Then shall all those impious objections by which men are now deterred from a cordial reception of the Gospel, for ever disappear; then may the Judge address the impenitent sinners, and say, "Because I have called, and ye refused, I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded; but ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof; I also will laugh at your calamity, I will mock when your fear cometh." Then will they upbraid themselves and say, "How have I hated instruction, and my heart despised reproof; and have not obeyed the voice of my teachers, nor inclined mine ears to them that instructed me!" then will it appear, with convincing evidence, that "there is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus ;" and the ransomed of the Lord will triumphantly exclaim, "Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect?"

But though the sovereignty of divine grace, the universal depravity of mankind, and salvation only through Jesus Christ, shall be thus fully asserted on this important day, yet shall the authority of the divine law be equally displayed, both with regard to them that are saved, and to them that perish; for, as the latter cannot say that they have acted up to the demands of the law, which now justly condemns them, so the former, though not justified on the ground of any righteousness of their own, yet shall they be, in the strictest signification of the words, judged according to their works. For this purpose,

5. Another book shall be opened, which is the book of God's remembrance. "They that feared the Lord," says Malachi, "spoke often one to another; and the Lord hearkened and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him, for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his name." In this book shall be found, faithfully recorded, all those works of faith and labour of love, and deeds of righteousness, and true holiness, which, by divine grace, the righteous were enabled to perform. In this book all those secret acts of devotion, in which, without the eloquence of words, or the energy of action, he perceived humility, sincerity, and fervour,-all those secret deeds of charity, however inconsiderable in themselves, in which he perceived the principle of love to God, and to mankind for his sake, all those expressions of zeal for his glory, which were founded on his Word, though absolutely abortive in their object, and all those holy aims, intentions, and desires, which they never had an opportunity of expressing either by actions or by words, are individually recorded, and shall be now proclaimed, both to the honour of sovereign grace, and to their unspeakable advantage. "He tells all their wanderings, puts their tears into a bottle," and will not forget so much as a drink of cold water which has been given in his name.

And when, in the presence of men and angels,

of the saints, as delineated in this book of God, then shall the short-lived triumph of infidelity be at an end, and the reproach of the cross shall cease; then shall the mouth of calumny be stopped, which branded Christians as hypocrites or enthusiasts, and the righteous shall appear to be indeed "more excellent than his neighbour." Then will it appear that, if the saints were chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world, it was that they should be holy, and without blame before him in love; then will it appear that, if Jesus gave himself for them, it was that he might redeem them from all iniquity, and purify them unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works; and that, being sanctified and cleansed by the washing of water, by the Word, they might, as now, appear before him, a glorious Church, not having spot or wrinkle, or any such thing.

As to those on the left hand of the throne, being fully condemned by their own conscience, unable to answer the heavy charges that are brought against them, and above all, the charge of having rejected an offered Saviour, and having no advocate to plead their cause, they must await, in speechless anguish, the just demerit of all their aggravated sins. And this leads me to observe,

V. Another circumstance, on account of which the day of judgment is denominated a great day; and that is, the sentence which will then be pronounced both on the righteous and on the wicked.

The total separation, distinctive of character and state, has already taken place, and this final arrangement can never be disturbed the books have likewise been examined, and every thought, and word, and action, has been weighed in an even balance the circumstances of temperament and situation, of privilege and disadvantage, have been taken into the account-every reasonable plea has been attended to, on either side, and every soul has acquiesced in the reply--the true character stands forth confessed, and there is no disguise nor cloak

the tremendous prospect is full in view, and not a whisper of discontent is heard-but the Judge must pronounce the sentence, and fix the eternal doom.

The Judge addresses himself first to those on his right hand, who, with the joy of wonted faith, anticipate the sentence; but wish to hear it from his own mouth. He speaks, and eternity hangs upon his words. "Come, ye blessed of my ther, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world."

