ness

when He put the inquiries to him in the 38th, 39th, and 40th chapters, to convince him of creature nothingness, and reveals His purpose, ver. 14-"Then will I also confess unto thee that thine own right hand can save thee." To the same effect is His appeal in Ezekiel xviii, where the whole tenor of the chapter shows the wicked man is called upon to do what naturally every man is certain he can, and when spiritually taught he finds he cannot, namely, "Save his soul alive." So the Lord bids the sinner exert his boasted free-will, and "make you a new heart and a new spirit"—" therefore turn yourselves and live ye." To precisely the same purpose we must ascribe our blessed Lord's way of dealing with the young man who came to Him full of self-righteous"If thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments," Matt. xix. 17; and if thou wilt be perfect (that is evidently by good deeds), "sell all that thou hast and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven; and come and follow Me." Precisely like the appeal here" If thou wilt redeem it, redeem it." It is only when having tried this way to enter into life-to earn the inheritance by good works-that the enlightened sinner turns to his God with, "Redeem Thou my right, for I cannot." Then comes the cry, "Lord, save, or I perish." Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me." But in the first stage of experience the hope is raised of doing what is necessary, just as the kinsman replied, "I will redeem it." Yea, so he may, if he can meet all the requirements, satisfy every claim, and pay the creditor in full. Does not this readiness on the kinsman's part to undertake redemption, bring to mind the reply of the children of Israel when they first heard the requirements of God's law at the foot of Sinai-" All that the Lord hath said will we do, and be obedient," Ex. xxiv. 7. It is only on a fuller acquaintance with the undertaking that a sense of inability comes in. The first answer is, "I will;" the more mature knowledge issues in the confession, "I cannot."

Verse 5. "Then said Boaz, What day thou buyest the field of the hand of Naomi, thou must buy it also of Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of the dead, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance." It was one matter to redeem and purchase the land, it was another to take with it the hand of Ruth the Moabitess and redeem her; but the day, the same blessed day of redemption, is the day of the Lord's espousals, the day of the gladness of His heart. A sweet thought, that both transactions took place in one day, for when He redeemed His people, He espoused the church. "Christ loved the church, and gave Himself for it; that He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, that He might present it to Himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish," Eph. v. 25-27. "To raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance." Posterity was one of those things so much desired amongst the Jews, that their names might be preserved in their genealogy, that there might be a seed to inherit the land, and it might be "the seed" promised to bruise the serpent's head; and wonderfully indeed was this humble, God-fearing descendant of "righteous Lot" to perpetuate the name of the dead.

POLL PEG.

(Concluded from page 35.)

Old age,

"Being told that a stranger was come to visit her, she said,-Now I'm glad of it—I love to tell what Christ has done for me. sickness, poverty, signify nothing to me. Though I'm poor in this world, I'm rich. That glorious place which I have seen is my homenothing troubles me now; but before this change came I had a comical fiery temper. I wish my poor old man did but know what I enjoy ; but when I talk to him about Jesus, it only makes him curse, and I can't bear to hear him; I must pray for him, and not let him know. My son too grieves me very much-he takes no notice of what I say to him. When I see them going on in such ways it makes me humble, to think what their end will be if the Lord does not change their hearts.'

"Being asked if she should like to have her picture taken, she said, -'O yes; when I am gone you will remember the poor old woman, and think how happy she is, and what a glorious place she is gone to. What should I have done all this long illness without Jesus Christ? He is always with me, and that makes the time short. In the morning I praise Him, and the night comes again directly. I often don't sleep more than half-an-hour in a night, but He puts such pleasant thoughts into my mind. I hear the cock crow, and see it begin to get light, and still He is with me. I think the time must be drawing very near when my Lord will take me to Himself. I feel very weak, but not in low spirits. What signify the pains of the body? They are but a shadow. My heart and soul are gone up the hill; I shall soon sing hallelujah to my Father in heaven. I hope we shall meet above. May the Lord reward you for your kindness to me.'

