Did they afford abundant supplies to us when we, like dry, chopped earth, had no moisture in ourselves? And are they bestowed on us, without the least merit in us; and communicated by his word and Holy Spirit, without the least power, or concurring influence of our own? Then certain ly all the glory is due to him, who is and who was, and who is to come; the "Three that bear record in heaven, which Three are One." Fifthly, This sovereign, boundless grace, lays the children of God under the strongest obligation to live unto God, and to glorify him in their whole lives, seeing they profess to live by these vital streams, which proceed from the Father's bosom, through the precious blood of the Lamb of God, by the communion of the Spirit of holiness. It becomes them therefore, not to live to themselves, but to him that died for them and rose again; that their conversation may "be as becometh the gospel of Christ;" walking as Christ also walked. Aud as this grace does not only lay us under the greatest obligation, but also wheresoever it becomes effectual, it hath a powerful influence, to work holiness in the heart; how shall it be known that we are Christ's disciples, but that we bear his image in all holy conversation? Therefore, if we have believed in God, let us be careful to maintain good works. If we name the name of Christ, let us depart from iniquity. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit." I leave these hints to the blessing of the Holy Spirit, who alone is able to make application. FROM AN OLD DIVINE. HUMILITY, how acceptable is it to God, how yielding to his command! God gives grace to it. God looks off from heaven and earth to look to that man who is of a contrite spirit, that trembles at his word. He that is the high and lofty One, who dwells in the high and holy place, and inhabits eternity, will dwell also with the humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, Isa. lvii. 15. This spirit hides pride from man, and so fits it to all holy returns to God by repentance. It withdraws man from his purpose; it changes the purpose of man. That which was the full purpose of the heart before, was to cleave to sin and the world; now the heart cleaves to God with its full purpose. This humble, broken spirit is the sacrifice of God, the sacrifice he will not despise, because it is ready to yield up itself in all obedience to him. But the sorrow of the world, not eyeing God, nor having any regard to him, never changes the heart nor life into obedience unto him, and so leaves a man in the same lost undone state, and so becomes desperate sorrow and anguish as the scripture calls it, Isa. viii. 22, and may be most fitly described by Jer. vi. 28, 29, 30. "They are all grievous revolters; they are brass and iron; they are all corrupters; the bellows are burnt, the lead is consumed of the fire, the founder melteth in vain; for the evil of the heart is not pulled away: reprobate silver shall men call them, because the Lord hath rejected them." When the Lord therefore, as the great founder, casteth men as into the furnace of sorrow, and they are not purged from evil, the melting is in vain, they are therefore rejected of God as reprobate silver. When sorrow and affliction, which are the chirurgery or bloodletting of the gracious hand of God, effect nothing of good, it is as the corruption of the whole mass of blood, and is certainly unto death. Isa. 1. 11; lxv. 14; Lam. iii. 65. EXPERIENCE OF A SISTER IN THE Continued from page 21. I saw my own foolishness, and begged of the Lord to give me wisdom; not to put me off with a portion of this world's good. I did not mind what I suffered if at last I did but get safe to heaven. I saw it was worth the waiting for, therefore I did not mind waiting. I entreated the Lord to satisfy me from his own mouth, and not leave me to place any dependance upon the creature; for now, more than ever, I feared resting short. I asked the Lord to enable me to commit all to him; leave all at his disposal; that he would direct me what to do; and that I might see his hand going before me. About a week after, Mrs. T. said, "Do you still think of leaving us?" I replied, "No." That was all that passed between us, and I remained with them seven years. My mind now felt easier, and I had a hope that the Lord would undertake for me. But things run cross, the work was so badly paid for, I could scarcely clear my way. If I was two or three shillings behind, this scripture would follow me, "Owe no man anything." That winter I rose early and worked till the proper time for the others to come; by these means I was enabled to keep out of debt. It is now about three and twenty years this Christmas, I paid a visit to my lather. It was the day after Christmas-day; because I had not called the day before, he would not speak to me, as he had provided purposely for dinner; he was so offended, he could not be reconciled, but left me and went out. I