Fa

"Come!" Ah! my friends, what a train of pleasing associations does that word bring to their enraptured souls! while it reminds them at once of their former distance, alienation, and enmity; and of the love of the Father, the grace of the Son, and the kindness, condescension, and forbearance of the Holy Spirit-while it calls back to their recollection the many struggles which they formerly maintained with the wicked one, the world and the flesh, and the renewed supplies of grace by which they were enabled to resist, to contend, and to overcome-while it banishes all their former

doubts, anxieties, and fears, and proves the faith- | fulness of Him who had so often said to them, "Fear not; only believe, and ye shall see the salvation of God." Come, "ye blessed of my Father." "It is God, then, that justifieth," say these happy souls; "who is he that condemneth?" Often have we heard the accusations of Satan, the remonstrances of conscience, the reproaches of the world, and the thunderings of the law: but henceforth their terrors shall no more alarm; their voice shall no more be heard; we are declared blessed by him who knoweth all things, and who cannot lie. It is a blessedness complete, uninterrupted, and secure!" Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world." This, then, is a kingdom suited to the renewed nature, and the exalted character of the adopted sons of God, of the joint heirs with Jesus Christ; and we shall, therefore, reign with him for ever, and dwell for ever in the presence of the Father, where there is fulness of joy! Great was the happiness of these glorified spirits, when first their eyes were opened to see Jesus as their own Saviour, and their hearts to receive | the truth in the love of it-sweet were the foretastes of communion which they enjoyed with the Father and the Son during their pilgrimage on earth-high was their joy when delivered by death from infirmity and sin-more exquisite yet was their satisfaction at the restoration of their bodies, so gloriously transformed and still more elevated was their transport, when placed on the right hand of the Omnipotent Judge. But these last words of their Saviour exalt their felicity to a pitch which they had never felt nor conceived before-they touch the strings of their hearts with a force which, on earth, they were unable to bear-and run, in one kindling, universal rapture, through their whole frame; for they are now completely and for ever happy-happy in the approbation of their conscience happy in the blessing of their God -happy in the sentence of their Judge-happy in their great and final determination for eternity.

The Judge turns to those on his left hand, and wrath kindles in his eye. They mark the anger of his countenance, and are filled with terror. He fixes his face upon them, and, in fearful anticipation, they already hear his words, already they tingle on their ears, and fall with horror on their astonished hearts. O! for another offer of a Saviour! O! for another opportunity of salvation, in whatever circumstances! O! for one day, for one hour of the many which we have abused on earth! O! how we would improve it! But no! the day of grace is past, the accepted time is gone, the voice of mercy shall no more be heard for ever. O! for rocks to hide us, and for mountains to cover us, from this awful scene! But no! the rocks have fled away, and there is no place found for the mountains. O! for annihilation! once dreaded, once detested annihilation, come thou to our relief, in this our last extremity, and plunge us deep in dark and dire oblivion! But no! the Judge holds in his right hand the keys of death and hell -he turns the key of death-he shuts them out

from the last refuge of the miserable and compels them to stand before him, naked and defenceless. "Depart from me," he says, "ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels."

'Tis said, the howl of despair begins, but who can describe the scene? Sharp were the stings of an awakened conscience upon earth, more fearful at the hour of death were the first flames of an unextinguishable fire, alarming was the sound of the last angel's trump, shameful was the resurrection of their vile bodies, and more confounding still was the awful separation to the left hand of the Judge; but, at the sound of these last words, the recollection of all former sufferings is totally obliterated and lost, and the soul is wound up to a pitch of misery which it had never before conceived, all hell opens upon them in the sentence, and all the horrors of eternity accumulate upon their throbbing breasts. The mind refuses to dwell on this terrific scene. But while we turn away our eyes from its further contemplation, let us carry with us the important recollection, that it is no more frightful than it will be real. The wicked spirits which kept not their first estate, are next condemned; and so the solemnities of judgment are brought to a final close. One other circumstance, however, remains yet to be considered, which constitutes a material part of the greatness of that decisive day. And that is,

VI. The important consequence of the sentence then pronounced, both to the righteous and to the wicked, declared in the infallible words of our Lord himself. "These shall go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into life eternal." The wicked shall go away, from what? From light to darkness, from past, though partial enjoyment, to future and unmingled suffering; from God and the spirits of the just made perfect, to the devil and his cursed angels; from the most fearful apprehensions, to absolute despair. Despair! What heart of man can conceive the extent of misery which that one word conveys? Any other feeling, but the feeling of despair, might admit a ray of comfort, even into the dismal regions of the damned themselves; but this horrid impression sets a black and impenetrable seal on all their prospects, which eternity itself will never violate nor remove.

