4. His satisfaction therewith, though he make it not to grow." "al-ing parties were Father, Son, and Spirit, and Christ contracted for his Bride. He did not stand as a lone man, but as the federal Head of his Church, and as in union with her, his people being one with Him. Hence David's language, "He hath made with me an everlasting covenant." Yea, and you may use this language if you be one of God's people called by grace; to know the plague of your own vile heart, and to feel Christ precious to your soul. There is no name by which Jesus is called in the word, but you can claim the benefit of; and no part of his work that you have not a share in. 1st. Its duration. This covenant was connected with David's family, according to the promise made him by God, that his seed should sit upon the throne; as you have it in 2 Sam. vii., from whom God would not take away the kingdom as he did from Saul. But in all this David and his seed were a type of Christ and his Church. The covenant was made with David and his seed, which sets forth the Lord's covenant with his Christ, and in Christ with his Church, He was the root and offspring of David, David's Son, and David's Lord. Christ was not a lone Man-if I may so say. By a lone man we mean an unmarried man. Now Christ was not alone; He had a Bride with whom He was in eternal union; and all her blessings belong to Him, and come from Him; and as in covenant union with her, He says, "All that I have is thine." That is his language to her. Now in this sense it is the Lord speaks of his Church thus, "I will pour my Spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring." This is the true Jezreel, the seed of God, the kings and priests of God, who are all anointed upon the Head, which is Christ, and so running down to the skirts of the garments of all the living family. The covenant is called a covenant of grace, because God was under no obligation to make such a contract. He might have let the whole human race perish; therefore grace, and nothing else, moved Him to enter upon this covenant. David says, "He hath made with me." But he speaks here relatively; the contract "who But 1st., to speak of its duration. It was not a temporary covenant, as that made with Saul: nor a national covenant, as made with Israel, upon the ground of a national observance of the law of God. These were but temporary, and in due time came to an end. Ah, my friends, there are other things temporary. There are opportunities-means of grace, Gospel privileges; these are but temporary, and may soon pass away. There is also such a thing as a temporary faith; endure for a time;" believe for a while, and when temptations arise, away flies their faith, and away they turn from God and his truth. Our dear Lord had to bear this in his day; for when many left Him, because of the truth, He said, ye also go away?" as if He felt, must I stand alone? will all leave me? but rather it may be, He used these words to put them to the proof, and to draw out from them what I hope it draws out from some of you, "Lord, to whom else should I go?" (To be continued). "will OLD THOMAS CONWAY. Ir was the privilege of the writer a few think there has been a little revival tomonths ago, to visit a dear old dying day: I saw the mouth move, when the pilgrim-one with whom he had been hymn was singing." And then sweet acquainted for many years-THOMAS winds of comfort and encouragement CONWAY. He had reason to love him, would flow from his lips. Never could from the peculiar interest which he took one meet him, but what he would, in his case, when it was numbered-which in the warmth of his heart, exclaim, for many, many years it was-with the " My Jesus hath done all things well." tempted and the doubting. He has known The praises of his dear Lord were ever old Thomas make his way from a dis- upon his tongue. He had many and setant part of the house of God, towards vere trials, even previous to his last and that where his young friend had been lingering affliction, but Jesus and the seated, when both had been listening to fulness and the freeness of his salvation, that dear man of God, the late HENRY were ever uppermost. A momentary FOWLER. Well," he would say, I glance at the trial was enough; he would almost invariably add, exultingly, "Eternal joys shall soon repay The sorrows of the good old way." Many, doubtless, who read these lines will remember the joy of his countenance, and the strong emphasis he would lay upon the words, "eternal joys." It was verily, heaven begun below" with this dear old pilgrim. .. Formerly he was a hearer of the despised, but honoured WILLIAM HUNTINGTON; but his soul was set at liberty, he said, whilst reading a letter of Dr. HAWKER! He was greatly attached to the late Mr. PARSONS, of Chichester, and some years ago, upon a visit there, he met with a young woman who had just previously been brought out into the full blaze, as it were, of Gospel light and liberty. He was much interested in her case, and would often speak of it. So great was her joy, that she could neither