"I have been very ill, but my comforts are great. Last night I thought I was with my blessed Saviour. When I awoke I felt a strong desire to receive the sacrament; it was as if my Lord had put it in my mind, and told me to do it in remembrance of Him, and that His dear blood was shed for me. He is my whole salvation-I did not see that till lately. O how happy have I been since I knew my Saviour. I have never hungered or thirsted after anything else; He has comforted and supported me, and sent me abundance. All I receive comes from Him; meat, drink, friends-He sends all.'

"How much happier is my portion than theirs who are hankering after the riches and pleasures of the world; they will all fade away and leave them, and be no better than a bit of dirt; but mine will go with me. Death will be nothing to me but losing my breath-and then what glory! O that happy hour! Then I shall sing hallelujah to God and the Lamb for ever. I pray my God to come quickly. I now begin to think my time long; but I am by no means discontented, only I long to be with Christ in heaven; but He has fixed the time, and that time is best.

"I have had a great many people come to see me lately-I love to have them come that I may talk to them. My Lord teaches me what

to say.

What poor ignorant creatures we are without Him. Some people came to talk me down last evening, but they confessed at last I was right. They began with talking about the hard times, and said that many would be starved to death. I told them that was poor faith -did not God manage everything? They almost put me in a passion. I don't mean to say I was out of temper, but I talked loud. They had just been to the meeting, and I thought they knew everything.'

"I had a long holding last night with my husband's sister, who is ill, but she is very awkward; she said she wanted something to eat and drink, and good support for her body; as to her soul, it must be with that as it happened, for she was no schollard. But what a poor excuse will that be--it is not schollardship that will bring people to heaven. I am no schollard, but the Lord has fixed His knowledge of salvation deep in my heart. It is not what I have learnt out of books, but what He has taught me by His blessed Spirit. I tell all that come to see me what the Lord has done for me; and if it be His will, it may be the means of making them seek too.'

"I had a person come to talk to me one day who told me some fine tales about going to heaven when he dies. He thought I was a poor ignorant creature, but I was soon too deep for him. I told him it was not sufficient for him to come with his fine stories to me, and then go somewhere else and talk all manner of nonsense, and tell all sorts of lies. They who love their Saviour will strive to be like Him; and He did not lie, nor steal, nor talk foolishly. He did not like it; and when they rough me I always talk well, and my Lord teaches me what to say. I see now in people of the world what I little thought of oncehow they fight against the people of God. Many that I used to think loved me, and seemed to be my friends, now fight against me for nothing else but because I love Jesus Christ. They call me a mad hypocrite, and all sorts of names, but I don't mind it; it makes me feel so cheerful, my heart quite dances to think I am counted worthy to suffer shame and reproach for Christ's sake. What did He suffer for my sake, even for such a sinner as I have been? I cannot love and praise Him enough.'

"I am very bad to-day, but it rejoices my heart to see those who love my blessed Lord, and talk to me about Him-it seems to revive me. But I am never alone, my Lord is always with me, night and day. If they were to throw my carcase into the midst of a great wood I should not fear, my soul is safe; and what signifies what becomes of my bones? Betty has had so little work of late, and everything is so dear, that it seems to make her quite cast down; but I tell her it is wrong, for the Lord will take care of us. We had no bread to-day, but we had potatoes; and I always return Him thanks whether it is little or much.'

66

'Being asked if she was not alarmed at the high winds that had lately been, she said-'I fear nothing, my Lord won't let me fear. I lay hearkening to it, and I felt my bed shake; but I knew it was His handy works, and He was with me.'

666

I had a man come to quarrel with me last week for not being dead. He said you have been talking about dying for this year and

a-half, and you are not dead yet-I think you never will die. I said to him, No, I never shall die-my soul will leave my carcase when my Lord's time is come. You silly, ignorant man, do you think I can fix the time myself when I am to go out of the world? No; my Lord fixed the time for me to come into the world, and He has fixed the time when I shall go out of it.'

"I tell Betty not to weep for me when I am gone, but to rejoice that her poor mother, once so wretched, is now so happy. It cuts me to the heart, and makes tears fly out of my eyes, to think of my poor old man. Oh that my Lord would melt that hard stony heart of his before it is too late. I think now my time will be very short. I am quite willing to go, or I am willing to wait my Lord's appointed time.' "On the Saturday previous to her death she called Betty and the children to her, and said-'I shall not be so long with you as you may think; my time now will be very short. You don't know that you have a day or an hour to live. The thief upon the cross was saved at the last hour; but you don't know that you shall be saved at the last hour.'

