why. O my soul did, indeed, burn within me, as I sat and wept. 'Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgiveth all thine iniquities, who healeth all thy diseases.' tears flowed I scarce could tell "Ah!" I said, interrupting for a moment the interesting narrative, "what a mystery is such. language to the world! Jeer, they may, at the experience of the children of God; but when the hour of their dissolution draws near, and death, and judgment, and. eternity, stare them in the face, then would they give the universe, could they have it in possession, to be numbered with those whom they ceased not to deride, when as yet they are in health, and the last enemy' seemed at a distance." "You then could sympathize with the psalmist in the overflowings of his gratitude and praise?' "O I could, Sir! and never till then. I had read that psalm over many times before; but I never could understand how or why he felt so much joy.' 66 6 In the language of the prophet, his words seemed to you, like the song of one that hath a very pleasant voice.' "I believed him inspired, and therefore I could not doubt but he spoke the truth: yet it was all a mystery to me; I could not comprehend it. But when it pleased God to manifest himself unto me, not as he does unto the world, I understood it all. I felt what it was to be liable to the everlasting anger of the Almighty, and to have the load of guilt removed. Then I could exclaim with David, "Let the heart of them rejoice that seek the Lord.' "You now love God, because he hath done such great things for you?' “He has, he has indeed, done great things for me.' "And you still have the light of his countenance, and enjoy much peace in communion with him?' Yes, Sir; peace, all is peace. Often when I'm lying awake at night, I find my Saviour so near me, and his presence is so sweet to me, that I cannot describe it *.' "True," rejoined my companion; "and I have myself been called to minister at the dying bed of such. Awful in particular was one scene I witnessed:-but, meantime, we will return to our story: "You have in those seasons, I suppose, Mrs. Duplin, some feeling similar to that which actuated the Apostle, when he said, 'I have a desire to depart, and be with Christ?' "She meekly replied, I do, indeed, Sir, desire to depart!' 66 Happy, happy pilgrim !" thought I, fixing my eyes steadfastly on her placid countenance. "The day of thy deliverance is fast drawing nigh. Soon wilt thou put off this earthly tabernacle, in which thou groanest, and enter into the joy of thy Lord-of Him who bought thee with his own most precious blood! Happy, happy pilgrim! 66 6 Yet,' said I to her, you have, doubtless, your trials, Mrs. Duplin?" I have what the world would call trials, Sir; but nothing seems to me worthy of the name. I have much ill health, and frequently suffer a good deal; but the Lord supports me, and I can bear it all, My years are quickly running to a * The words this excellent woman used on one occasion were very remarkable. In such language will appear a paradox, to speaking of the enjoyment of her Redeemer's presence, she said, and with the others, worthy only of contempt; but the utmost simplicity: "My Saviour some- day may come when the one will be taught times seems to be so near me, that I al- its import, the other, convinced of its most think I could touch him." To some, reality too late! close; and these are indeed but light afflictions, and only for a moment. Nothing seems to me worthy to be called a trial. With heaven in view, the short time I have to live, with its little troubles, appears already passed over, and I often think myself at rest.' "After continuing the conversation, a short sketch merely of which I have related, for near an hour longer, I proposed that we should join in prayer. She thankfully assented, and we knelt to supplicate in behalf of ourselves and friends. Where two or three are met together in the Redeemer's name, he has promised graciously to be present. We were only two; but most assuredly we were united in the name of Jesus, and found his love shed abroad in our hearts. We found, in that sweet and solemn hour, his Spirit sealing us unto the day of redemption. My venerable fellow-worshipper wept, and I heard her sobs at intervals: nor was I unmoved myself. How delightful are such seasons of refreshing to a pilgrim wearied with his journey through the howling and barren wastes of the world, and so often doomed to combat with the enemies of his heart! • Streams are they in the desert; waters breaking out in the wilderness.' Happy the traveller who can thus occasionally repose, as under the shadow of a great rock, from the storms that harass him, and the hurricanes that so loudly roar around his path. Reviving, indeed, is the influence of such moments, transient though they may be; animating, at once, and soothing to the care-worn mind. "Soon after we had risen from the throne of grace, I requested my aged companion," my friend continued, "to conduct me to her husband. We accordingly left the house, and crossing the garden, observed him labouring in a small field, which was prettily encircled by the wood, which gave the cot tage its appellation. What a poet of your own has beautifully imagined of our elder sire, when his strength had failed him, and he was still unwilling to eat the bread of indolence, or unnecessarily charge his children with his support, may not be altogether inappropriate as applied to this venerable old man; for, to Yet he tilled a little plot of soil, Patient and pleased with voluntary toil.' "My new acquaintance, for though I had seen him once or twice before I was not personally known