sleep, nor scarcely take food. She was as one, "out of the body." The writer remembers saying to the dear pilgrim, whilst he was speaking of her," One of two things, I think, you'll see-that she is either destined for severe trial, or will speedily be taken home." A few days after, the writer met him. His first words were, "Mrs. is gone." On another occasion, the dear old man was somewhat depressed,- -a most unusual thing with him. Trade was bad; and he one of the old school-was little adapted to cope with the world, and especially with the tricks in trade practised by so many in his line of business. "I don't know," said he, "after all, but I shall come to the Union." "The only union that ever you will know anything about," was the reply, "is that which exists between the Lord and his dear people." Dear old man, he was long, it is true, incapacitated for labour. For months and months he was laid aside, and for a long time kept his bed; but (blessed be a faithful, promise-keeping God !) he never went to the Union. He never became an inmate of a Poor-house."The barrel of meal wasted not, neither did the cruse of oil fail." His Jesus knew when + See "Conversations by the Way." *It may perhaps prove a word of counsel and encouragement to some poor bewildered, world-oppressed, devil-buffetted soul; and it may also redound to the glory of God, in proving his readiness and his power to help, in times of peculiar trial, if a memorandum and how to provide. Most emphatically was verified in THOMAS CONWAY, the words of the hymn, Make you his service your delight, Your wants shall be his care." Yes, the Lord's house, and the Lord's word, and the Lord's people, were his delight. From the far Bayswater to the Waterloo-road (when Mr. TRIGGS preached there) old THOMAS CONWAY, both on a Sunday and on a Tuesday evening, would come. And some engaged in the business of the great city can testify how salutary and how soothing to a careworn mind was a call from this beloved pilgrim. At a certain business-place in the great metropolis, on one occasion three aged servants of the Most High God casually met-Mrs. GAIRNS, THOMAS CONWAY, and JOHN SMITH. It was a Gospel holiday! A heavenly treat to listen to this blessed trio, as each testified of the good hand of God upon them. Where He had led them, and how He had led them, and what He had been to them. That season will perhaps never be forgotten. A most gracious deliverance had on that very day been vouchsafed; and whilst the soul of one of the party had, in consequence, been caught up, as it were, into the third heavens, in adoring wonder and admiration, these beloved pilgrims casually (as we say, but doubtless, it was eternally ordained) made their appearance; communion with the saints was enjoyed; and a blessed foretaste of eternal joys, and of an everlasting freedom from all care, and sin, and warfare, experienced.* Two out of the three have now met above, and a blessed meeting too. Yea, others would sometimes drop in there; and to an over-sensitive and harassed mind, those calls would sometimes prove like angel's visits; carrying one's thoughts and feelings, ere one was aware, to that better land and blessed company, where, and among whom sin can never enter, nor care oppress. There was that honoured servant of God, DAVID DENHAM ;-there was JOSEPH IRONS— JAMES FRANCIS-JAMES GROOM-WILLIAM MOORE-RICHARD CULL--and, though last not least, the beloved FEARFUL;† and now, as the venerable ALGAR in reference to the forementioned trial aud deliverance, is quoted. Surely there is no reason why these gracious interpositions of a covenant God should be "hid in a napkin.” "Why should the wonders God hath wrought, Be passed in silence, and forgot?" The memorandum in question bears date 'Happy songsters! when shall we Your chorus join ?" LOCK used to say, they are praising." | said; but it is gone-the savour only They have met before the throne, and are remains. With one fact, however, he casting their blood-bought crowns at Im- was greatly struck. THOMAS CONWAY manuel's feet. was remarked for many many years, as a close student of the word of God. During the short intervals of business,—whilst sitting at his meals-his open Bible lay beside him. What was the consequence? His mind was richly stored with the word of God. With the greatest precision he would repeat passage after passage. The writer was struck with this important fact, whilst reading a chapter to him in his last illness. There was a sharpening of the countenance-a vivid interest-a travelling in advance of the reader-and blessed and weighty comments he would offer, as verse after verse was brought At the commencement of his last and lingering illness, the 2nd verse of the 8th of Romans was deeply impressed upon THOMAS CONWAY's mind. He more than once alluded to it. When last the writer saw him (after an interval of two years, or thereabouts, he was much altered; in body he was brought very, very low. Still there was the same looking unto Jesus." The writer had hoped to have treasured up in his mind, much that he Nov. 28, 1841, * * "My flesh shall slumber in the ground, Till the archangel's trump shall sound; "Nov. 29.