But the righteous shall go into life eternal. Happy, eternally happy band! You are now delivered from all your doubts and fears, from all your temptations and sufferings, from all your anxieties and watchings, from all your infirmities and imperfections, and from sin itself, the source of all your other woes-you have now passed the limits of mutability and suspense-you have entered on a state of perfect purity and joy, your eyes have seen the king in his beauty, they have beheld the land that, on earth, was very far off, you are come to the city of the New Jerusalem, in which dwells the glory of God, you have arrived on the banks of the pure river, which proceedeth out of the throne of God and of the Lamb, you shall eat of the fruit of the tree of life, which

groweth on either side of the river, and there shall be no more curse, but you shall be before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple, and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among you, you shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more, neither shall the sun light on you, nor any heat, for the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed you, and shall lead you to living fountains of waters; and God shall wipe away all tears from your eyes.

SCENES FROM THE OLD AND NEW
TESTAMENTS.

BY THE REV. J. A. WYLIE,

:

Minister of the Associate Congregation of Original Seceders at
Dollar.
No. VI.

THE TWO BLIND MEN BY THE WAY-SIDE.

OUR Lord, attended by a great multitude, is leaving the gate of Jericho. We behold him on his last journey to Jerusalem to keep the passover, and to suffer. As the progress of the sun in heaven may be followed by its light, so the path of the Saviour may be traced to the very foot of the cross, by the blessings he confers on men as he passes along. Sight to the blind, hearing to the deaf, and life to the dead, are amongst the munificent gifts which are dispensed by the almighty hand of Him who "came not to be ministered unto, but to minister." When the ear heard him, then it blessed him, and when the eye saw him, it gave witness to him, because he delivered the poor that cried, and him who had none to help him. The earthly career of the Saviour is near its close; but before it ends, he has yet another act of mercy to perform, and another proof to give to his unbelieving countrymen, that He whom they are about to condemn to die is, indeed, the Son of God. He is now hastening to his setting; let us draw near and mark the glory which his almighty power, and his undiminished and unbounded goodness, shed around his departure.

At a short distance from the gate of Jericho, and a little way in advance of the Saviour, sat two blind men. It is needless to use many words in describing their pitiable state. To them the heavens had never revealed their magnificence, nor the earth her beauty; they never saw the light of day, nor the countenance of a friend; He who spreadeth the morning upon the mountains, in order that his sovereignty might be illustrated, and his power made manifest, had commanded the day not to dawn upon them. They "looked for light, but had none." To complete their misery, poverty had driven them forth to seek their bread from the charity of the passing stranger: they sat by the way-side begging." Their lot of sorrow admitted but of few changes; when the morning came, and the paths of industry began to resound with the foot of business, they sought their accustomed seat by the wayside; there they employed themselves through the day in watching the approach of a charitable step, or in counting the hours as they wore wearily away; at night, when the path was empty and silent, they arose and departed in darkness to their home.

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Whilst they sat there, many had passed by who had relieved them with their money; but now, One was approaching, more compassionate to feel, and more powerful to relieve, their misery than any who had ever shown them sympathy, while they sat by the wayside begging. An unusual sound of footsteps falls upon their ear, and when they inquire the cause, they are informed that Jesus of Nazareth is drawing near. Jesus of Nazareth! Even the mention of the Saviour's name was as the rising of the sun to those who sat in

darkness; the cloud has passed away from their face, and joy beams from those eyes where the light of heaven never found entrance. "Jesus of Nazareth!"

they exclaim; "is not that the Prophet of Galilee,

who speaks, and the eye is opened; who commands, and even devils obey; who rebukes the winds and the waves, and they are still; who calls to the dead, and they come forth? Why sit we here in darkness? He hath saved others; he will save us.' And scarcely and joy, when the sound of the Saviour's footsteps had they given vent to their first feelings of surprise

told them he was near; expectation held them mute, and they wait his coming in silence. He draws nearer and nearer; and even the sightless eye-ball was turned in the direction in which he came, if haply they might descry the dim outline of their great Deliverer. He is now passing; but a little and he will be gone, and they may never again have an opportunity of appealing to his power and sympathy; therefore, lifting up their voice, they cried to Him to whom the needy never cried in vain, "Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou son of David."

