THE TEACHING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.

(Concluded from page 574 for 1854.)

I consider it my duty to give a few par- term Roman, for the sake of showing what he ticulars in connection with the winding-up had been; for I do believe that name might of the life of my Roman Catholic friend-his as well be applied to the writer, as to the old passage through the Jordan. I only use the man. He was indeed a Protestant, for not

only did he protest against the soul-damning, death. Vain would it be for me to attempt life-perverting errors of that corrupt church, to describe what that happy old man's feelthe Popish but against the ABILITY of manings were; or what was contained in his halfto assist in his own salvation; Jesus first; Jesus last; Jesus all and in all, was his sole ground of salvation; and that he rested upon in death.

On the Tuesday after I received the message from the old man, I went to see him. After some trouble I found the house; I entered the kitchen as a stranger, using the Irish saIntation, "God bless all here." By the fire were some vessels, one had milk and rice, evidently for an invalid-and the under-tone conversation, and silent tongues of three young children, told me plainly, that I was in the vicinity of sickness.

expressed sentences. None could do so but those who have been in like circumstances; and that remains to be told when Christ shall come to be glorified in and by all his redeemed ones; when each blood-bought member of Christ's family shall strive to be loudest in testifying of God's gracious dealings with him or her. We may only guess at what that light and support were; whence they came; whither they returned.

Having finished the Psalm, he asked me to read the 51st Psalm. When I had read it, he said, “ After all, 'tis sweet to confess one's sins to God, especially when we know that God, for the sake of the Lord Jesus, will forgive them. Forgiveness is the greatest blessing God can give us here; and surely if he gives us forgiveness he will give us salvation." I also, at his desire, read the 55th of Isaiah. He then told me, he had been anointed against his will, and he feared greatly it would be one of his most grievous sins. " Well," I said," do you believe in the efficacy of that?" " Oh no, no efficacy in anything but the blood of my blessed Saviour: Jesus is my only hope! 1 hope the Lord won't lay the sin of being anointed on my poor soul; I trust HE won't; I was not able to prevent its being done; but the blood of Jesus takes away all my sins." After this he asked me to pray: then, I fully felt the necessity of the Spirit, and like Nehemiah, I silently prayed to the God of heaven, that his Holy Spirit might give me words of prayer. I did pray-not so much for the poor old man, as for myself. 1 had scarcely risen from my knees, when the bedroom door was thrown open, and a flushed-looking priest rushed in, and instantly ordered me out, and asked, Did I want to damn the man? He next turned to the poor sufferer, and said, " You were anointed, you were safe: did I not prepare you?" Father," replied the old man, gently, you show me the efficacy of that from the Bible ?" I here held out my book. This evidently mortified him much, for in the most haughty, bitter tone, he said, "Go out, sir." Judging from what I had seen of the wolf in sheep's clothing, the best course to take, I shook hands with my old friend-received his "God bless you," and walked out. 1 had hopes I would be again permitted to see the good old man ; but his God removed him the Saturday following, to his own immediate presence-to that land where the inhabitants stand in no need of fleshly comfort; for they dwell with their God," at whose right-hand are pleasures for evermore."

I had not been many seconds in the kitchen when a bed-room door off the kitchen opened, and a feeble voice asked, " Is that Mr.I answered by walking in there he lay, scarcely able to move. Having expressed his pleasure at seeing me, I spoke to him of his bodily ailments." Oh," he said, they are nothing; nothing; just a little knocking of my poor clayey body to pieces: Ah nature! you will also come to this; but no mattér, when Jesus comes, sure it will be put together again, all in light." This was in fact more than I was well able to bear; my feelings were most intense. "I too must come to this:" but how shall I meet it? The question troubled me much, and each moment it was iucreasing; when as if almost guessing something was the matter, he said, "Will you read the xxiii. Psalm ?" The light was bad, and the Bible I had brought was of the smallest-sized type: fearing then I would be hardly able to read it, I said, "Where is your Bible ?" his reply was, "Oh 'tis ahide in the ditch." "Well," I replied, “never mind, I have So I read; on coming to the passage, He maketh meto lie down in green pastures; He leadeth me beside the still waters.;" "Yes," he said, and his countenance brightened, Glory to God, He brings me beside the still waters; and every hour they're getting stiller; soon they'll be as they ought; still in heaven." I don't pretend to say what he meant, neither did he explain. During the reading of verse 4, he spoke frequently to himself; but his half-uttered words expressed the confidence he had in his Christ-God; He would support him, He would comfort him. Turning to him, I said, "Do you feel that Christ can support you ?" "Can, O yes, not can at all, but He DOES.' He remained silent as if praying; and as I looked at his lit-up features, I felt that the Sun of Righte. ousuess was beaming on his soul; giving him a foretaste of what that light would be when that old man would be more in the valley of [The foregoing deeply-interesting and truthful account we have just published separately, called, "Talk under the Hedge," price one penny.-ED.]

one.

will

W.