-I am, dearest Lord, deeply cast down about the burdens of the way; but still, in some little measure at least, resting upon thy kind and gracious arm. I bless thee for thy kindness this morning, in indulging me with access at thy throne to cast my burden upon thee respecting that which has been so long pending. I was led to entreat of thee that I might be enabled to act as in thy sight, and that thou wouldst grant me favour in the sight of those with whom I have to do. I dreaded the day, Lord, and the engagements of the day; my heart and soul were drawn out towards thee; and my mind, for most part, has been calm and composed. Lord, yet bring me through, and kindly grant me wisdom in this matter: the power must be thine, and then shall the glory be thine also. "Act as contentions between flesh and spirit; the MY DEAR SIR,-I desire to "mention the loving-kindness of the Lord, and the praises of the Lord, according to all that the Lord hath bestowed on us, and the great goodness toward the house of Israel, which he hath bestowed on them according to his mercies, and according to the multitude of his lovingkindnesses;" and to bear witness that the precious corner-stone which is laid in Zion, is indeed a snre foundation," having seen it tried in the death of a dear mother. I have alluded to these precious passages as they were a part of those which rested with savour on my mind, during the week of my dear mother's illness and death. You know. dear sir, the sweetness-the power-the preciousness of the word when it drops as a honeycomb, and distils as the dew. It is about 28 years ago, when after some years of a thirsting after a something which could satisfy, feeling an empty void which no human joy could fill, that the Holy Spirit was pleased to bring home the word more powerfully to my mother's soul, from a sermon preached by the Rev. Mr. Harbin, from 2 Pet. iii. 13. She was in agony of mind for some time; afraid, as I have heard her say, to lie down in bed at night, fearing she should awake in hell; hating to look at herself if she passed a glass; but the Lord at last gave her peace, after many times crying to him in the well-known words which so exactly suited her feelings: "Mercy. good Lord, mercy I ask, For mercy, Lord, is all my suit, The Lord brought home with power that watch, and led her, it seems, into spiritual pride. He so beguiled her, that she was led to hate persons, who, by their actions showed they were enemies to that Saviour who was so precious to her own soul, not feeling then the force of those words, "Who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thon that thou didst not receive ?" And I believe the Lord permitted Satan to take away her intellect for a few months, to bring her down from this dangerous monnt, and to lay her in a low place. From the time this affliction was removed till death, I never saw the least symptom of its return. After this, I do not think the Lord was pleased to give her such abundance of peace again, until he laid her on her bed of suffering and death; but generally I know from her own lips, He was pleased to manifest himself to her before any trial, by bringing home some word with a sweet power to her mind. A few weeks before her last illness, a person of this place was struck with (I think) paralysis; and from that time it was impressed on my dear mother's mind, that something was coming upon her. The Lord, however, was not a moment behind hand (if I may so speak) with his cordials, and though she tried to shake off the impression, yet it kept returning. She was attacked with her old complaint (palpitation), which she had almost periodically for several years; for the last time on Wednesday, January the 10th, while she was reading that part in "Smith's Messenger of Mercy,' "I am their inheritance. It did not cause much serious apprehension for two or three days, having been subject to it so often. On the Sunday, it having lasted longer than usual, I went for the doctor; he did not think but what she may recover. Between the services 1 went and sat beside her, when she spoke to me of the goodness of the Lord in having had mercy on her while he passed by so many others, remarking that she could not look back on a single action, but what was mixed with sin; she gave me also the account of her conversion, as I have before related it, to which I think I may say she always looked back with thankful ness, and it seemed to have a humbling and yet | day night, I went to wish her good-bye for the reviving power with her; and though perhaps aight, and wished her peace: "Yes (she she never had that abundance of peace until quickly replied) peace through believing in the time of her death as she had then, yet Jesus, that is the best peace." In a few she still clung to the foundation Christ, and minutes after I left, I was again called by the believed that as He was pleased to do such friend who was going to stop with her during