to him, might have been near eighty years a sojourner on earth. Bethlin Duplin was tall in stature, though slender in form. In his youth, doubtless, he had been distinguished as a man of strength; for though his figure was spare, he had evident characteristics of athletic powers. His work, too, indicated that age had not yet exhausted the vigour of his prime. He was breast-ploughing, a species of labour particularly severe when the ground has not lately been broken up. He seemed, however, like our first father, in the affecting incident which the poet has so judiciously interwoven with his description of the parent of mankind, to be tilling his little plot with patient satisfaction. I saluted him: "Good morning, friend.' "Turning round, and leaning against the handle of his cumbrous instrument, he replied, with an air that appeared to bid me welcome to his mountains, • Good morning, Sir, and kindly.' "Earning your livelihood, I observe. It is well to be employed. Idleness is the source of inconceivable evil, and rural avocations seem peculiarly adapted for the melioration of the heart, or at least to afford those who are engaged in them leisure for quiet meditation, while they necessarily remove them from the snares and temptations arising from intercourse with a fallen world.' "Ah! true," he replied; "even from my infancy I loved to ramble amongst the wildest recesses of the dells that surrounded the abode of my birth; and to indulge in imaginations of primitive innocency and peace. The birds sang cheerfully in morning salutation; and I have often traced the lark, with almost extatic delight, to the very portals of heaven. O it was sweet to me, even in boyhood, to listen to her hymn of praise. Then did I dream of happiness, and my young and ardent fancy well nigh followed her, till I beheld her mixing with the innumerable company, and swelling their anthem with her grateful song. But, alas! how did these visions vanish in the dark realities of life! They passed away, like the sunbeam from the couch of evening; but not to return like it. He resumed his narrative. 66 6 Yes, Sir,' the old man joined; Labour has been my lot from my youth up; and I have never had reason to complain of the dealings of my God. The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places; and you see, Sir, that I have a goodly heritage.' 66 6 Goodly, truly,' I replied. You survey in all around you the works of the Lord-the operation of your maker's hands. In your very occupation, too, you have a memento of the divine records: 'in the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread.' You are reminded by your daily employments of the truth of Scripture. Bethlin now cast his eyes pensively upon the ground, and held them there, as in fixed attention, while I briefly spoke of the mournful catastrophe which had thus entailed on him the necessity of labouring for his bread. 6 By one man sin entered into the world.' From this sad scene, I turned to the rich provision made for our recovery-in the obedience unto death of our Sa "During my little discourse the old man remained immoveable, as did his aged partner, with her hands clasped, probably in silent prayer. When I had concluded my observations, he raised his eyes, and with a deep-drawn sigh exclaimed; Ah! Christ is allmy only comfort-my portion in life and in death!' I then cordially shook this good couple by the hand, and promising, if the Lord would, to see them again previous to my final departure from their neighbourhood, 'bade them adieu. 66 As I resumed the path that was to lead me to my little abode on the banks of the lake, many and various were my meditations. Sometimes the thought of a world that lieth in wickedness, and the fearful denunciations of God against those who live in friendship with it, oppressed my heart; while again, the abundant harvest, / which, as in the natural so in the moral creation, was ripening fast around, arrested my attention, and alternately occupied my mind. O of what value is an immortal spirit! Did we weigh the wide universe with a single soul, soon would the balances of the sanctuary declare the one to be as the small dust in comparison of the other. An undying soul! Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of thy hands. They shall perish; yea, they all shall wax old as a garment: as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed;' but the breath of life which thou hast breathed into us shall suffer no decay! The spirit to which thou hast once given existence must endure for ever-in joy ineffable, or in unutterable woe! "Yet still," continued my companion with a sigh, it was consolatory to reflect, that, in that mysterious path in which God moves, there is the impress of infinite wisdom, tenderest mercy, and unbounded love. Dark as his dispensations may seem to us, they are nevertheless preparing the way for the full developement of his purposes, and will eventually be SIR, found conducive to his own glory, and the in-gathering of his people. The cottage in the wood was a lonely spot, and its inmates were among the poor of the flock of slaughter;' yet was the eye of an almighty Father upon them, and I felt assured, that in the morning of the resurrection they would appear with palms in their hands, wearing crowns whose lustre would never tarnish, and arrayed in robes whose beauty could never fade." R. T. ON THE SPIRIT'S WITNESS. READING a dissenting publication a short time ago, I found great stress was laid upon that celebrated passage in Rom. viii. 16: “ The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit that we are the sons of God," to prove the necessity of a sensible