Obituary.

MEMORIAL OF THE LATE MRS. EMMA WEBB.

after I had heard for myself I said, if this be Antinomianism I love it." The Lord the Spirit continued to seal instruction on her enquiring mind, and she learned more of the wonders of covenant love, and the riches of redeeming grace.

On Feb. 7, 1852, she was labonring under great distress of mind, so as almost to overwhelm her with her burden. On a Wednesday evening she went to the house of God, and He was pleased there to lift upon her the light of His countenance, and pour into her soul such a flood of love, that for several days the lustre of heaven shone upon her face, and she could take no part in the affairs of life. She said, "I have such an assurance of my interest in Christ, and of His everlasting love to my soul, that my peace with God flows like a river. I am now unfettered from the world, and unfitted for earth, and the time of my departure is at hand." In this state she continued near a fortnight, confident, and willing rather to depart and be with Christ, which she now fully expected to take place: her whole soul was absorbed in divine contemplations, and in pondering over the word of God; feeling like a bird imprisoned in a cage, and longing to fly away. She writes, "I have this day enjoyed such sweet access by one Spirit to the Father; that lost in wonder, love, and praise, at what Christ has done for me, a great sinner; I think a little taste of heaven has been let down into my soul, and I can only express my feelings in these words

ON Thursday morning, August 24th, 1854, | preaching that could make light of sin; bat Emma Webb, a highly-esteemed and beloved member of the church of Christ at Hill St. Dorset square, London; Mr. T. Foreman, pastor; fell asleep in Jesus, at Ramsgate, of the then prevailing epidemic. The subjoined sketch of the Lord's dealings with her will be read with interest and thankfulness to our God for His abounding goodness, by many of her companions in tribulation, who are yet enduring the toils of the wilderness. In very early yonth her convictions of sin were frequent, but they wore off, and she left her school prepared to enter into the gaieties of life with her whole heart. But God showed His purpose of mercy, and by His Spirit convinced her of her lost and ruined condition as a sinner, and she thus describes the then feelings of her soul; "I feel a load of sin, and sink under the terror of that sentence, The soul that sinneth it shall die,' which almost drives me to despair. A little light sometimes beams upon my soul, and I cry, 'Lord, save, or I perish.' I see sin to be exceeding sinful, and confess with Job, behold I am vile.' I sometimes get a little comfort under the Word, but no deliverance." Shortly after the Lord laid her on a bed of affliction, and she writes, "I thought if the Lord loved me, He would not suffer me to be so distressed; then the fear that He was about to cut me off became deeper and deeper, until I could not sleep; I was on the brink of despair." On the morning of the 24th of April, 1824, she heard a voice, it was the voice of one speaking from the mercy-seat to her, saying, "I have loved thee with an everlasting love, therefore with loving-kindness have I drawn thee;" and that same love-speaking voice, assured her that all things should work for her good, because it was the good pleasure of His will: so from that time she said, "Sovereignty and discriminating grace was inscribed upon my heart;" and she never varied in the least from the clear knowledge of truth with which God at this time enlightened her soul, nor could she sit under any ministry where the glorious gospel of the blessed God was not faithfully preached.

On her restoration to health, Providence led her under the ministry of Mr. Felton, and she writes, "I had a great dread of hearing him, as I was told that he was an Antinomian, and made light of sin; and I had suffered so much from its galling yoke, I could not bear the thought of the

!

