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Paul's Epistle to the Romans? The question took her very much by surprise, and she evidently felt disappointed (if not annoyed) because there was no warm, complimentary comment upon the narrative she had just given. But to our question about the 7th of Romans she said, in anything but a pleasing tone, that "she believed it was something about election." Our reply was, that it was an account of the conflict which the Apostle Paul felt between his old and his new nature, in the flesh and in the spirit. The woman was as it were struck dumb. She knew that she was in the presence of one (Captain KNOCKER) who was always ready to minister to the temporal necessities of the poor and needy; and doubtless this acted as a check in giving vent to her enmity against the doctrines of grace. Clearly discovering that she was vitally ignorant of the very first principles of true spiritual life, and suspecting she was under the influence of a little head-knowledge of divine things, we still further ventured to say, "I find in your Bible a tract entitled, 'SOMETHING WANTING.' Now, allow me, as a stranger and one who is never likely to meet you again until we meet at the judgment-seat of Christ, to say I am afraid that, after all you have said, there is 'Something Wanting' in your religion." Our friend (Captain KNOCKER) immediately told her that he took the same view of her case. [How thankful we should be if the widow of our departed friend, or his son, could furnish us with some particulars as to the end of her of whom we have spoken.] But now, with regard to the sin against the Holy Ghost, none need be under apprehension that they have committed such sin if the heart and eye are Christward! In the first place no Spiritquickened soul ever has been, or will be, permitted to fall under it, because the same Spirit who has begotten is pledged to preserve the soul He has quickened, and maintain the life He has bestowed. Secondly, a blessed evidence that that life is maintained is (whether the soul realizes the peace and the comfort of it or not) when there is a deep-felt need of Christ, a looking after Christ, a longing for Christ. How very comprehensive and how blessed is that testimony, "None can call Jesus Lord but by the Holy Ghost." Consequently, the recognition of Jesus as the Christ of God, the Anointed of the Father; the acknowledgment of Him as such; the clinging to His feet, the hovering about the mercy-seat, the simple heart-cry, Say unto my soul, I am thy Salvation;" the "Oh, that I knew where I might find Him!" the admiration of His condescending and gracious acts in saving the vilest, the filthiest, the most wretched and undone; the willingness and the intense desire to be received and eternally saved upon precisely the selfsame grounds, as just that poor vile, ill-and-hell-deserving sinner: all this is not only a Scriptural proof, sign, and token of the Spirit's teaching, but of the Spirit's present and eternal indwelling. And such, brought to this blessed state of felt want and absolute necessity, can no more perish than the Apostle Paul. Mark, dear reader, the cry is as much true Spirit-wrought and Spirit-awakened worship as the claim. Do we

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not read in Mark v. 6, of the mad Gadarene, that, "when he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and worshipped Him?" Do we not read likewise of the poor woman from the coast of Canaan, that came and worshipped Him, saying, Lord, help me?" Had either the one or the other as yet comfort or assurance of being heard? In this state of experience was it not the plea based upon the position-that position a poor and needy one indeed-but as yet no pardon nor peace? This was in waiting-the one led to the other; but, at the same time, was not each step and each stage of the Lord? Why, were it possible for a Spirit-enlightened and a Spirit-led soul to sin against the Holy Ghost, every spiritual breathing, lisping, desire, would instantaneously cease; and thenceforth there would never be another look or longing Christward or heavenward! It would be henceforward a sitting in judgment upon Jehovah's acts; a repudiating His wisdom; an ignoring His love; a censuring His dealings; a despising His mercy; a setting at nought His power; a disputing His authority; and an ardent desire that there were no God! These are the marks of a reprobate soul, and these would be the effects of a rejection or disowning of the distinct Personality and indispensable power of the Holy Ghost. On the other hand, it is overlooking the Spirit's work, and so far dishonouring Him-[mark, reader, it is one thing to disown and another to dishonour]-to cherish the thought of having committed the unpardonable sin, whilst at the same time, there is the inward cry, "Take not thy Holy Spirit from me," "Keep back Thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me."

We pray God that these few passing thoughts may be made a source of comfort to some poor Satan-harassed one.

