"Well, Sir," said Hyford, "and it's my firm belief there are many such."

"I fear so," replied Mr. C-, " and it is awful to think of them. I tremble at those words, 'Give an account of thy stewardship,' for a deep, dreadful responsibility rests upon all those who preach the word of God deceitfully, and so corrupt it. (2 Cor. iv. 2, and ii. 17.) It is beautiful to observe the condescension of our Divine Master, throughout the entire of this interview; and how he accommodates himself to the person before him, kindly encouraging him to seek for himself, and gradually opening his mind by his own irresistible power, to comprehend those heavenly truths he had been setting before him, through the medium of earthly objects, completing the whole with a direct allusion to the brazen serpent as the type of himself on the cross-which frightful sight, Nicodemus, then no longer the timid concealed disciple, beheld; for we find him with Joseph of Arimathea, performing with agonized grief the last sad offices to his sacred body."

"How well this all fits in with our Old Testament Histories," observed Hyford, "and how tight it ties the two together."

"You are very right," replied Mr. C, with a smile; "the one is the sequel to the other; hence the Jews remain in such gross mental darkness, because they find many portions of the Old Testament incomprehensible, and will continue to be so, until they receive the light of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. But mark what blessed truth is contained here; that, 'as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness' -and it was rendered efficacious by the power of God, to the perfect restoration of the wounded Israelite-' so should the Son of Man be lifted up.' Where? On the cross on the summit of Calvary. And for why? That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through him might be saved.' (Verses 14 to 16.) Beloved, what can we say to such words as these! their beauty and importance enhanced ten hundred-fold by having been uttered by Emmanuel himself. Fury is not in me,' (Isa. xxvii. 4,) saith the Almighty Father; and verily these verses prove it. This sinful rebellious world is the object of his love, and not one of the millions that compose the human race are excluded the benefits here bestowed, as a free gift, without the least merit on their part..' Whosoever!' no one rejected, all are welcome, all are invited, and

the streams of grace flow unrestrained, offering their healing virtues to the thirsty, sin-sick soul. Herein truly is the love of God made manifest. He looked upon those beings his hands had formed for happiness, and found that they had cast it from them; that human nature was sunk and degraded, and could not rise from the miserable state of bondage in which it was held. He looked upon, and pitied it, and then declared that man should find mercy; and to fulfil this wonderful intention,' He gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.' Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.' (1 John iv. 10.)

"What do you understand by those words, Mr. C————?” said Mr. Basil: He that believeth on him is not condemned.' (John iii. 18.)

"It shows," replied Mr. C- "the safety of the true believer; he is passed from death unto life; from a state of nature, which is death, to that of grace, which is life, eternal life, begun here below, perfected above. The believer, in fact, never dies; he shakes off his body of corruption, that portion which he inherited from Adam, that casket which, as its inward treasure is hastening onwards to its purchased crown, becomes daily more unworthy of its tenant; until at length the immortal bursts its mortal ties, and rises unfettered to the realms of glory. A pardoned criminal ceases to be a condemned one; the Gospel says, 'Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved,' (Acts xvi. 31,) and the whole tenor of Scripture turns on the same blessed truth. Some people, in order to make God's word consistent with their wishes, say, Well, this is easy, comfortable doctrine,-if heaven is granted upon such easy terms, none of us need fear, for surely who doubts that Jesus died for sinners, and is our Saviour? Oh! my friends, it is grievous to hear how continually this his most lovely title is profaned; that name which is for ever the subject of the rejoicings of the redeemed in heaven, and the support and comfort of his people on earth, is uttered by old and young, without a thought.as to its precious meaning. Our Saviour-is he yours? have you become sensible of the bondage of Satan, the corruptions of your heart, the sinfulness of sin? if not, he is not your Saviour; but if, on the contrary, you feel you are a sinner by nature and practice; if you see the imperfection that clings to every action; the incapability of doing anything

right, and pleasing to God, who is infinitely holy; and oppressed by dissatisfaction at the present, and dread of the future, you come to Jesus to save you, to clothe your naked soul with his righteousness, to open your blind eyes that you may see him as he is, to remove your ignorance by the teachings of his Spirit, then indeed he is yours, in all his fulness, and neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate you from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.' (Rom. viii. 38, 39.) And the consequences of this union, this indissoluble knot, is holiness, in thought, word, and deed; and the then proper name for the highly favoured being is Christian- -a follower of Christ, an humble imitator of his Divine Master, one who endeavours to follow his precepts, to live according to his word, to fulfil his duty, first, to his God, and then to his fellowcreatures, doing to them as he would wish them to act by him in all things, forgetting self, and crucifying the flesh with its affections and lusts."

"This," said Hyford, "is indeed to be a Christian, and yet we all call ourselves Christians, though very many must surely forget it. I know, I did for the greatest part of my life. I suspect, dear Sir, that multitudes in this country, who call themselves Christians, no more understand the meaning of the name, than my boy Dick."

"Indeed, I fear not," replied Mr. C—;" yet they would be very angry if they were told they were not Christians; but, do they act as such? Alas! when I look around and see that the heart of the sons of men is full of evil, and madness is in their heart while they live,' (Eccles. ix. 3,) I am compelled to reply in the negative, and acknowledge that the greatest part are worse than heathens, living without hope, and without God in the world. And their condemnation is increased, in this land especially, an hundred-fold, because 'light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.'"

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Why do you say, in this land especially, Sir ?" said Hyford.

"Because this is proverbially the land of Bibles," answered Mr. C- "here they are so cheap, that every man, woman, and child, can have them for almost a trifle. And what is the Bible? It is the revelation of God's will to man; it shows him what he is by nature, what he may

be by grace; it teaches him how death came into the world, as the fruits and consequences of sin; it points out how life also is bestowed as the fruits of the atonement of the adorable Redeemer: it instructs us how to live contented, and die happy; in short, it is one of the best and most precious gifts bestowed by God, and for which we can never be sufficiently thankful; it is our guide, both for time and eternity; it instructs us how to act in all the relative situations of life, and it encourages us with bright and glorious peeps of our future heavenly inheritance.

"Ah, Sir," said Mr. Lawrence, "if people went into Italy, and the continental countries, there they would see the consequences of a dearth of the Bible; truly, it is as sad as the want of water in the desert. Some time since, a gentleman wished to ascertain if this book was really as scarce as it was said to be. He tried at various booksellers' shops in different towns; some did not understand him, some had it not, others said it was prohibited by the priests; at last, he found one copy-only one; but, Sir, there was also a commentary to it,—and the price twenty guineas!! But I trust a dawn of a better day is beginning; Italy has at length roused herself, and last year sent over to England— how proud I am to think this country should be so honoured -to remit her 8,000 Bibles! But will you What are they among so many? True, but remember, he who begins his work will finish it; and that the Lord has people in Babylon, papal Rome, is evident, for it says, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.' (Rev. xviii. 4.) We have lived to see the power of the great Babylon cut off, and we shall, if life is preserved, see greater things than these. For I am firmly persuaded, the Lord is at hand,—what say you, Mr. C

say,

"I agree in all you have said," replied the Pastor; "and to me the present times are most interesting; I delight in bringing all events to the word of God, and of all that is declared therein, nothing faileth; his promises are confirmed, both in respect of nations, and individuals, and I would earnestly implore you to consider the important subject we have discussed to-day, and rest not until you can feel that you are new creatures in Christ Jesus, old things passed away and all things become new."

R. CLAY. PRINTER, BREAD STREET HILL.

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