last moments. Be it yours and ours to sit loosely to time-things. Oh, don't hoard that gain of yours, as though you were going to stay here for ever. Learn the Lord help you so to do-that you are but stewards. That money you call yours is not yours, but the Lord's, It is a mere loan. Learn to regard it as such, and to apply it as the Lord would have you. Oh, beware of 1 Tim. vi. 9, 10: "But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows." We should love to dwell upon . this subject, and illustrate by fact upon fact, as coming within our own observation; but we dare not dwell.

We pass on, therefore, to our next and last "now;" and that is a blessed one. Turn, beloved, to Luke ii. 28-30: "Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said, Lord, lettest now Thy servant depart in peace, according to Thy word: for mine eyes have seen Thy salvation." Beloved, how sweet, how great, how glorious! The Lord's last and most gracious "now" come, as far as the time-state of His pilgrims is concerned. The wilderness passed through-all its trials, its conflicts, its dangers and vicissitudes met and surmounted. A faithful God, having proved through every state and stage His Divine love, power, goodness, and all-sufficiency, and now His child, within a hair's breadth of heaven, looking back through all the way by which the Lord His God had led him, and testifying to the great and glorious fact, that He "hath done all things well," and looking forward to the rest that remaineth beyond earth, death, and the grave, in the fulness of his heart, and in the unutterable satisfaction and blessedness that his soul then and there realizes, he exclaims, "Now, Lord-NOW-lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace, according to Thy word: for mine eyes have seen Thy salvation."

Dear, dear reader, God of His great mercy grant that this may be your happy portion and privilege, and ours also, for His great name's sake, Amen and Amen! THE EDITOR.

St. Luke's, Bedminster, September 5, 1868.

MOTIVES TO RELIGION.

THOSE persons who are deterred from devoting themselves to the service of God on account of the difficulties and sacrifices attending a religious life, would do well to consider that it will be much harder to endure the consequences of a life of sin than to practise the duties of religion; and also that, by their present course, they are sacrificing the friendship of Him "in whose favour is life, and His lovingkindness is better than life." One of the martyrs, when being led to the stake, was urged to recant, and, as a motive to induce him to do so, it was said, "Life is sweet, and death is bitter." "True," said the good man, "life is sweet and death is bitter; but eternal life is sweet and eternal death is more bitter.”

Wayside Notes.

INTERCOURSE WITH THE SAINTS.

"Sending portions one to another."-ESTHER ix, 19.

PRECIOUS portions of the word of God are worth sending "one to another." There is in them that which must suit every condition, and, if applied by the Holy Spirit, act as the balm of consolation under every form of wounding. We have taken pen in hand at this season under the feeling of a command from above; for, when seeking the Lord in the matter of our further "Wayside Notes," the reply we got from the throne was, "Sending portions one to another;" and, as a seal to this line of things, the following expressions have just come to hand in a note from a deeply-experienced and aged sister in Christ: "I have, my dear brother, had much sweet fellowship with you in those precious Wayside Notes from month to month, which are the means of cheering many a weary heart in the Lord's family, and of sending portions to them for whom nothing is prepared' in the earthly courts. Go on, dear fellowpilgrim, in the strength of the Lord, make known a Saviour's love, tell of His unfathomable mercy, His faithful covenant care, His mighty acts, His wonder-working power. Thus, my dear brother, may you be increasingly blessed in your own soul, and made a blessing to many more in the Lord's family."

6

Oh, how sweetly encouraging it is thus to be borne on the hearts of the Lord's people before the throne; it does bid one go on, "nothing doubting." May the remainder of your days and mine, beloved, be spent in telling of a Saviour's love and the efficacy of a Saviour's blood. It is the unfolding of a precious Christ the panting, longing soul of a child of God chiefly wants and desires. Dear Lord, may these monthly messages to Thine own be full of Jesus. We sigh to know more of Him. Oh, increase us with the increase of God from the fulness of our precious Redeemer. Grant us the unction of the Holy Spirit, that a triune_covenant God may be honoured and glorified in all. We ask it, for Jesus' sake. Amen.