But we sat down for the purpose of recording one or two among the manifold "memorials of mercy" which might well be noted down before the Lord, on account of His marvellous acts.

Personally we have often coveted the middle path-not the extreme either of depression or delight; but we believe that, where there is the being called occasionally to go down into some of the dark and dismal depths, there is, correspondingly, a being caught up on high —a soaring aloft-an occasional precious faith's glimpse within the veil, and at least a momentary glance at the King in His beauty.

Dear reader, you well know we often breathe out our sorrows within these pages; let us now give you a word or two on the other side. We had just passed our sixty-third milestone as far as our pilgrimpath was concerned, and we were contemplating our near approach to the thirty-fourth in our editorial course; and, whilst musing, could but feel what an additional debtor to rich and free and sovereign mercy every day and hour, much more year, rendered us. At the same time we thought, "How rarely now does the Lord seem to speak to us, by the personal application of His Word, as in days gone by." We were sitting just afterwards alone; and, although there was a stiff breeze, the sun was shining brilliantly on the snow-white

clouds which were passing rapidly over the clear blue sky. At the moment the words came flowing into the heart, with most precious, sin-subduing, Christ-exalting power, "For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee; neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the Lord, that hath mercy on thee." Oh, how full, how rich, how blessed were these words! Mark, dear reader, it was not only that Himself should not depart, but His "kindness;" so that He would still go on and on in the rich displays and blessed manifestations of His tender, loving, gracious, kindly, timely, and most merciful acts. Then there was "the covenant of peace "-that covenant which was between us both, for at least two must be concerned in a covenantwhich should never be "removed." Then there was the mercy, "saith the Lord, that hath mercy on thee "—not had, but hath; mercy in constant, ceaseless, ever-present exercise, to meet the ever-recurring condition and circumstances of waywardness, carnality, ingratitude, distrust, and unbelief; yea, that so constant breaking forth of sin in thought, or word, or deed. Mercy-perpetual mercy-to meet the case- "saith the Lord, that HATH MERCY on thee." Ah, dear reader, it was very blessed. And then, whilst looking up admiringly and adoringly at the passing clouds, came the words, "He maketh the clouds His chariot, and rideth upon the wings of the wind." And we seemed by the eye of faith to behold our adorable Lord seated in His cloudy chariot; and, as we read of the Lord's "looking through the pillar of fire and of the cloud," so it appeared as if He were looking down upon His tried and troubled-poor and persecuted-ones, as they are scattered up and down upon the face of this sinful world; regulating their movements; protecting their persons; supplying their wants; restraining their foes; and guiding them with the skilfulness of His hands.

Moreover, this precious love-visit brought vividly to our recollection a similar season, in the year 1826, when the Lord first spoke pardon and peace to our previously poor sin-burdened, agonized soul. There was just the same looking up and looking out. It seemed then as if in a few days at farthest the Lord must come and call us home! But what an interval between that time and this-eight-and-forty years! Marked, on the one hand, with heights and depths, lengths and breadths, of mercy inconceivable; on the other hand, with waywardness, ingratitude, and sin unutterable ! "O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways past finding out."

Again, there was the recollection of our own far-scattered ones, as being under His eye, beneath His care, and directed hither or thither as seemed good in His sight. We felt that His omniscient eye was upon them, in their far-off and remote distances, even as it was upon Moreover, we had no wish to dictate to the Lord. There was the simple desire to leave all to His godly wisdom. If He appeared

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to ask us how we would have matters, there was the desire to refer the choice back to Himself.

It was a precious season, dear reader, and we desire to testify of it to His glory. Moreover, in the waking hours of the night, shortly after, there was a repetition of the mercy; so that we were disposed to say, "Lord, what is coming? Some trial or deep affliction, surely? or, is it an indication that our race is nearly run, and that Thou hast at last, after all our tossing, cross-questioning Thy wisdom, disputing Thine acts, opposing Thy ways; hast Thou, at length, so "brought down our heart with labour," and given us to see that Thy will and Thy way are the best, that, in spite of the flesh, we can now say, "The will of the Lord be done?"