"No

"O Lord, thou son of David!" Who taught them to use this language? They had heard, indeed, of his miracles from others, but they had never enjoyed the high satisfaction of seeing them, as their countrymen had done, and yet they did not share in the unbelief of their countrymen: truly, theirs was the blessedness which belongs to those "who have not seen, and yet have believed." The terms in which they address the Saviour clearly imply a divine faith on him as the Son of God. They call him "Lord;" not in compliment merely, for this was not a title given to the Jewish teachers of the time; nor do they use the phrase in any inferior sense, as was sometimes done in the case of the ancient prophets, for they connect it with another title, which explains the sense in which they called him "Lord, thou son of David." It is clear, that when they addressed Jesus by a name given in Scripture to the Creator of all things, and which is strictly applicable only to the Universal Sovereign, they meant to ascribe to Christ almighty power and unlimited dominion. The words of the apostle throw light on the address of the blind men: man can say that Jesus is the LORD, but by the Holy Ghost." They address him also as the heir to the throne of David: "Have mercy on us, thou son of David." It was impossible for them to employ words which should more distinctly express their faith in him as the Messiah; it was foretold that he should spring from the loins of David; and the Jews were accustomed to speak of him as "David's son," to intimate their belief that he would not only occupy the throne of his father David, but revive the prosperity and glories of his reign. It was said at his birth, "the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David." Thus we behold a miracle already wrought on these men. "The day-spring from on high" hath already shone upon their souls; the eyes of their body are still dark, but those of the mind have been opened; man they never saw, but they have seen One" fairer than the sons of men;" to their sight creation's beauty has not yet been unveiled, but they have beheld a brighter world than any which is enlightened by an earthly sun; and although they had continued to sit in darkness, they would have been bound to rejoice in the great deliverance which the power and the mercy of "David's Son" had already wrought for them.

How simple the language in which they express their wishes! "Have mercy on us." They do not name the blessing; they will not prescribe to Him to whom they pray; they only entreat that he would be pleased to take their melancholy case into consideration, and do in it as his love and wisdom may direct him. How different was this from the arrogant request which had been presented to him but a little before, "Grant that

cures which his grace effects on the souls of sinners. | Naturally, we are no more capable of discerning the glories of the spiritual creation, than a man born blind is able to perceive the beauty of the earth and heavens. "Are we blind also?" said the Pharisees: this is the condition of thousands, who never perceived that they were sitting in darkness; and unless we have experienced a change within, similar to that which was wrought on the bodily eyes of these men, we may be assured that there is a world we have not seen.

It is a happy, but at the same time an astonishing revolution, which takes place in the mind of the sinner, when his eyes are opened. He has become the inhabitant of a new world. "Old things are passed away," and objects, of whose existence he never dreamed, and which surpass in glory all which it ever entered into his heart to conceive, crowd upon his sight. How sweet is it to behold the breaking of the day-to see the earliest beams of the "unpolluted light," gladdening the mountain tops! But so sweet a dawn never arose upon the earth, as that which shines upon the soul in the morning of grace: its first effect is to awaken in the mind a holy tumult of joy and surprise, at the sight of objects of such unusual glory, never till that moment beheld. But, when this has subsided, and the person has time to look around him, and survey his position, his next emotion is one of awe at the danger he has escaped. He was blindly treading upon a precipice; and had not the scales fallen from his eyes, the very next step might have precipitated him into an unfathomable gulf. He knows not whether to tremble at his danger, or rejoice in his deliverance; and the gratitude he owes to his Deliverer is so great, that he knows not where to find words to express it. While he endeavours to "rejoice with trembling," he tries to say, with one who experienced the same deliverance in a former age, "Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with loving-kindness and tender mercies.'

ON SPRING,

AS MANIFESTING AN OVER-RULING PROVIDEnce.
By J. G. HOPKIRK, LL. B.

