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that he careth for you. You now realize, that in the good hope of the Gospel, are everlasting arms of support, of which you have before heard much, and known something-but never as at this present time. I partake with you, my brother, in this your grief- while, I humbly hope, I can enter a little into the peculiar nature of that comfort, which our loving and compassionate Lord is so administering to you, as, that while truly sensible of the overwhelming nature of the weight of affliction laid upon you, you are sensible of an upholding power replete with consolations and encouragements unknown to any, but the tried ones of the Lord's bloodbought family. Oh, precious, precious Christ! Oh, precious, precious truth! Oh, precious, precious Spirit, that can afford anything so effectually soulsupporting, so sweetly healing, so subduing of the rebellious emotions of carnal self.

The changes of which you are now the subject-namely, seasons of almost insupportable mental agony, followed by those of effectual applications of truth and Christ to your poor soul, bear a testimony that you are not left to yourself under this affliction, but that the unerring wisdom of God is in the direction of this dispensation. You are not able to resist the force of this testimony; you are obliged to own that this trying providence is, in its every effect, and its every consequence yet discovered, of God, and God only; and that of love, and the carrying out of his pure mercy towards you. I trust, you are enabled to say, notwithstanding the heavy weight of affliction under which you groan, herein I do rejoice, and will rejoice.

She

Since I saw you in London, I have myself been brought into very close contact with an affliction, similar in its kind, and attended with circumstances not less peculiarly aggravating.-A much beloved brother, of whom I was speaking to you, has, during that time, been bereaved of one of the most valuable of wives, and left with twelve motherless children; six of them under twelve years of age, while the youngest has scarce yet seen three months in this world of sin and sorrow. This dear saint was a daughter of affliction, like the many of the Lord's family on earth. had borne to her husband fourteen children in the course of seventeen years, while she had been, at different periods during that time, in situations to have borne to him three more, had not the providence of God directed otherwise. The anxious, sensitive, affectionate Christian mother of such a family, and under such circumstances, could not have failed to be a daughter of affliction. On one occasion of her being confined, I remember she had a sweet child dying of inflammation of the brain, and her own confinement was brought on rather prematurely, from witnessing the sufferings of her child, and the anguish of mind she experienced from the poor child being incapable of recognising its parents.

This dear tried saint was taken ill on the Sabbath day after our interview, and on the morning of the next, just one week, she resigned her spirit to him who gave it.

During the week of her illness, and the one which preceded it, the whole of her numerous family had been the subjects of sickness. Yet, in the midst of all this, under much bodily exhaustion, and in the immediate prospect of death, Jesus was all-sufficient. Calmness, peace, and cheerful resignation, sweetly characterised the closing scene. Death was, in the providence of God, the carrying out to her, as a chosen and beloved one in Christ, purposes of mercy and love, revealed and made known by promise, and accomplished in faithfulness.

In the interview she had with those of her children of an age to profit, under God, by the conversation of a dying Christian mother, she bore this sweet testimony--"My dear children," said she, "I have such a sense of the preciousness of Jesus, that I can willingly part from you all, and your dear

father. I am going to see the King in his beauty; and I am indeed unspeakably happy, in the prospect of so soon being admitted into his presence." This is an all-sufficient testimony. It is of God and not man. It will do for life-it will do for death. A sense of the preciousness of Jesus, through his discovery of himself to us, is indeed all we want in life or death. It is that by which we rise superior to all earthly things in life; and it is that by which we are made sensibly to triumph in the hour of death. It has brought Jesus into the midst of the scene of trial and affliction, to which this providence has called me: His voice has been heard saying, "Peace, be still-It is I, be not afraid." I have thus found, whatever may be the depths of grief into which the Lord plunges us, under afflicting dispensations, that sensible grief and sorrow, amounting almost to brokenness of heart, is not incompatable with such a looking to Jesus, as brings the sweetest comfort. These things are not opposed one to the other in the living Christian's experience. Looking to him, we greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, we are in heaviness through manifold trials. While our faith is being tried, as it were by fire, that it might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus, is it not the case, that, believing in him at such seasons of mental anguish, we yet rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory? It is holy, heavenly, spiritual joy that can thus discover itself, in the midst of a sensible inexpressible weight of affliction; heavy affliction excludes all other joy. "In the world," saith Christ, "ye shall have tribulation." Not only from the world, but in it. The very circumstance of the living spiritual child of God being in the world, shall be sufficient to cause him tribulation. But at the same time, in Christ we have peace. Sensible tribulation from being in the world, and sensible peace in Christ through faith, go together. Under a sense of nearness to Christ in our trouble, and contemplation of what he is to us, and what the love of our God in him, we find our sorrow of heart and brokenness of spirit sanctified and blessed to us. At such seasons we are the subjects of sweetly renewed impressions of divine truth, on our spirits-the furnace we are in, so melting us, under the controlling influence of him, who has ordered it, as to render us capable of their reception. I like to hear of the dealings of God with his called ones-both those of judgment and those of mercy. While the Lord's judgments are a great deep, past finding out, in the ark, Christ Jesus, we ride through them, under them, and over them, and joy and rejoice in his sensibly supporting arm, protecting love, and sweetly sanctifying grace. What great things do sanctified afflictions for those, found under them to be in Christ. We cannot review the way, which the Lord our God has led us, all our days, through this wilderness, but we are constrained to say, " In the midst of judgment, he has remembered mercy." "He that believeth shall not be ashamed." " Surely goodness and mercy shall follow us all our days." When we are told that many are the afflictions of the righteous; that through much tribulation, we must enter the kingdom of heaven; and that it is better to go to the house of mourning, than the house of feasting, we are warranted to expect that much benefit is ordained of God to his church at large, and to the individuals who compose it, through the afflictions of the righteous. On this account I confess I like to hear of them. Among many benefits which I think arise from our being conversant with the afflictions of the righteous either in ourselves or others, is that they tend to draw out into exercise the kindling feelings of our new natures towards our brethren in Christ. It seems to sweeten our Christian communion, and give a confidence to our spiritual affection, when we believe our Christian brother has, in the school of Christ, been brought to know what is meant by having fellowship with Christ in his suf