"On the Sunday she was taken in a fit. When she recovered she was quite sensible, and called all the family round her, and said— 'Don't weep for me, I'm going to rest. Be sure you always attend church unless you are ill.' When they returned from church in the evening, she enquired for friends who had been in the habit of visiting her. On the Monday she said to a person-You may try to serve the Lord, and be as good as you can, but you can do nothing till He gives it you. I was a poor, dark, ignorant creature till my Lord brought me into the way of light.' The day before her death she said to Betty -Be sure you keep the narrow road. It is a narrow road, but it is a safe one. There are a great many enemies on both sides of it. Think what a number I have had, but I thank my Lord I have escaped from them all.'

"Being asked to have something to eat, she said-'No, my wench, I want nothing; my Lord supports me.' She often repeated the Lord's prayer, and Unto God's gracious mercy and goodness we commit thee. The Lord bless thee, and keep thee; The Lord make His face to shine upon thee; the Lord give thee peace now and evermore.' And those two hymns, 'Come, ye sinners, poor and wretched,' and, 'Jesus, my all, to heaven is gone,' which she desired to have sung at her funeral.

"A few hours before she died, she said—'I see my blessed Saviour; He stands there, waiting for me.' She appeared to talk a great deal, but in such a low tone that she could not be understood. Just before her departure she was asked to take a little wine and water. She said, 'Yes;' and immediately after turned round, and, as they supposed, was gone in a doze, till they brought a light, and found that she had departed.'

The tidings of a Redeemer are most blessed and welcome news to those that are sensible of their own poverty, and see salvation to be of grace.-Sanderson.

OUTLINES OF A SERMON

BY THE REV. J. A. WALLINGER, OF BRIGHTON.

"If ye love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you for ever.”—John xiv. 15, 16.

We have here, I. A hint given-"If ye love Me, keep My commandments." All gospel obedience springs from love; and where there is love, obedience will follow. The saved soul will be glad of every opportunity of manifesting its love to Christ. If you are called by grace, see to it that you are using every occasion given you of showing your love to Jesus by your obedience to Him. What does the poor sinner need but this, to have Christ manifested to his soul, and then he willingly walks in the ways of God. II. We have the promise of the Spirit given. Christ was now about to be taken from the disciples. They had enjoyed the privilege of seeing Him, and of having constant intercourse with Him; but now He was about to leave them, and so He promises to send them another Comforter. The Lord will never leave His people destitute. The apostle knew this by experience, therefore he says, "My God shall supply all your need." Yes, friends, all your need, as well as those to whom Paul wrote; your need spiritual, your need temporal-for time and for eternity. The Lord has the heart of a Father towards thee if thou art His child, and He will provide for thee, and see to all thy wants. If He have taught thee to cry, "Abba, Father," then surely all other things shall be added to thee. Remark here, the Lord Jesus promises to send the Spirit to comfort His disciples, but to none others. None but God's people shall have God's Spirit; but they shall, because God hath determined their salvation from all eternity-Christ being the way of life, and the Spirit the teacher and testifier to all and in all God's people; for "they shall all be taught of God." The Lord says He will send a Comforter-a blessed thing for you and me if He has fulfilled the promise to us. When a soul becomes sensible of sin by the Spirit's teaching, it feels its lost and ruined condition. Some talk of partial depravity, inherent grace, and remains of goodness; but a convinced soul becomes sensible of its total depravity. Many talk of partial depravity, and though they may confess man is far gone from God, yet will they not agree to the fact of the total depravity of man, and his complete alienation from God; and why? Because they have never been brought into the stripping room; they have never been taught 66 'to abhor their own clothes," as Job was; they have never seen themselves in their true character, as wretched and ruined before God; hence they have never felt their need of Jesus as a Saviour, or of the Spirit as a Comforter. They fancy themselves rich and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and if conscience does ever alarm, a few forms or a few prayers they think will satisfy God. But what knowest thou of God's Spirit as a Comforter of the soul? Do you know Christ as your hiding place? I trust some of you do know these