"Welcome, sweet hour of full discharge, That sets my longing soul at large Unbinds my chain, breaks up my cell,

And gives me with my God to dweil.". But the set time had not come, and the gracious Lord led her to think so, fer soon after she writes, "There is a whisper that says, 'not unto death, but for the glory of God.' What, my soul, must I again return to time and sense? Yes, if God will, for the family, the house and household, require it: but, oh! earth, earth, earth, never may these things preponderate, or clog the heavenly principle within." She never lost the impression that her stay here would be short, often expressing it to her kindred in Christ: a she continued to enjoy the hearing of the word so sweetly, that on one occasion she said, "I could willingly have left my scat, and gone to heaven.” About a week before departing to Ramsgate, she said to her beloved husband on retiring for the night,

"these words express the longings of my death, a little after six the following morning: soul

"My soul anticipates the day, Would stretch her wings and soar away; To join the song-a palm to bear And bow, the chief of sinners, there." On the 15th of August she left home with three of her dear children for Ramsgate; when there she wrote daily to her husband, expressing that her health was as usual. Two days before her death he received her last letter, concluding "May the Lord bless you, and cause His face to shine upon you, is the prayer of your ever-loving and affectionate wife, Emma Webb." On the morning of the 23rd she was taken ill, and gradually sank, without any extreme pain, into the arms of

and thus mortality was swallowed up of life. As she entered the dark valley, her mind was kept in peace, resting on Him who was her peace, repeating these lines

"Not a single shaft can hit, Till the God of love sees fit." Without an anxious thought she laid passive in the arms of everlasting love; and as her end on earth approached, she again repeated the same lines, and with a smile received the arrow of death, and her happy and emancipated spirit soared to the realms of bliss and perfect enjoyment; there to be presented before the throne of His glory with exceeding joy. W. H.

The Family Recorder.

"GRACE BE WITH ALL THEM WHO LOVE OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST IN SINCERITY."

BEREAVEMENT.

Dec. 20th, 1853. About the same time I was much oppressed also by other very trying To the Editor of the Gospel Magazine. and afflicting circumstances of a local nature. MY BELOVED BBOTHER IN CHRIST.-Grace The language of Psalm lxxxviii. throughout, auto you and peace be multiplied, from God expresses what has passed more or less in my our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, and mind. "I am counted with them that go from the Holy Ghost, the ever-blessed Com- down into the pit. I am as a man that hath forter. Several months have passed away no strength. Thou hast laid me in the lowest since I last wrote to you. The year which is pit; in darkness, in the deeps. Thy wrath now fast drawing to a close, has been to me lieth hard upon me, and thou hast afflicted one of so much severe trial, that now it has me with all thy waves.” In regard to my pleased God of his infinite mercy again to beloved son, there was much to encourage a grant me deliverance in the lifting up of the good hope in his death. Since his earliest light of his countenance, and bringing my infancy he had been a child of many prayers. soul out of darkness into his marvellous light; When he was about four years old he could so that I can ouce more rejoice, and be glad answer any of the questions in the little book before Him; I am induced to take up my for children, called " Peep of Day," which pen for the purpose of recording this renewed was given to him by a dear Christian friend ustance of the faithfulness of a covenant God, on the 3rd anniversary of his birth-day. Soon in the hope that my simple record of the afterwards he could also answer almost all Lord's merciful goodness and forbearance, and of the questions in the two little books, called my own weakness and faith, may, under the" Line upon Line," also given to him by two Holy Spirit's teaching, be a source of comfort friends on another anniversary of his birthand encouragement to some of his tried and day. Before he could repeat the letters of afficted children. For two years nearly I the alphabet, he knew by heart many of had experienced an almost uninterrupted con- Watts's little hymns. Such was his remarktinuance of the enjoyment of God's presence, able fondness for books, which continued to and much comfort and peace of mind; and increase. I could hardly tell how he learnt during that time I kept a private diary as to read. When he was seven years old he a daily record to bring to remembrance. To- could repeat by heart many parts of scripture, wards the Autumn of last year, it pleased God and the whole of Psal. cxix. Before this I to afflict my only-surviving, beloved son, who had accustomed him to write letters, several had been reared with much tenderness and of which have been carefully preserved as care. His health had been for some time specimens of his early writing. He continued delicate from rapid growth; he was then six to be under my instruction until be was thir feet in height, and of slender form. After a teen years old, when he was far advanced in gradual decline of bodily strength, God was learning beyond most boys of his age. I had pleased to remove him from this world of sin accustomed him to commit to memory a cerand sorrow, at the early age of eighteen years tain number of verses of Scripture every Dearly. I am writing this on the anniversary morning, and I scarcely ever omitted the of his death, which took place rather suddenly, practice of kneeling with him by the side of

sound sleep. This is a simple statement of
facts, sufficiently encouraging; but although
earnestly praying for quiet resignation to the
Lord's will, for several months I was able to
look only at the dark side of the picture, with
little, or no hope in my beloved son's death,
his grave appeared to me sometimes a spot of
inexpressible darkness, without one ray of
light. To attempt, however, a description of
what passed in my mind would be impossible.
It is known only to Him, who knows the se.
crets of all hearts, to whom I never failed to
lift up my heart daily; and many times in
a day, and often without a ray of hope. I
had never once, however, lost sight of the
ground of hope. The beautiful hymn of Top.
lady often formed part of my prayer.
"Rock of ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in thee."