Sending portions one to another.-Portions suitable to the position, the trial, the burden. Now with some of the Lord's children their burden is,

1. A fear lest their bodily wants will be supplied.-And we refer to this because we have just met a Christian minister who told us that his besetting sin is "the fear that he should die in a workhouse." Now the word of God blessedly meets such: "The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and He delighteth in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; for the Lord upholdeth him with His hand. I have been young, and now am old, yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread."

A precious testimony in proof of the psalmist's assertion is before us, which we are sure the author will allow us to quote. "In a village near Tenby lived a poor widow woman who trusted in God. Times were hard, work scarce, bread dear; and she, like many another, was ofttimes sorely tried in her endeavours to make ends meet. There came at last one day a time when supplies ceased. She prayed with and for her children, and put them to bed; and then with a heavy heart, yet committing her need to

her Saviour who had fed the five thousand with five barley loaves and two small fishes, she went to bed herself and slept. Blessed sleep! how good of God to give His beloved and wearied one sleep. In the early dawn of the next morning this poor widow awoke, hearing a voice as she thought calling her by name, and bidding her to get up and go down to a certain place by the sea which she knew well, and she would find a fish just washed up by the tide. Was it only a dream? or should she sleep on? No, she would get up and go to the spot. She did, and found a noble turbot making vain efforts to reach again the sea. She secured the prize. A gentleman had offered a guinea for one, but the fishermen could not obtain it. The widow sold her prize, returned to her little ones laden with food for their breakfast, overwhelmed with the consideration of the goodness of God. She could now sing with dear John Newton,

"I know not what may soon betide,
Or how my wants shall be supplied,
But Jesus knows and will provide.'"

Then, further, in connexion with Christian experience, another burden will be

2. "O God, I have sinned.”—Well, it is a blessed thing to know it, and to feel it. Regeneration always makes one tender on account of sin. The new birth always brings one to three things, viz., poverty, penitence, and prayer; this the Word truly shows, as, for instance, in the parable of the Prodigal Son. Poverty "When he had spent all there arose a mighty famine in the land, and he began to be in want." Penitence-"I will arise, and go to my Father; and will say, Father, I have sinned.” Prayer-"Make me as one of Thy hired servants." Such is the language and desire of every awakened soul whom the Spirit of God has stirred up to see his true position as a sinner in the sight of a righteous God. And then, again, referring to the Word, let any that are pressed down under the burden of their sins study prayerfully and thoughtfully the tenth chapter of St. Paul's Epistle to the Hebrews; it is a glorious portion for the poor sinner. In it is clearly shown that the sacrifice of Christ's body once offered hath for ever taken away sin; consequently, He hath declared "their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more;" but then, says the trembler, "Ah! but is it for me?" The apostle meets such with the exhortation, "Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; for He is faithful that promised:" "sin shall not have dominion over you." "The precious blood of Jesus, which cleanseth from all sin." Oh, this precious cleansing blood!

A visitor among the poor pushed open a door, and entered a room; it was a wretched place, wholly destitute of furniture. On a bundle of straw in a corner was stretched the wasted form of an aged woman. The visitor approached, and attempted to read the word of God to the wretched one. The poor creature raised herself upon one elbow, and eagerly inquired, "Does your book tell of the blood that cleanseth from all sin?" Years ago she had entered a church-she knew not why-for it was far from her habit; but she heard something she never forgot. It was about blood which cleanseth from all sin; and now she was dying, and its need was felt, and the visitor told her of that blood. She grasped the truth, and died resting on Him who shed His blood to cleanse the sinner from all sin.

"Dear Lord, what heavenly wonders dwell
In Thy atoning blood!

By this are sinners snatched from hell,
And rebels brought to God."

