WAYSIDE NOTES. AND "LOVE UPON LOVE."-JER. XXXI. 3. DISCIPLINE.-The Lord's discipline, how his Gospel, through his ordinances, or in moments of self will we think we by any other names, let Solomon's recan do without this, that we could ponse be ours. Lord, give me wisdom get to heaven without "line upon line" and knowledge." Solomon's history will work, but when brought to a sense of prove that he was right in his request; our true condition, when led to see what for at the close of his eventful career, a nest of abomination the human heart it is said, “And all the kings of the really is, the fact becomes palpable that earth sought the presence of Solomon we need a supernatural discipline, invi- to hear his wisdom, that God had put sibly at work to make us meet to be into his heart." Poor erring creatures partakers of the heavenly kingdom-that we are, we need wisdom from on Discipline is that which commands for high, we need divine illumination, for it a man a high position. The youth will bring out two facts, the personal springing into a world of activity, in his poverty of the creature, and the glorious zeal thinks he is going to carry all before him; presently he meets with a difficulty and halting, for the first time discovers that he is not equal to it; his native strength fails, and now he needs help, so with the Christian, tuition brings him to his treasure, and the "line upon line" lifts him up to his desire; the lesser lines that scarcely shake him from his carnal composure he prefers, but how does he err therein when THE THICKER THE LINE, THE MORE IS HE The Lord disciplines his people by a slow and frequently painful process, that they may be assimilated to the image of his dear Son; and our purpose will be on this present paper to show up a few of the elementary lines that God employs to produce this effect, as well as to trace up all such discipline to his own sweet and sovereign assurance, "I have loved thee with an everlasting love, THEREFORE with loving-kindness have I draton thee," and as it is impossible to do any thing like justice to this subject in the narrow limits allowed us, we can only just pick out five lines in proof of our assertion1st, The Line of Education? 2nd, The Line of Government 3rd, The Line of Deprivation from 4th, The Line of Tribulation | Love. 5th, The Line of Consolation j LIFTED UP HEAVENWARDS. All perfection which is to be found in a precious Christ, so that the former may be increasingly LOATHED, and the latter increasingly LOVED. Christ is the light of the living." The state of unregeneracy is a state of total ignorance and darkness as to things which concern the immortal soul; and when divine light shines within, for the first time this ignorance is developed, and the source of true wisdom discovered, from that moment the "line upon line,' process commences. At first a great many "lines are strided over, and great advancement is made, but by and by, we come down to "Old Jonathan's" form, where even "line upon line" seems too much for us, and we are obliged to proceed "letter by letter," for we begin to feel that no hasty comprehension of Gospel truth will do, since we are enjoined to mark, learn, and inwardly digest it," and by spiritual wisdom brought home to the heart of the believer, we understand faith's comprehension and increasing perception of doctrine, learning, and experience, and which in short is comprehending Jesus, for He is the eternal, essential wisdom, "The Word' and out of Him, or apart from Him, doctrine cannot be understood; learning is useless as connected with the welfare of the immortal soul, and experience a delusion. Our line of education is then learning Christ, following on to know Him. This should be the distinct pursuit of the Christian. Paul's desire is that the Christian should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. Here then we see that Paul had no carnal view of spiritual wisdom, he called it not an inherent principle, buta gift, a divine communication, the power of God which Ho alone can impart. work and who shall let or hinder it, and this He will do with or without agencies, according to his own good pleasure. How elevating the thought then, dear child of God, are you being taught from above? getting your lessons at the throne of grace? verily then, God dwelleth in 2ndly. Notice the line of government, you, think of it! an earthen vessel a re- by which we mean the holding in and ceptable for Deity. Now this education embuing, yea, the keeping under of the work, this growth in grace, this increa-corruptions of the old Adam nature, and sing in spiritual wisdom, must and will go on wherever and whatever the Christian be. Is he to whom light and life divine has been imparted, living in an uncongenial and worldly atmosphere, and yet in the midst of it all hungering and thirsting after righteousness, looking out and longing for some man of God to pass that way that there may be communion? the Lord will never leave nor forsake such an one, but will either bring about means whereby comfort and