had walked from Stratford to Knightsbridge, then returned on foot as far as Aldgate, where I got the stage and rode home. I was very tired and cast down. I thought if it was so hard to reconcile an earthly parent, when offended, how much more an heavenly one. My prayer was, that the Lord would preserve and The rocks can rend, the earth can shake, The minister called to see Mrs. man seeketh rest and findeth none; you know you are seeking rest for your soul but cannot find it, and never will." This sunk me very low, I dreaded ease more than trouble, and begged of the Lord not to suffer me to be deceived. I did not mind what I went through, so that the Lord himself would satisfy me. I wished I had been on the earth with the Saviour; and how highly favoured those were who lived on the earth at that time. How I longed to know that Christ died for me; if I did but know, let my condition be what it might in this life, I would not murmur. Bread and water, with Jesus Christ, seemed to me a happy lot; and indeed I found it is, though the Lord in his goodness has given me every comfort. When I heard some talk of their happiness, how I envied them; I saw they were in possession of the blessing, after which my soul was craving. I feared it was too great a favour ever to be granted to me. I used to visit occasionally at the house of a friend, where I picked up many a sweet morsel of the bread of life from the savoury conversation of two brothers. I used to hold down my head while the silent tear would trickle down my cheek, and bless the Lord that ever I fell into their company; my soul felt a union to their religion, a union that I trust will never be broken; their words were as choice silver, and I esteemed them more than my necessary food. I loved my neighbour as myself; felt myself unworthy to sit at their table; by me they were both highly honoured and greatly esteemed. I was led to see with the Psalmist," Happy are the people that are in such a case;" they were in my heart to live and die with; and by me the memory of them is revered to this day. At times, when much cast down, these words have come softly to my mind, come unto me, all ye that are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest.' The difficulty with me was, how to get at him; I did not then know that desiring and longing after the Saviour was coming unto him; that he would satisfy the longing soul, and fill the hungry soul with goodness; the adversary would tell me, "This is not meant for you, it is of no use praying to the Saviour, for the prayer of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord; he shutteth your prayer and doth not answer, though you cry unto him continually; yet he doth not regard." One night, lying awake, these words came to my mind," Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled." Just after, the adversary standing by, saying, “Don't you be so presumptuous as to think this is meant for you; for the wicked are like the troubled sea, that cannot rest; there is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked; my servant shall eat, but ye shall be hungry; my servant shall drink, but ye shall be thirsty." This distressed me very much, and I thought there was no hope for me. When I read the scriptures they seemed to be so much against me that they added to my distress. I tried to shake it off. When I had concluded, as I had never committed any particular sins, why should I be so miserable? This scripture came with power, I'll visit the sins of the fathers upon the children." This completely knocked me down, and threw up the rebellion of my heart against the Lord. I thought it was cruel beyond description, and I wished I had never been born. knew my father was a wicked man, and thought the Lord could have hindered my being born in sin. Why did he suffer it to be? Oh, how hard I strove to fly out of his hand, but could not; I found it a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God; and this came into my mind, Why not put an end to your existence at once?" You can but know the worst; you will do it at I last; indeed I was fearful I should. 'Come all ye chosen saints of God, 64 ¿ I I meat. One day, this suggestion from Satan, came to my mind, "You may now rest satisfied; you are as good as any; there are none better than you; many have committed crimes that you have not; your walk and conversation is upright; you do that which is just, and your duty in your station; make yourself comfortable, all will be, all will be well at last." I began to think there were many worse than I; that I was as good as anybody else; and, therefore, why not make myself easy, all would be well at last; these words came like a thunder clap to my ears, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things that are written in the book of the law to do them; and they that offend in one point, (thought, word, or deed), are guilty of all;" this word thought'' seemed to