from the lips of our Beloved: "To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away." I paused in holy wonder, while the glad tidings ran on-"reserved in heaven for you!" The Lord spoke it especially to me; for I stood as the person to whom the blessing belonged; though it was for all and every one of the elect of God, chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world. But nothing will satisfy souls born of God save the witness of the Spirit that they are the children of God. "And ye shall be gathered one by one, O ye children of Israel, and be brought to Zion." "Ye shall come to my solemn assembly, to my holy mountain, and play upon your pipes before me, the Holy One of Israel." All such souls have overcome the wicked one by the witness of the Holy Ghost in their hearts; for he hath caused them to eat of the hidden manna, and given them a white Stone, with a new name written in it, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it. I believe this Stone to be Christ in them the Hope of Glory: and this Stone prospereth whithersoever it turneth. Jesus hath quenched the fiery law for them; but His love towards them shall never be quenched; for in His love He ever rests. The glorious overcoming of the saints, whereby they overcome all things, is by and through the blood of the Lamb. All the election of grace shall hold on their way, and, by the clean hand of faith, wax stronger and stronger, until they appear before God in Zion.

These are great mercies, my brother, to write and talk about. When I sat down to write this epistle, I was somewhat under oppression of spirit, yet the day previous I was greatly rejoicing; but there was a needs be for the Lord to leave me to be exercised through manifold temptations: none but the Lord can strengthen faith in the time of conflict. As He is with us in the furnace, He will enable us to trust in Him in the dark, by staying our minds upon Him; and whatever sharp fires He brings us through, He will say we are His people; and we shall say the Lord is our God. My Beloved is mine and I am His." Though storms come over His garden, the sun shall appear again, and Jesus shall feed among His lilies, watering them every moment, and keeping them night and day.

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"Gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end." Do not get drunk with Babylon's wine; but "eat O friends, drink, and be drunken with the wine of the kingdom" (original rendering). Peace be with

you, amen.

Thine in the Lord for ever,

S. S. SOME persons are noted for their late attendance at the house of God; not because prevented by uncontrollable circumstances; but from unwarrantable habit; for when questioned upon the subject, they manifest no real motive for their non-punctuality.

THE TWO KINDS OF HEARERS.

DEAR MR. EDITOR,-Having read a paragraph in your valuable Magazine for April, page 160, in reference to two classes of gospel hearers there described, I feel constrained to offer, in love, a few remarks concerning such hearers and hearing.

As for the latter class there mentioned, they give no evidence of their relation to the living family, being so unlike the grace-humbled children of God, who, one and all of them, feel too much of their own vileness and ignorance to thus arrogantly boast of their great knowledge. I have conversed with a few, and read of others, with much pleasure, and, I trust, profit; but I never knew one of them, not even the deepest taught, to say, or wish it to be thought of them, that they knew so much more than others. No; not even the great apostle Paul himself; for he was altogether lost in wonder and amazement when he exclaimed, "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!" And though he was in nothing behind the very chiefest apostles," yet, says he, "I be nothing."

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I have sometimes wondered what some of our modern D.D.'s, the popular parsons of the day, have thought of the apostle Paul's humble expressions. How many of them are there that can join the apostle in saying, "That I may know HIM?" and yet this is the humble desire of every member of His mystical body—the Church, the honoured bride, the Lamb's wife; for it is written, "Thy desire shall be to thy Husband." This desire, being Himself, shall rise most vehemently in the heart of His beloved, in spite of the world, flesh, and the devil, to her unutterable joy, and the everlasting confusion of every deadly foe. Having, then, this living desire for Him, with what humble and adoring gratitude will she most gladly go forth among her companions to speak of the beauty of His person, the glory of His kingdom, and the greatness of His power; for "they that feared the Lord, spake often one to another." Neither do such want whipping or driving to this sweet converse any more than a hungry man wants flogging to make Him eat his ready meal; for the language of their heart is, "Draw me, and we will run after thee." What a sweet acknowledgment of her Husband's strength is herein expressed: and well there might be; for she could neither run, walk, nor crawl without Him; seeing it is "in Him we live, move, and have our being."

I think, therefore, my unknown friend is a little mistaken when he attempts to mix up grace-humbled souls with those very knowing* gentlemen; although I am fully aware that there are thousands of such over-wise persons swarming this great city. But as I have "not so learned" my " meek and lowly " Jesus, I could not feel any *If our correspondent refers to page 160, he will find a query (?) put upon the knowledge.

freedom in assembling with such haughty, empty, and knowing professors—

For strangers they are to Jesus by birth,
Though flaming professors while here upon earth.

I would then, in love, conclude, in answer to my friend's question, that I think it is quite right in the sight of God that such graceless professors should absent themselves from the assembly of the saints; for the absence of such grieve not the children, but is rather a matter of rejoicing, as they are a discordant pest to, the living family. How can two walk together, except they be agreed?" What soul union could there be between such persons and that truly grace-humbled writer, Asaph, in the 73rd Psalm? for "so foolish was I and ignorant," says he, "I was as a beast before thee. Nevertheless I am continually with thee; thou hast holden me by my right hand.”