instruction may be conveyed to his struggling child, or will extricate such a one from their thraldom; or He has another and more precious way of carrying on his own work thus-if there has been fellowship with other members of the Lord's family, and thereby faith has been strengthened, and now from providential circumstances those sources are removed, even though the tributary streams be thus dried up, the fountain Head remains the same, and the Lord leads the soul thither Himself; and there is no view that we can gain of the Lord Jesus Christ, so endearing as when without a medium He shows us Himself-so that in one way or another, where there is life there will be growth; and wherever we find a child of God we shall be soon enabled to trace out indications that this spiritual education is going on, even though the subject of it may be living in a desolate part, and far away from the means of grace. .* Yes, beloved, God will * A gentleman from London, visiting the Peak of Derby, in his rambles fell upon a cottage, where he accosted a good woman, and entering into conversation with her, was surprised to find her vastly intelligent on the things of God, and happily informed of all the characteristic doctrines of the Gospel. He enquired if it was preached in the neighbourhood, and if there were many professions around her. She said, "Alas! no, I have not a creature of the same mind to converse with-am quite alone; those 1 hear and converse with seem to know nothing of the grace of God in truth." "And pray," said Mr. S-, "how came you to know it ?" "6 Why, Sir," she replied, some time ago there was a famous man down in this part of the country, called Mr. Romaine. He preached some miles off, and many of the the keeping at a distance spirits that are false, treacherous, and deceitful. Last month we had occasion to dwell more especially upon this point in our "Wayside pencillings," and you will recollect we referred to that "child-like simplicity, which should be exercised with the tongue and temper." Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue, keepeth his soul from troubles." All principles which rise up and attempt to displace a precious Christ in the heart and affections are Satan's plenipotentiaries, by which he works to destroy the comfort and peace of the Christian; and there seems to be the deepest necessity to be kept in a state of susceptibility, always on the look out, in a defensive position, like the vigilant warrior with his lance ever clasped; this thought seemed to be in the mind of the apostle Paul, when addressing the Ephesian Church, he writes, "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places;" and then he describes what constitutes the armour of God, its various neighbours went to hear him; so I thought I would go too. Accordingly, away I trudged; and he no sooner begun his discourse, but it seemed all directed to me. opened the depravity of my heart and nature He convinced my conscience of the sinful condition in which I was living; showed me the wages of death, which was due to me; and the truth of it I felt in my own soul. He then opened the fulness and glory of Christ; described his sufferings and passion, and the design of them; displayed the riches of his grace to the miserable and destitute, and invited them to embrace it and be blessed. Sir, you cannot think the instantaneous and wonderful effect it had upon me. I was convinced of sin-justified by faith-and came home rejoicing; and from that day to this, have never lost the sweet savour of the truths I there embraced. How I should love to hear the gentleman. Do you know him? I think they said he came from London.” Haweis's "Life of Romaine.” 66 66 parts and uses, and sums up with a very 3rdly, That ugly line, "the line of denecessary injunction, Praying always privation," by which we mean the loss of with all prayer and supplication in the health, wealth, and friends; husband and Spirit, and watching thereunto with all wife have lived together for many years perseverance and supplication for all the in peace and happiness; they have worksaints," so that it seems as if Jehovah ed together, have been of one mind, and had purposely placed us in an enemies' in stalks grim death and snatches one land, shown us that in their midst we from the embrace of the other; and now are of ourselves powerless, that the the lone mourner stands beside the grave, good pleasure of his will might be satis- and as he looks into the deep cold earth, fied, by his children constantly, yea, and reads upon the coffin-plate, the name every moment besieging the throne of of his dear departed one, the line of degrace. As Paul says, praying al- privation as part of the Lord's discipline ways.' We might here, did time and reminds him that he has to say, "Oh! space allow, pourtray the different species Lord, thy will be done;" hard work beof enemies and false spirits that rise up loved, is it not? Or we might picture in opposition to the pilgrim on his way one who has had enough and to spare of home; we can only just refer to one in