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repentance, because the Holy how could all the swine be posSpirit, insulted and grieved, had sessed? An answer to the above ceased his operations, departed in your most useful and enfrom the apostate, and left him Journal will much to the hardness and impenitence of his heart.

This passage is one of those which totally overthrows the Calvinistic doctrine of once in grace always in grace; and loudly admonishes all to work out their salvation with fear and trembling.

QUERY 3.-ON CHRIST'S CASTING OUT A LEGION OF DEVILS. SIR, As a Sunday-school teacher, I find it most difficult to explain various passages of Scripture to the satisfaction of all my scholars. One of the most difficult I find to be contained in Matthew viii. 28, to the end, and which is again mentioned by St. Mark v. 1-14. Matthew says there were two men possessed with devils, which, when cast out by our blessed Saviour, entered into a herd of swine, and the herd perished in the sea. Mark speaks of one man, and says that the spirit which possessed him gave its name as Legion, being many, and begged to be sent into the herd of swine, which was granted; and the swine, to the number of 2000, perished in the sea. I am often asked why our Saviour suffered the swine to be destroyed, as he must have known that such would be the case. And

were there 2000 evil spirits, else

lightening oblige

Yours &c., a Subscriber,

S. ROLYAT.

Isle of Axholme, 14th February, 1852.

ANSWER. The passages mean just what they state, and they prove the following facts:

1. That, about the time of our Lord's ministry, there were vast numbers of evil spirits in Judea. Satan and his hosts had collected many of their forces to the very spot where the Redeemer was to exercise his ministry and accomplish man's redemption.

2. That God had permitted this in order that the glory of the Saviour's triumphs over the powers of hell might be more visibly displayed.

3. Even when these crowds of evil spirits were collected within the region of Judea, they could do nothing, however great their number, without Christ's permission.

They could not re

main in the men one moment when He commanded them to come out, and they could not enter even the herd of swine until our Lord had given them leave. Thus, they were under his absolute control.

4. In the fact that Christ permitted the evil spirits to enter the

swine, we see an act of judgment combined with an act of mercy. There was mercy to the men delivered, and probably the salvation of their souls followed the deliverance of their bodies; but there was an act of judgment upon the Gadarenes for their covetousness and rebellion. They knew that the eating of swine was forbidden; but yet they kept them, in defiance of God's command, in order to get worldly gain. It was therefore a just punishment that the devils, who had tempted them to commit this sin, should be the instruments of promoting the destruction of their unlawful gains. The hard-heartedness and wickedness of the people are further manifested, in that although they saw the wonderful

cure which Christ had wrought upon the poor men by casting out devils, they besought Christ to depart out of their coasts. They would rather have the presence of pigs and devils than they would have the presence of the Saviour. All wicked people are like these Gadarenes-they prefer their sins to the Saviour of men.

There were doubtless two men possessed of devils, as mentioned by St. Matthew; but probably one was more remarkable than the other, more fierce and turbulent, and perhaps better known afterwards from the gracious change wrought in him. And hence Mark and Luke omit the mention of the other, as not being important to the establishment of the miracle.

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JOHN WATSON BRADLEY was | year 1845 his parents removed to born at Bishop Wearmouth, Sunderland, Feb. 15th, 1840. In the

South Shields, and soon began to attend our chapel, in West Hol

born. On their doing so, John, with others of the family, was sent to the Sabbath-school connected with this chapel, where an address, delivered by our devoted friend Mr. J. D. Welch, made a deep impression on his youthful heart. In the chapel he was accustomed to look very seriously at the minister, as though feeling very deeply the importance of treasuring up the word of God.

In the fourth year of his age he had a severe attack of hoopingcough, along with an inflammation of the chest, which seemed to leave a constitutional weakness there, which a slight cold would very frequently increase through the after-parts of his life. There was still no apprehension till the spring of the year 1851, when weakness and pain in the chest caused some fears in the minds of his parents. Medical help was sought; and a change of air being recommended, he was sent to some relations about fifty miles distant in July last, with whom he remained about four months. At first the change seemed likely to effect his recovery, but afterwards he sank again. On learning that such was the case, his parents became anxious for his return home, where he arrived on the 29th of October last, very much worse in health than when he left it. From this time he began to think that he should not recover. On Wednesday, Nov. 5th, our respected minister, Mr. Wright, called, and, after some conversation, prayed with him. Immediately afterwards he requested his aunt, who resides with his parents, to carry him into the other room, and when there he put his arms round her neck and said, "Oh, aunt! will God forgive me my sins?"

She replied, "Yes, my dear; God is able and willing to pardon all sinners who seek his mercy." She then pointed out several passages of Scripture in proof of this, and showed him how, by repentance and faith in Christ Jesus, he might obtain salvation. From that hour fears ceased to enslave him, and an humble confidence rose up in his soul, which enabled him to triumph over all the terrors of death.