"He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man; that he may bring forth food out of the earth."PSALM Civ. 14.

ALTHOUGH the regularity with which the seasons succeed each other, furnishes proofs of the existence of the Deity, yet there is no period of the year which displays more unequivocal and striking marks of an all-wise and over-ruling Providence than spring.

Let the most unbending sceptic-if such a being in reality exists-walk abroad among the fields and gardens, at this delightful season; let him survey, with an attentive eye, the operations that are every where carrying on around him; and he will return to his home, if not a sadder, at least a wiser man; and as he retires to the solitude of his chamber, he will "wish that he had never doubted."

There is, at this period of the year, to be found in all the works of nature, which is another expression for Providence, a most wonderful and beautiful exemplification of the divine decree, which fixed that man must earn his bread by the sweat of his brow; that he must not sit idle and inactive, trusting that all things will be provided for him; on the contrary, he is born to labour; but if he performs aright his part in the great theatre of existence, as surely may he confide in the Supreme Ruler and Judge of all bestowing his benign aid to make human industry beneficial and successful. And this trust of man in the wisdom of his Creator, is so firm, that the most wonderful of his phenomena pass unheeded, from their regularity. If the sun, for in

stance, were to suspend his course, how dreadful would be the consequence! The whole course of nature would at once be put a stop to, and this beautiful world, with all its inhabitants, would sink into chaos; yet while it only requires the outstretching of the Almighty arm to produce this awful desolation, we retire nightly to rest, and sleep soundly, in the most perfect confidence that we shall arise on the morrow to see the same sun beaming on us as before.

Man, then, entertaining this trust, must actively perform his part, to entitle him to benefit by it. He must prepare the ground and sow the seed, and having done his duty, he may await with patience and a wellfounded hope that his labour will not be in vain. He knows that the sun will impart warmth, and the rain and the dew moisture; he knows that the Omnipotent Ruler of the universe will perfect the work. From a tiny seed He raises up the most magnificent plants, gratifying to the senses, beautiful to the sight, agreeable to the smell, and grateful to the taste, and furnishing the most exquisite models for human ingenuity in the works of art.

If we look abroad among the fields, at this season, we every where witness the wonderful affection bestowed by the lower animals upon their tender offspring; we see them constantly watching over them, and leading them where the best pasture is to be found. Should they, for an instant, stray to a distance, with what eagerness the young one bounds to its mother's side, at the well known plaintive call!

Casting our eyes upwards towards that clump of trees, we behold a rookery, where there are, it may be, fifty nests in each tree; who can see, without admiration, the construction of these nests, so wonderfully adapted for the warmth, comfort, and security of the tender brood which now inhabit it! We see the patient female, covering her young with her outstretched wings, maintaining, without weariness, day by day, the same position, lest her offspring should suffer from exposure to the rude wind, while the male plies his unwearied task of supplying food for both. We mark the unerring precision with which, on his return from his incessant excursions, he invariably flies to the nest which contains his own mate and his own young ones. All this, in the language of the world, is instinct, but in the eye of the reflecting Christian, it is the powerful direction of God, whose omnipotence is sufficient for the guidance of the humblest as well as the highest of the creatures which it has pleased him to call into existence. And what a useful lesson man might learn from those birds! Here he may see a large colony, living together in peace and harmony, no jarring, no discontent, no envy, no interference with the property of others, no ambition, each occupying his own place, and all engaged alike in the benevolent employment of providing for the wants of those who look up to them for support and protection.

In truth, wherever the observation is turned at this busy season, there are to be found the same unvarying proofs of that Almighty hand which, having made this fair world and every thing therein, placed man there, formed in his own image, to rule over the whole, and to be the connecting link between the Creator and the created. Go forth, therefore, sons of men! and while you behold, with admiration, all these creatures which were formed for your use, recollect that they were also formed for your instruction; and while you enjoy them freely, with humble and thankful mercies, let there never be wanting in your hearts that implicit reliance upon his judgment, that lowly confidence in his love, and that firm resolution to do his will, without which you do not fulfil that Christian conduct, which is the end of your existence here, and you cannot hope for that sublime intercourse with him, which is promised as your reward hereafter.