ferings. And in this way been effectually taught as the elect of God, holy and beloved, to put on bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, long-suffering. The bowels of God's mercy to his people, is Christ. In the furnace of affliction, the blessed Spirit teaches us to put on Christ, as the bowels of God's mercy to our ownselves; and in so doing to put on bowels of mercies towards our brethren in Christ. We are told that "whom the Lord did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the first or chief born amongst many brethren." This is indeed a sweet Scripture. We are conformed to Christ in our new natures, which are begotten of God, and cannot sin ; even as Christ, begotten of the Spirit in the womb of the virgin, was that holy thing which was to be called the Son of God. We know also, that there is an appointed hour, when Christ shall change our vile bodies, that they may be like unto his glorious body; while in the meantime, we are the subjects of sweet exhortation to let the mind which was in Christ, be in us-to put off the old man and put on the new ; which, in other words, is a manifesting in our conduct, that likeness to Christ in which we were new created by the Holy Ghost. Now my dear afflicted brother in Christ, I do think that our own particu→ lar afflictions have much to do with our being conformed to Christ in this latter sense. In our manifesting the mind and the Spirit that was in him. May not this consideration, under God, tend to reconcile us to those afflictions which we know by experience are not joyous in themselves but grievous, and hard to be endured? Again, I do think that hearing of the afflictions of our brethren, tends also to our manifesting a conformity of mind and spirit to our blessed Lord and Master. To this end we have a sweet Scripture (Phil. ii. 1, 2), “"If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind." Thus I have penned to you a few straggling thoughts which have arisen in my mind under my own affliction, and on reading of yours. I send them to you, as I would feign fulfil the law of Christ towards you, in bearing with you your present burden. There is no such thing as bearing one another's burden, in a spiritual sense; excepting, as we are in Christ, and mutually realize our being in him. Then expressed sympathy, and suitably applied truth in the way of Scripture consolation and encouragement, is, under the influences of the Spirit, found by us to be a means which our God has provided, whereby to alleviate the weight of sorrow and grief which, under our affliction, he has laid upon us. I would, at this season, specially commend you in Christian love to him in whose hands you are.

As in Christ,

Your Brother and Companion in Tribulation,
ROBERT PYM.

Elmley, June 3rd, 1841.

DEAR SIR,

To the Editor of the Gospel Magazine.

Blessed are the feet of them which bring good tidings. Your monthly epistle came to hand at a season when I was like the hart panting after the waterbrooks, the soul was longing after a sweet manifestation of the Saviour's love. The portion of Holy Writ selected for the introduction of your present Number, was the means of refreshing and melting my soul, and although I cannot realize that full assurance which my heart aspires to-viz. a full forgiveness of my sins, and to exclaim with Thomas, "My Lord and

my God," without this I shall never be fully satisfied; still I am enabled to say at times, "Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him." On reading these words, "My people shall be satisfied with my goodness," my soul immediately responded, "Surely goodness and mercy have followed me all the days of my life, and I have lacked nothing." Although my life has been very chequered and diversified, still mercy and goodness have followed me every step of the way. I have had a great number of trials. Enemies innumerable, and the worst of all myself-many losses and crosses, afflictions and sudden bereavements; and oh! I felt I could sympathise with you in the severe loss which you have sustained, and felt a weeping pleasure in supplicating the dear Lord on your behalf, that he would be pleased to grant you very much of his sweet comforting presence, and bear you up under all your afflictions and trials, which you may be called to wade through, and I am confident he will.