On Friday, Nov. 7th, Mr. Welch called to see him, and received the pleasing assurance from his lips that the blessed truths taught him in the Sabbath school had now become "spirit and life."

On the Saturday evening he was so happy that it was good to be with him. While sitting on his aunt's knee he said, "Auat, I have often sinned, but the Lord has forgiven me all." He then exhorted her and his mother to live to God, and to be sure to meet him in heaven. He said he believed that angels were waiting to receive his spirit, and he hoped, if permitted, to welcome his parents and aunt on their arrival in the better land.

On the Monday Mr. Welch visited him again, and found him still rejoicing in God his Saviour, and visibly preparing for the inheritance of the saints in light. On the Tuesday he was unable to rise from his bed, and could sit up no more. On the following day two of his school-fellows came to see him, when he exhorted them very affectionately to be good, that they might meet him in heaven.

From this time he sank very rapidly, and his sufferings became very severe; but if in the midst of them his Saviour's name and sufferings were brought be

fore him, his eye would sparkle | school where I learned to read my with gratitude and holy affection. Bible." He then gave his TestaHis affection for his parents, his ment to his mother, and his chapel aunt and brothers and sisters, hymn-book to his aunt, desiring was unbounded; and when see them to use them in divine sering his mother unable to suppress vice. He now seemed to have her tears, he said, "Oh, my dear but one wish unaccomplished, and mother is weeping"" and begged that was to see his brother George, of her not to mourn on his who was at sea, once more, that he account. He told his two eldest might give him his dying advice. sisters to pray with their hearts, And it pleased the Lord to grant and not to be content with saying him his desire; for he arrived at their prayers. He often said, he home on the following Sunday. thanked God for giving him such Their meeting was a very affectgood parents, and how much he ing one. With the utmost tenwished to meet all his relations derness was it that, from his bed in heaven. On Saturday even- of death, he uttered the words of ing, November 15th, on waking warning against sin, and entreaties out of a short sleep, he said to to holy living, that they might his mother, who was sitting at meet in heaven. On the followhis bedside, "O mother, what a ing Thursday morning, about beautiful light I have seen! Do four o'clock, after he had spent & you think it is a light that God is very restless night, his aunt said sending to light me to heaven? to him, "Johnny, my dear! you He then repeated two verses of feel that your end is drawing very the Sunday-school hymn, "Oh, near?" He replied, "Yes, aunt." that will be joyful," beginning She then put the question, “Are you still not afraid to die?' "Oh, no!" was his instant reply. She then said, "You are sure that God has pardoned all your sins for Christ's sake, and that when you die he will take you to heaven?" And he again replied, "Oh, yes, aunt; bless Christ!" She said, " Praise God! what a consolation this is to your mother and me!" This was the last assurance he was able to give, except that he sometimes breathed out the words "Bless Jesus!"

with

Parents and children there shall

meet.

After he had concluded these words he said, "Mother, if I had strength I would make the house ring with the praises of God!"

On the Monday Mr. Wright again visited him; he was suffering much at the time, but was full of hope in Christ Jesus. On

one occasion, when seeing one of his sisters in tears he said, "O Bessy, you might cry if I durst not die because of my sins; but I know that if I were to die before morning God would take me to heaven." Then, raising his eyes upward, he said, "Oh, yes! I know that there is a seat prepared for

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A little after eight o'clock his aunt asked him if he would take a cup of coffee. He said "Yes." She went to pour it out, and when she returned a change had come over him, and he could not speak to her; but though his power of speech was gone, he continued by his looks, and, just before his departure, by raising

his arm and motioning with it, to show that all was well, though in the valley of the shadow of death. At a quarter past twelve o'clock, on the 27th of November, 1851, his ransomed spirit ascended from its frail tabernacle beneath to a house not made with hands

-eternal in the heavens! His
age was eleven years and nine
months. May those who mourn
his loss and all who read this nar-
rative pass as peacefully to the
bosom of their God.
H. WATSON.

South Shields.

POETRY.

THE CONTRITE HEART.

"The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit."

BRING not thy lofty pride,

Thy towering thoughts, and high;
Thy hopes all scattered wide
In vague infinity.

He heedeth not the prayer
Deception's lips would bring,
And vanisheth in viewless air
Thine empty offering.

Bring not thy costly boon
As incense to His shrine,-
Ne'er hath such treasure won
Gifts holy and divine.
Thy sacrifice doth raise
No flame of hallowed love,
It flasheth but on mortal gaze,
Unseen, unknown above.

But bring thy contrite heart,
An offering to the skies;
And lowly bend, and part

With life's vain witcheries.

Thy heart subdued and bowed

In penitence and prayer;

Thy stricken heart, that seeks no shroud

Amid its self-despair.

And self renounce, and sin,

And earth's alluring wiles;

So shalt thou joy to win

The Saviour's welcome smiles.

In faith behold Him there,

The Lamb, the Crucified!

And claim, in all-prevailing prayer,

Thy refuge in his side.

ADELINE.

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