Another burden that is felt by many is

3. The longing desire for the preached word. This is a trial we can specially enter into with you, beloved. The wretched legality-preaching of the present day does make our hearts sick and our souls sink within us. Oh, for the ministry of a Romaine, Toplady, Watts Wilkinson, or Joseph Irons! Where are the champions for the truth? Few and far between are they in the day in which we live; a famine of the word there is indeed, and I think not a few will join the writer in feeling under bygone enjoyment of the truth

"Once I thought my mountain strong,

Firmly fixed no more to move;

Then Thy grace was all my song,

Then my song was filled with love.

Those were golden happy days,

Sweetly spent in prayer and praise."

But now we go to the sanctuary, and it is quite another Gospel preached; and we talk to those whom we think are lovers of Jesus; we tell them our complaint; but, alas! many seem to love to have it so. They think the sermon was very good, and the minister a very excellent man, and THE VERY SPIRIT OF DISCERNMENT appears to be taken away from many whom we'fain would believe are Christians. Well, what are we to do in the midst of this state of things? Again, away to the Word. Banish all creatureteaching of the same, and come to the Spirit of God. Ask Him to unfold; spell letter by letter; pray over it; sublimity and yet simplicity is in every portion. Keep close to it. Thank God, our Bibles are preserved to us! Let us pray and read, and read and pray over it; perhaps it is well for us to be driven home to the record of God, till that record records His revelation thereof in our hearts. But, turning from the yea-and-nay preaching of the day, how precious it is to the soul when some man of God does preach the whole counsel of God! How it keeps one in a tearful frame, and melts one, under the Spirit of God, as the word is unfolded. Such seasons are memorable, and not easily forgotten. Ah, what a delightful thing it is to the Christian, at the close of the Sabbath-day, to feel, "Well, I have been lifted up and fed this day. I have been helped onward, homeward, and Zionward.

"Oh, to grace how great a debtor.""

Such helps and lifts brace one up for Monday mornings, plunging into earthly care, and give a secret solace, very sweet and precious to realize, and thus

"The peace which God alone reveals,
And by His word of grace imparts,

Which only the believer feels,

Directs and keeps and cheers our hearts."

Another burden will often be

4. The temptations of the devil are strong.-Ah, too strong for the child of God to combat with single-handed.

As a sister in Christ writes to us, "I find myself beaten with the world. Satan tempting, the world frowning, those that we should think our best friends appear to try us most. I know it is a right way, for it is weaning me from the world. I have hourly to prove that nothing but Jesus can bring me any comfort." Beloved, be not afraid; “God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that which ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it."

It is worthy of remark how much there is said about temptation in the word of God, fitting into the declaration of Jehovah, “I will also leave in the midst of thee an afflicted and poor people." For instance, the Scriptures declare that

Temptation is permitted for the trial of faith.-"For a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: that the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ."

Again, the Scriptures declare that

God will not suffer His saints to be tried without giving them grace to bear it." God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it."

Again, the Bible promises that

Christ will keep His saints faithful in the hour of temptation.-"Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.'

Thus do we not perceive, beloved, what a consolation is provided for us in God's holy word when temptation sorely presses upon us? Such is permitted, to try our faith; but God will give grace to bear it, so that we sink not; and Christ will keep us faithful, so that we dishonour not His holy name.

"Yet, though my soul in darkness mourns,

Thy word is all my stay;

Here I would rest till light returns:

Thy presence makes my day."

Another burden will be

Some besetting sin.-Discernment brings us to the statement that all God's children have some sin that doth so easily beset them. We have never yet found but one perfect man, and He the God-Man, Christ Jesus. Is this your case, dear reader? In looking within, do you not discern easily some besetting sin that plagues you wonderfully, and brings you into unbecoming conduct as a Christian? Now, what says the word under such circumstances? Two passages will do: "Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean." Precious prayer this. Couple it with a promise, and remind thy God of it: "From all their iniquities will I cleanse them." It is a sweet way of pleading with God, to say to Him, "Hast Thou not said, therefore wilt Thou not do it? Thy word is, 'From all their iniquities will I cleanse them.' Cleanse, then, Thou me, O my God, from all that is obnoxious to Thyself." It is then a sore point with the Christian if he finds himself yielding to any besetting sin. He hates himself because of it. He cannot sin that grace may abound. God forbid!