My soul was much melted in looking back all the way which the Lord God has led me. How many times he has preserved me, even to a hair's breadth, from stepping into eternity. He has fed and clothed me, given me a good measure of health and strength, and many times the full extent of my heart's desire. But oh, how basely have I treated him in return! For many years I could not even trust him with my temporal concerns; and also went to great lengths of outward sin, which the world knows but little of, for which I can plead no excuse, and to my shame, sorrow, and confusion, have them nailed to my conscience; but now the Lord has been pleased to bless me with abundance of this world's good, I feel sometimes a sluggishness in thanking and praising him for the same. Oh, what a devil I feel myself to be, not fit for earth, Heaven, or hell. And Satan frequently suggests that hell will finally be my portion; although his infernal mind knows I cannot endure the tormenting thoughts of cursing God and my King, still he says there are weapers to be found in the abodes of the damned, and though I am preserved and kept at present, there are no bounds to which I might not go, if my passions were let loose. I know that I possess a corrupt and desperately wicked heart, and the enemy is constantly on the alert to entrap my soul. He pours his curses in so thick, that I am sometimes obliged to place my hand on my mouth, and say, “No, no, God forbid." Then he turns accuser, and brings in his Ifs. "If the Lord were now to cut you down by sudden death, for why cumbereth you the ground,' you are aware of the consequence of not being prepared? I should convey you immediately to the damned abode; or if the Lord were pleased to convey you to Heaven, you are such a poor ignorant, hypocritical, lifeless, contracted soul, you are not fit for the employment of Heaven." When I rise from my knees something tells me that I have not worshipped aright, too great a distinction has been paid to the Father, or else to the Son, or else to the Holy Spirit: so that I am obliged to resume the cry of the publican again and again, "God be merciful to me, not only a sinner, but the very worst of sinners; but, notwithstanding all this warfare and confusion, the name of Jesus sounds sweetly, very precious, and very lovely. His dear name takes the pre-eminence of all other objects, and is all my desire; for with the apostle, "I am determined to know nothing, saving the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ and Him crucified." Still I cannot tread an inch of ground without its being disputed; another "If" assails me, "If it should turn out a delusion.' Dear sir, should you, or any of your correspondents deem it a delusion, apprize me of it, for I am jealous of my own heart. Yours truly, A MOURNER. [Beloved, the next time Satan and thy own heart tell thee that thou art "not fit for earth, heaven, or hell," the Lord enable thee to tell these thine accusers that they

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are quite right; that thy gracious God has made thee unfit for earth, unfit for hell, and that he is now, by a strange yet by a right way, making thee a fit subject for heaven. "Goodness and mercy has followed thee all thy life"-has it? and under the sweet recollection of the way by which the Lord has led thee, and what he has done for thee; he has brought thee to say, "Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him "-has he? Well, and what canst thou want more? "A full manifestation of his love to thy soul," dost thou reply; a sense of pardoned sin, and the exalted privilege to call him, 'My Lord and my God?" Ah! well, be of good courage-cry on, still wrestle, and even this thou shalt surely have in the Lord's own good time. He that has given thee the desire after these rich blessings, will never, never disappoint thee. It is, too, a great mercy that thou hast such a knowledge of thy own heart, as to be assured that, if left of the Lord, "there are no bounds to which thou mightest not go." The Lord keep thee and preserve thee; and give thee, moreover, when again thou art tempted to believe that thou dost not worship aright-that too great a distinction has been paid to the Father, to the Son, or to the Holy Spirit "-to acknowledge the deep, well-grounded conviction of thy soul, that thou only hast access to the Father, by the one Mediator, Christ Jesus; and under the sweet leadings, divine teachings, and gracious influences of God the Holy Ghost. Art thou not deeply sensible that this sacred Trinity, co-equal and co-eternal, must be engaged for thee and in thee, or else thou must fall short at last? We doubt not thy reply. This, then, is a Trinity written in and upon the heart by the finger of God, and shall never, never fail thee.-ED.]

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ORIGINAL LETTER TO A MINISTER.

(Concluded from our last.)

His mindfulness of me in the year of jubilee, 1818, "Say ye to the righteous, It shall be well with him," was the small still voice that broke my chains, and set my soul at happy liberty; and you know where the word of a king is, there is power. And so I found it; for I lost all my burden at once. I saw Christ was my great burden-bearer; that he had fulfilled all the law for me, satisfied all the demands of justice, wrought out a perfect righteousness for me, in which I now stood complete. I could my fierce Accuser face, and tell him Christ has died. The Bible was no longer a sealed book: I could read my title clear to all the great and precious promises; I could approach a mercy-seat with holy boldness, and cry, Abba, Father, my Lord and my God. My soul was filled with joy unspeakable, and full of glory. I walked all day in the light of his countenance; Christ and his cross were all my theme. Then I could tell to sinners round what a dear Saviour I had found. These were indeed the days of my espousals; the Lord was then indeed mindful of me, and mercifully preserved me from all the errors to which I was exposed-sitting, at that time, under a yea and nay Gospel. He is faithful who hath promised, All my children shall be taught of me; and there is none can teach like him. How wonderfully did the Lord preserve me, during seven years, among the congregation of the dead! How did he manifest his mindfulness in bringing me out with an almighty arm! Then I began to experience what it was to take up my cross, and follow my Lord through evil as well as through good report. was I called out to action; and I have had very little cessation from arms ever since. But, beloved in the Lord, time would fail me to tell a thousandth part of his mindfulness of me. When I have passed through deep waters, he has been with me; and through the fires I have not been burnt!

Then

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