impulse of the Spirit upon the heart, before we can know certainly whether we are the children of God or not. This led me to a deep consideration of the true meaning of the above passage, the usual explanation of which did not at all satisfy me. Upon turning to Mr. Scott, I find he interprets the expression to mean, "the Holy Spirit, by producing in believers the tempers and affections of children, as described in the Scriptures, most manifestly attests their adoption into God's family. This is not done by any voice, immediate revelation, or impulse, or merely by any text brought to the mind, but by coinciding with the testimony of their own consciences, as to the uprightness of their intentions in embracing the Gospel and giving themselves up to the service of God. So that whilst they are examining themselves concerning the reality of their conversion, and find Scriptural evidence of it, the Holy Spirit from time to time shines upon his own work, excites their holy affections into lively exercise, renders them very efficacious upon their conduct, and thus puts the matter beyond doubt." In much the same manner, Matthew Henry explains the passage, though not so clearly and distinctly. Doddridge's paraphrase is as follows. "The Spirit itself, by his internal and gracious operations, beareth witness with the answer of our spirits, when seriously examined and interrogated, and gives us an inward and joyful assurance that we are the children of God, and personally interested in his paternal love." Neither of these interpretations appear to me satisfactory, or indeed convey any clear idea to my mind. Though all the above writers expressly deny any such thing, they seem by their interpretations of this passage to admit, in some measure, the doctrine contended for in the publication abovementioned, viz. that the Spirit does witness sensibly and perceptibly; otherwise, I cannot understand what is meant by the Spirit's "shining upon its own work;" and, by its "answering when seriously examined and interrogated." Further, none of these celebrated commentators appear to me to define very distinctly what we are to understand by" our Spirit," though the right interpretation of the pas sage depends greatly upon this. Scott, in the first instance, seems to understand it of conscience, but afterwards of the new mind produced by the Spirit. Doddridge leaves the point altogether undecided. Allow me, then, without detaining you with any further observations, to propose an interpretation I believe altogether new, which I think may perhaps be the true one; though I do so with great diffidence, feeling by no means certain in my own mind. In the preceding verse, St. Paul says, "We have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear, but we have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father." I would understand, therefore, by the expression "our Spirit," that portion of the Holy Spirit shed abroad in the heart of the believer, which teaches him and inclines him to call upon God as his Father. And the Apostle, when he says, "the Spirit itself beareth witness with our Spirit," to mean that the Scriptures written by inspiration of the Spirit of God, bear witness with that disposition which we feel within us, and shows us that it is no delusion; since they declare expressly in many places that the people of God shall be his sons and daughters, and that he will be a Father to them. My chief reason for thinking that this may be the true interpretation, is, that the Apostle makes use of a nearly similar expression Heb.x. 15. Having asserted, that "Christ by one offering hath perfected for ever those that are sanctified;" he adds, "Of this the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us," and then quotes a text of Scripture in confirmation of his doctrine. The similarity of the expressions in these two cases must, I think, be evident to every one. Whether this is sufficient to warrant the interpretation I have given of the above passage, I leave you to judge. I will not trespass upon your time with any further arguments in its favour; but in conclusion permit me to observe, that the more frequent discussion of important doctrinal texts like the above, would, I conceive, add greatly to the interest and profitableness of your publication. With this view, I beg to propose for your consideration, and that of your correspondents, the 19th and four following verses of Romans, viii.; observations upon which would be very acceptable to Your constant Reader, ON THE IMPORTANCE OF A RELIGIOUS LIFE. MY DEAR SIR, CONNECTED as we are by the strong ties of blood, and our union cemented by a long interchange of affection, suffer me, I pray you, for a short time to trespass on your attention. I can have no other motive than your welfare-no other inducement than your eternal good. He to whom all hearts are open, knoweth the sincerity of the love I bear towards you. I cannot but feel and speak strongly when I think on the uncertainty of life; how soon we shall pass away, like a morning cloud and the early dew, and be D. R. no more seen; how soon we shall become the inhabitants of the silent tomb; and the necessity there is for us, therefore, as reasonable beings, to live in daily expectation of our dissolution. For, what step can we take and meet not death? Where can we go and escape his power? Who can withstand the king of terrors, or fly beyond his reach? All nature ministers to him! all paths lead to the dark valley of the shadow of death! The food that nourishes our bodies, and the air that sustains our life, exercise and rest, joy and grief, are pregnant with the seeds of death! |