Again, there is that miraculously-deep tried servant of God, Job; who said to the Lord, "I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear; but now mine eye seeth thee. Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes." And well he might after such an overpowering sight; for such a killing sight of His glorious person is enough to make any living soul shrink into nothing, with all its go-a-head knowledge. Under such an overwhelming view of the Lord, there is not one lofty thought of knowing more than the ministers of Jesus Christ; no; but rather an acknowledgment with Paul, "Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given." And what is this grace given for?-to lift him up above the giver, idolize his experience, and look with sneering contempt upon others? O, no! What was it given for, then, Paul? That I might live" to the praise of the glory of His grace, wherein He hath made us accepted in the Beloved." The sweet manifestation of these dear truths, by the Holy Ghost, to the soul, will enable us to live far beyond sin, self, devil, and all the trifling things of time. Yes, let Him, our ever-glorious Sun of Righteousness, arise with healing in His wings, and how soon-astonishingly soon-our every ache, pain, and festering sore disappears; and we, with joy, welcome the glad hour, the "set time to favour Zion; for it is written, by the prophet Micah, that "they shall move out of their holes like worms of the earth." Nothing shall by any means hinder their progress; for, notwithstanding their weak, lowly, and defenceless position in themselves, it is written, for their joy and comfort, "They shall go forth and grow up as calves of the stall. And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet, in the day that I do this, saith the Lord of hosts." The preceding portion is still sweet to me, as it was very forcibly applied to my heart's comfort, by the blessed Spirit, seven years ago, when, in great bitterness of soul and exercise of mind, I

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was leaving home to hear that highly-favoured, deep-taught servant of the Lord, Mr. A. Triggs, then at Gower-street Chapel, whose ministry I was favoured, for a short time, to sit under. On that occasion, the words of our dear Lord proved more than a match for the devil and my unbelieving heart; for so humbled was I under them, that I could only look on with wonder and amazement, saying, with dear Ruth, "Why have I found grace in thine eyes, that thou shouldest take knowledge of me, seeing I am a stranger ?" We read in this most touching narrative that it was the kindness and the sweet words of Boaz that won the heart of the Moabitish damsel, Ruth, and made her "stick fast by the maidens." And what else is it, think ye, friend, that now makes the hungry and needy ones assemble together but the overpowering goodness and melting words of our heavenly Boaz? Called forth by Him, who is our Resurrection and Life, from the slumbering grave of corrupt nature, the real, sensible acknowledgment of all such grace-favoured seekers will be, "When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, Lord, will I seek." Therefore seek Him they will; though, like Mary, in much sorrow, as one and all have to do, yet they shall all most assuredly find Him to their great delight; for light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart." Ah! and I can truly say my gracious God refreshed and gladdened my heart when I heard you preach, dear sir, from those words, two or three weeks ago, at Beulah Chapel. Although I have only heard you three times, yet I felt at home among you, which reminded me of olden times, when at Gower-street, and I could only bless the name of my dear Lord for leading me there, blessing my soul, and giving me to feel a real union to preacher and hearers; for it will be the constant aim of all the royal, blood-bought family to seek good company, and live up to their high standing in Christ Jesus. Untried, fleshly professors may be very constant in attending to hear the preached word, yet go from mere custom, or are driven by the force of the precept or fear of hell; but it is not so with hungry, exercised souls: for it is their craving appetite that draws them there; and the word of the Lord concerning such is, "Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness; for they shall be filled." We, therefore, as "members of His body, of His flesh, and of His bones," are highly blest, and abundantly fed by Him our most glorious Head; and the rising desire of each member will be to Him, and to the remembrance of His name; for in every sad hour, yea, in everything that pains us, He will endear Himself unto us; so that His "name will be as ointment poured forth." The devil may tempt, providence may appear to frown, and the Beloved of our souls may hide His face,-which is worst of all,yet, amidst all this, the very sound of His name becomes growingly precious. He hath said, "I will never leave thee, nor forsake

thee;" and, as our glorious keeper, He will never let us forsake Him, however dull, drowsy, or negligent we may feel ourselves to be. Our "times are in His hands;" and "no man can keep alive his own soul:" the truth of which He has caused me to painfully learn. Yes, it was at His dear feet He spoke these words to my soul, “Come, learn of me." This portion, falling from His lips into my heart, struck a most fatal blow to all my high, towering notions; for I then felt what a poor, simple fool I was. The way the Lord taught me was so contrary to my expectations; for He says, as heirs of the kingdom, ye must become as little children to know me as your Everlasting Father, Leader, Teacher, and Friend. As, then, the Lord is our Keeper and Guide, He will never suffer the living family to go on at random; for He, their Father, will make the high relationship known Himself. Ah! in every smarting hour, in their sharpest extremes, they shall be brought to acknowledge Him to be their faithful God. All His saints are in His hands; His delights were with them before time; and He brought them into creatureship for His own glory; so that, come what will, He ever holds Himself responsible for their safe keeping.

When the Lord corrects His children,--for He has a Fatherly right so to do,-He does it in love; but He will not suffer any one else to do so; for none can use the rod aright but the Father; and He applies it in such a way, that all the children read in deeper lines His loving heart towards them, even when He is using it. Every sharp, cutting stroke shows more clearly His love, and tender care over them. What, then, shall injure the children of such an indulgent Parent; dwelling as they do in the very love of His heart! Fleshly professors may rage and scandalize; the wicked one may hurl His fiery darts most fiercely; and they may feel their inability to stand against the meanest of their foes; but He, their Lord and God, will ever be their Shield and great Reward. He has also given His angels charge over them; as it is written, "Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?"

Dear Sir, may the Lord bless you, and make you increasingly useful to His much exercised family, while I remain, Truly yours, in our precious Lord,

June 4, 1860.

R. J. PEARL.

BELIEVING parents, never allow your children to be tampered with in a free-will sunday school; for no person void of a heart experience of the distinguishing doctrines of grace, is fit to have your children under their care. Although it is not in our power to give our children a divine capacity to receive God's truth, it is certainly imperative upon us to see that they are not taught lies in the name of the Lord; for the truth the Lord may own and bless, but lies He never will.