"Jesus, refuge of my soul,

Let me to thy bosom fly;
Whilst the raging billows roll,

his bed for prayer. For some time he kept | pired, with little or no pain. His countea little diary of passing events, and took notes nance in death was of sweet composure, with of my sermons. Letters always passed be-a pleasing smile, as if he had fallen into a tween us on the anniversaries of our birthdays, some of which have been preserved. After dinner on his birth-days he was accustomed to recite many pieces in Greek and Latin, and English poetry, which always seemed to be pleasing to him. For two years I sent him to a neighbouring grammar school, as a weekly boarder, and I had the satisfaction (as I watched his progress) to hear good accounts of his steady conduct and carefulness in the choice of his companions. I sent him afterwards to a grammar school at a greater distance from home, where his progrees was marked by great steadiness, and choice of good companions. The early practice of committing to memory parts of Scripture, and prayer, I had good reason to believe, was regularly kept up. After two years at this school, not being himself satisfied with his progress, he expressed a great wish for a And again, change, and after the last midsummer before his unexpected death, he was again under private tuition at home with a Tutor from Canbridge. Such was his fondness for reading, Whilst the tempest still is high." and study, that I had great difficulty in draw- My earnest desire was to regaiu what 1 had ing him out for exercise. His health gra- lost, the presence of Christ. With a view to dually declined. On the subject of religion this during the last summer, 1 committed to he was generally reserved, from a fear, as he memory the book of Canticles in earnest told me more than once, of expressing more prayer for the Holy Spirit's teaching, that than he felt; but he was strictly observant of I might be able to say from my heart, "My the Lord's day; keeping up the practice when beloved is mine, and 1 am his." The prayer at home of taking his class at the Sunday of Jabez, (1 Chron. iv. 10), was often my school (to which he had also been early accus- prayer with Micah vii. 7-9. It was our tomed), reading his Bible and suitable books. wish to place a suitable tomb on our beloved About three months before his death he called son's grave; and my attention was at length me aside on the Sunday evening after I had drawn to the case of the Shunammite, (2 given the usual notice of the sacrament, and Kings iv.) "Is it well with the child? And said he wished to speak to me privately on she answered, It is well." 1 felt that 1 could an important subject; and he opened his now say this from my heart, selecting these mind to me on the sacrament of the Lord's words for an inscription with the following Supper to my entire satisfaction; expressing verses, a wish to be a communicaut; and I had afterwards the happiness of seeing him twice at the Lord's table. It was evidently a great privation to him, when he could no longer appear in his place at Church. During the latter part of his illness, he kept up the same reserve on the subject of religion, but I have reason to know that he did not neglect the accustomed practice of private prayer. Ou one occasion his beloved mother on going into the room found him rising from his knees. Not long before his death he spoke to a friend, who happened to be with him alone, of his feeling of sorrow on account of his parents; but that for himself he was in God's hands for life or death; and he was resigned to his will, as it should please Him. On the last morning he dressed himself as usual without assistance, and in the forenoon he wrote a letter with some difficulty to his Physician in London. Towards the afternoon he was seized with fainting, and soon afterwards ex

Hope looks beyond the bounds of time.
When what we now deplore,
Shall rise in full immortal prime,

And bloom to fade no more,

Then cease, fond nature, cease thy tears,
Religion points on high :
There everlasting spring appears,

And joys that never die.

From the time of fixing the tomb about five weeks ago, 1 have been able to say what for some months appeared so difficult. "It is well, Blessed be the name of the Lord." Gradually from that time 1 have felt more or less, not only quiet resignation, but thankfuluess to God, that our beloved child has been taken from the evil to come; 1 believe his spirit is mingling with the spirits of the just made perfect before the throne, having been washed in the blood of the Lamb. 1 can now see that he was more of an idol than 1 was aware, against which 1 had constantly prayed, often with reference to him, in the words of Cowper.