sound louder than all the rest; this shook every nerve; my hair seemed to stand on end; and I felt as if sinking in a deep pit, in which there is no standing, and I was fearful I should sink for ever; my goodness was all turned to corruption; the holiness of the Lord and his divine majesty were a terror to my mind; the sword of justice appeared ready to cut me down as a cumberer of the ground; the eye of God seemed upon me for ever; I thought now it was all over with me, I was lost for ever; the Lord appeared to me as a con. suming fire, and vengeance was his name; I dreaded closing my eyes for fear of dying in this pit, and wake in that world where hope never comes; fearfulness and trembling took hold upon me; I cursed the day that ever I was born, and wished I had never seen the light. Oh, sweet time; blessed words; this caused a melting in my soul. wept, and a sweet sorrow it was. saw the Lord Jesus crucified for sin, and hoped it might be for mine; again this passed through my soul, You long to feel his cleansing blood;" and there was a secret hope, that some day I should know what it was; this comfort stayed with me that day; these were to me as helps by the way; but alas, they were soon gone, and seemed to sink very low; and because my desire was not accomplished, I was fearful it never would, and this was my sorrowful from you, and a month being nearly To be continued. LETTER FROM MR. J. RUSK TO HIS Dear J. OUR not having heard 66 occasioned elapsed, we thought it proper to write, indeed we should have written sooner, but we expected that you would write or come, and, if anything had been the matter, we thought that Mrs. L would be sure to let us know. S is getting better, but cannot walk or hardly stand; your mother is very sadly; has little or no appetite, and so very sick. I am very poorly, indeed hardly able to drag on. S- and his wife are well, but the child has bad eyes. J- is well and so are E- and EI went last night to Sion Chapel, and heard Mr. Owens' brother; he was upon Naaman the Syrian," and spiritualized it pretty well. I have wrote a letter to Mr. K through his speaking again in favour of Wesley; and his answer to me fully satisfies me what sort of preaching it is, linsey woolsey, a mixture of Calvinism and Arminianism, so that I hope to go there no more; truly we live in an awful day. I hope you are well in health, and your whole heart after Jesus, for everything else is a blank; he is all. Oh, J— I have had some blessed times in the warehouse, speaking to C- - about the work of God, with much power, liberty of soul, and speech; never give it up. I am persuaded that thy face is turned Zionward, and although the path is very rough, yet strength equal to your day you shall have, and at last be more than conqueror through him that hath loved us: turn a deaf ear to everything that would hinder you in seeking the Lord Jesus, for he is the one thing needful; "if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; if thou seekest her as silver and searchest for her as for hidden treasure, then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God," and this is life eternal, to know thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent; which I have lived to prove, and therefore can say, "That which I have seen and heard declare I unto you," &c. God would have never shewn you your own heart, and made you feel your real need of a Saviour; have given you an appetite after him; a hunger and thirst after righteousness, &c. if he intended to destroy you. Oh, no; there is not one text in all the book of God that militates against a sensible sinner, but against the insensible; keep up a constant confession in secret, and plead his own promise in the name of Jesus; read his word whenever you can, and hear Mr. Fowler; secret religion is the best, I have always found it so; this is not a day to say a confederacy; no, not to many that go to hear the word where you do; keep company with the tried and tempted, and such as feel the plague of their own heart. I hope Mrs. L is well; I will call and see her the first opportunity, but I do feel so weak; best respects to Band all enquiring friends. If you write, send word what shoemaker that was that heard Mr. Fon one Sunday evening, from "Watchman, what of the night;" he heard so well, and died suddenly the same night. I am still in work, bless the Lord, and although I do find it a path of tribulation indeed, yet I have found it very sweet lately in reading Berridge's Christian World Unmasked," and the " Walk of Faith ;" let us hear from you, how του managed that night I left, you, and how you go on in your place, and believe me to remain your affectionate father, who really wishes you well, and as a proof of it, cries to the Lord in your behalf. JOHN RUSK. ALL NATIONS SHALL CALL HIM BLESSED. My Beloved Sister, I thank you for the very affctionate reply to my last epistle, for I truly can say, that next to com |