great things for her then, so he would again the night, as a change for the worse appeared. in the needful time; which, as the following Death had indeed begun more visibly to do will prove, was the case. About 8 o'clock on its work. About 12 o'clock in the night, she the Sunday night it was necessary again to said, "I cannot hear," and then, "I cancall the doctor. Upon his arrival, she said, not see, let me feel you, George." She then "Do not flatter me, sir," wishing to know if put her hand to me, my dear wife, and the the change she felt was a sign of death? by friend with us, to feel us (and, what was rehis answer he intimated he believed it was. markable, her hearing came again directly) You know, dear sir, 1 have no doubt, what and then, when her eyes could no longer bethe feelings are at such a moment, but the hold the light, the angel stood by and did sinking one was the comforting one. She wonderously; and we, as it were, looked on. called me to her bedside, where my dear wife She said, "What a mercy it is that I have was also sitting, to embrace me, and gave us my senses;" and, turning round to me, she many words of counsel concerning various kissed me twice, and said, nodding her head, things. It was as if she was going a journey, and with a smiling countenance, "I kiss very well satisfied to go, and from a kind and you in Christ, George; I kiss you in Christ,” loving heart giving us directions for our again she said, "It is the I AM, George." welfare, before she went-she added these Who can tell the life-giving power which words to me, Thank God, George, when accompanied this his great name? "Thanks you see me in my coffin, you have a mother be to God, which giveth us the victory, through in heaven." our Lord Jesus Christ;" and "what a mercy to be in Christ," was several times on her lips; I said, Mother, you die then as a miserable sinner, depending on Christ." She assented, and said, "Tell Mr. G- (vicar of the parish, who was absent on account of ill health) what a dear Saviour I have found, tell the whole world, what a dear Saviour I have found; and then, speaking of the one church mentioned in the 17th of John, from which our dear Pastor had been preaching several sermons previous to his absence, and which I believe were blessed to her; she said, and that the Lord has given me one son, and that he is also." And then, speaking of her departure, she said she should help fill up the number; referring, I have no doubt, to the burial service; she quoted also part of these words, On Monday she seemed to be rather better, and the doctor had hopes that she would recover, but she did not think so. I went and sat beside her about the middle of the day, when she said, "I thought I would ask you, George, whether it is wrong to desire to depart and be with Christ ?"-She could not think it was, as Paul did; I said, "I did not think it could be," as Paul, I believed, was a pattern for believers; from that moment, till death, I believe that desire was her desire. She said she believed she should suffer much, and she was afraid she should not" What a mercy that I am one of the number, bear it patiently, and added, "Hold thou me up, and I shall be safe." That seemed to be her only fear; but the prayer was answered, for though at times her sufferings, as she had anticipated, were very great; yet neither my dear wife nor I saw the least sign of impatience. On the Tuesday evening, when her "It lays in heaven, the topmost stone, sufferings were very acute, she asked me to And well deserves the praise." pray that the pain may not be so great, or else that she may have grace to bear it; Other things she said at that time, which I again a few hours before she died, she pointed cannot remember, and then finished, saying, to her tongue, trying to say, "God be merciful to me, a sinner," sore," "Yes, my dear," I said, "but you blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth from all sin," are willing to bear it as long as the Lord Peace, peace-not a false peace, precious, please ?" She plainly assented, yes. Speak-precious." ing of a relation (on the Monday) whom she had brought up from a child, she said she must leave him; she had prayed for him, and she hoped he would pray for himself; she seemed to leave him entirely to the Lord's will. This I was glad to hear, for often I thought she made an idol of him; and at times I had prayed to the Lord for her concerning it, as I knew it was wrong; and he was pleased to fulfil his promise, From all your idols will I cleanse you." On the Tues so sore, so 33 66 The She shortly after sunk into an unconscious state for some time; when again conscious, she wanted to tell us what she had seen, but could not now speak plainly; as far as I could understand, she had as it were seen in a vision the one church of the saints, with Christ around the throne. She had, as I have before stated, been talking of the one Church; and I believe the truths concerning that one Church, as they are set forth in the 17th of John, were opened up to her mind by the |