a soldier, received such mercy) be anxious, as indeed he is, for the spiritual welfare of those engaged in fighting our country's battles.-ED.] WE read that when God smote the Philistines for Israel, "then Samuel took a stone, and set it between Mizpeh and Shen, and called the name of it Eben-ezer, saying, Hitherto hath the Lord helped us " (1 Sam.vii. 12). Solomon speaks of "a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones" (Eccl. iii. 5). But a greater than Solomon-even our "precious Corner-stone "-has said to those whom He fills, "Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost." Pause, my soul, at the early part of another year of thy short pilgrimage; see if thou canst not roll together a few wayside stones from the past years of thy fleeting life for an Ebenezer monument to thy covenant-keeping God. Surely, in "hill Mizar," some valley of Achor," some brook Cherith," some "plain of Jordan," may be found sufficient materials for this "PILLAR OF PILLOWS." And what shall be the tablet on this column when, like Jacob, we have been enabled to pour the consecrating oil of the Holy Ghost upon the top of it (Gen. xxvii. 18)? some 66 "O my distrustful heart, How small thy faith appears! Then Jesus is for ever mine." Beloved, may the Lord enable us to build such a blessed waymark as here described; and, when "set up," may the deep language of our hearts be, "Thou, Lord, hast delivered my soul from death: wilt not Thou deliver my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of the living" (Psa. lvi. 13)? Yes, beloved, "if we have the sentence of death in ourselves, it is put there that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead: who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that He will yet deliver us" (2 Cor. i. 9, 10). But I think I hear you asking, How shall I bring to light the hidden stones of Bethel blessing, buried, as they are, in the oblivion of the past? How shall I gather out and build up amid the rolling surges of every-day life? Ah! memory, thou art not always the sieve of knowledge. Too often the worthless is retained, and the precious let go. Instead of a storehouse, behold, a lumber-room; instead of order, mark the line of confusion, and the stones of emptiness. Ready enough thou art with past trials and sorrows; retentive enough thou art with wellengraved losses and disappointments; tenacious enough thou art with this temptation and that conflict; and ready enough at all times in anticipating future difficulties, in saying, Who shall roll me away the stone from this and that approaching trial? instead of treasuring up a long list of blessings vouchsafed, of deliverances wrought, of lusts subdued, of enemies overcome, and of prayers answered; for help and encouragement under future sorrows, sufferings, and Mosaic lawsuits. Well might the Apostle exclaim, "How to perform that which is good I find not." And why did he not perform the right, any more than he could remember the past blessings of the Lord? Listen now to his own answer: "I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) dwelleth no good thing; for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.” Oh, beloved, have you and I been taught this hard lesson, that in our flesh there" dwelleth no good thing?" If so, we need not wonder so much that our poor fleshly memory is a forgetter of past mercies-nay, fleshly it is not, for "that which is born of the flesh is flesh (not fleshly), and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit." Blessed be God for this "separating of the precious from the vile." May it be ours, dear reader, by true appropriating faith. But is there no remedy for this treacherous memory-is there no substitute for this part of man which, of itself, profiteth nothing? Is there no way of embalming past benefits?—no method of enshrining past favours?-no system of filing answered prayers ? Let the same Apostle answer this question. "I knew a man (he says) in Christ above fourteen years ago, how that he was caught up to the third heaven." Here, then we see the divine art of memory. "The Lord being his memorial" (Hos. xii. 5) when under the gracious influence of God the Holy Spirit. What a precious stone of comfort and encouragement this must have been to Paul after fourteen years of trial, persecution, and care of all the churches! Well might the Lord have said to His sorrowing disciples, "The Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you." Come, then, Thou heavenly Remembrancer-Thou almighty Comforter and cause me "to remember all the way which the Lord my God hath led me these many years," and to know that God's Word holds out no promise of exemption from trial for the future, but requires the Zion-bound pilgrim to live day by day on His special providence and all-sufficient grace. What an unspeakable truth this is, dear reader! Oh, that we could fully realize it as such in our wilderness warfare! May the Lord enable us to do so. He who kept our bodies in safety through the past has the care of our souls for the future. Yes, blessed be His name, He has graciously undertaken it. His unchanging love, His almighty power, His unerring wisdom, are all engaged. Beloved, "this God is our God for ever and ever; He will be our Guide unto death." Only unto death? Unto death and over death! "Not one object of His care Ever suffered shipwreck there." But I hear some "little faith" saying, "Oh, that I could see the stone difficulty rolled away from my future path of bereavement; every day I am expecting to be deprived of my darling, who is lying at the point of death. Oh, that bitter trial! Who shall roll me away the stone from the door of my beloved's sepulchre?" Sorrowing one, I know thou hast great love for thy darling; but let me remind thee of that love which is far greater than thine; and of Him who shall roll away your stone of grief at the set time. Like the women in Mark xvi., you may tremblingly anticipate the stone in your way; but, on arriving at the grave (not before), you shall find that some unseen hand has rolled back from your softened footsteps the great stone you so much dreaded. Do I hear another "little faith" asking, "How shall I stem Jordan's rolling stream? How shall I feel when heart and flesh are failing? What |