This precious midnight season was enriched by the application of the language of Hezekiah, as given in the 38th of Isaiah: "For peace I had great bitterness; but Thou hast, in love to my soul, delivered it from the pit of corruption, for Thou hast cast all my sins behind Thy back.' "Lord," said we, in thankful response, "that is what Thou didst mercifully tell us, eight-and-forty years ago, when Thou didst speak home to the agonized heart, 'Son, be of good cheer, thy sins, which are many, are all forgiven thee."" Dear reader, the season was so precious, and, of late, so unusual with us, that we cannot forbear speaking of it to the glory of Him who has been so merciful, so gracious, and hath for so many years exercised towards us such forbearance and long-suffering. Oh, during those midnight hours, what a privileged leaving all things in His hands was experienced and enjoyed! But, as before expressed, we could but regard it as the forerunner of something-the Lord alone knows what; but we gladly take shelter under that sweet verse, "Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear Him. He knoweth our frame; He remembereth that we are dust.”

And here, dear reader, in entire ignorance of what a day or even an hour may bring forth, but at the same time rejoicing that "our times are in His hands," and not in the least wise in our own, we close up this our thirty-fourth year, as Editor of this work, with the well-known and oft-repeated lines:

"Here we raise our Ebenezer,

Hither by Thine help we've come;
And we hope, by Thy good pleasure,
Safely to arrive at home."

Yours ever affectionately in the Lord,

D. A. DOUDdney.

St. Luke's, Bedminster, March 19, 1874.

THE sanctification of the Trinity is, first, the Father putting me in Christ; second, the Son putting Himself in me; third, the Holy Ghost giving me new tastes and distastes.-J. Miley.

T

THE RECENT LEICESTER CONFERENCE.

[In proof of what we have elsewhere said upon this subject, we quote the subjoined from the pen of one-a long and well-tried servant of God -bordering upon his fourscore years, whom, from time to time, we have been in the habit of meeting at the happy gatherings at Aylestone.— ED.]

Thornton Vicarage, Leicester, April 22, 1874.

MY DEAR FRIEND AND BROTHER IN OUR LORD AND SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST,—We had a very pleasant and profitable meeting of the brethren in Christ, and we are greatly indebted to our kind, good friend (Mr. Straton) for the gathering. May the unction of the Holy One rest upon us all. As I live so solitary on the mountains of Gilboa, where David wished neither dew nor rain, it was a great refreshing to my soul, and I learned, even in this present time, "there is also a remnant according to the election of grace," who shall be remembered by the Good Shepherd in that day.

May the good Lord continue His blessings upon your labours in the
Gospel for His truth's sake. Your companion in tribulation, I remain
very affectionately in Him.
SAMUEL ADAMS.

[From the same pen we quote the following from fragments forwarded per same post by our dear aged brother. In what striking contrast do these simple breathings of this father in Christ stand to the excited utterances and vain fleshly confidence of the much-talked-of men of our times. Their zeal, and their knowledge, and their never-varying dependence upon Christ, remind us of Jonah's gourd, which "came up in a night, and perished in a night."]

I feel sorrow of heart after the Lord Jesus Christ, and great searchings of heart after evidences and proofs of my new birth and title to the kingdom; and brokenness of heart for my sins; and the plague of my heart on account of my corruptions; for who can describe the feelings of a man who stands afar off all men as more brutish than any man, and smites his breast, the seat and source of his misery, and cries out, "God be merciful to me, a sinner ?" or of him who, feeling the law in his members warring against the law of his mind, and bringing him into captivity to the law of sin which dwells in his members, exclaims, "O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?"

How can I despair while there is the Hope of Israel, and while there is hope in Israel? Though my hope in Him alters and falters, it is weak and faint, and at times ready to fail or perish-the hope of being a child of God, that Jesus has loved me, and given Himself to God for me, so vile and ungodly as I am. Yet the Apostle saith, "Seeing that we have such hope," we still have it. And again," having the same spirit of faith," still having faith, for these abide; therefore, I still hope against hope, and still believe against my unbelief.

S. ADAMS.

KNOWLEDGE.-There are those who know Christ after the flesh, who know Him not after the spirit.-J. Miley.

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