this world's silver and gold; a well-lined sinuating foe which needs all our vigi- purse has brought the maintenance of a lence to keep at a distance, we allude certain course and position in society; to the spirit of the world, which creeps ideas have been formed, and actions carover one unawares; you may in the morn- ried out parallel with that position; a ing of the day have regarded your family has been brought up in a sphere soul's interest, have gained a little com- which such influence commanded, and munion with Jesus, have darted a thought now, suddenly, mysteriously probably, upwards, and there has been fellowship with heaven; have enjoyed a season of refreshing at the family altar; but you start out into the world, and enter into the day's exercises, and an! you are soon caught exhibiting the worldling's spirit. There has been an unguarded expression of one's thoughts, an easy air put on, a levity of manners, an unbecoming mingling; and Satan looks on all the while exulting to think how easily you were drawn away; you feel it, and seeing your position, distress of soul ensues; then how acceptable the throne! The fact is, beloved, one needs to live by the moment; we have not a particle of faith in one's own vows, one's own performances; we find such is the continued it is swept away, and the Christian, as he Good when He gives, supremely good, he says, corruption of the heart that we can only The Lord brings his children into these pray the corruption down; such is the ten- straits that his own power and glory dency to be drawn away by the spirit of may be displayed in their relief. Is it the world, that we can only pray the health thou art deprived of, dear reader? spirit of the world down; in short, we feel see what he says by the prophet Jerewe can only live by the moment, and miah; he promises a gracious return to that there is a direct necessity that each the houses of Judah, that he may bring moment should be preluded with a plea them into a joyful state; I will upwards for divine guidance and direc-bring it health, and a cure, and I will cure them, and will reveal unto them an abundance of peace and truth." Here then we have the line upon line work, as it is elsewhere written," The work of righte ousness shall be and the effect of peace righteousness, quietness and assurance for ever," so that God has promised to the distressed soul an abundance of peace, and he puts in action the righteousness of faith to secure it, that with faithful tion Oh, from the world's vile slavery, Abraham, the believer is "led against now at the latter end, in the great last * hope to believe in hope. Again, with the loss of wealth, which never brings with it substantial happiness, but in too many instances becomes the man's "strong city" as the proverb has it, the Lord makes use of this as a means of showing that as we brought nothing into this world, so we can take nothing out of it, tending us thereby the salutary lesson that if we want durable riches. we must go to Him them, as also the loss of friends, and those near and dear to us brings palpably before us the fact, "that man's breath is in his nostrils;" and all these means sanctified are as "line upon line" to wean us from the world, and prepare us for eternity. 66 trial, the soul is stayed upon him who hath brought safely through it all. The fighting hath brought about the vic tory, and now the tired soldier of the cross lays down his arms, and waits peacefully for the promised crown glory. up. And 5thly, "The line of consolation." Do you say what is this part of Jehovah's discipline? Why, it is as lovely as the line of deprivation was unwelcome to us. Truly so. It is a line which tends to strengthen faith, David says, "Thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress ;" and the consolations of the Gos pel have a dilating and expanding effect, and might be compared to fresh air which 4thly, The line of tribulation. "But enlivens, makes stronger, and invigorates. he knoweth," saith Job, the way I The Holy Ghost is called "The Com shall take, and when he hath tried me, I forter," or the "Worker of comfort;" and shall come forth as gold." It is an un- as He carries out His office, causing the speakable blessing to have the way children of God to be recipients of His hedged up sometimes. We know this is gracious influence, they are thereby hard to be believed, but it is never-blessedly benefitted and built very theless true; for it keeps us from run- again, through the prophet Isaiah, the ning loose, and after innumerable things Lord, speaking of the gracious benefits of an evil tendency, God sees the neces- which the church receives, says, "That sity of caging us up, as it were, although ye may suck and be satisfied with the at the time we think He might as well breasts of her consolations;" that it is allow us our freedom. We little know clear consolation produces growth-ce how He is secretly at work for our eter-ments the union-enlarges the heartnal good. Covenant-promises establish endears Jesus. "Blessed be God," the fact, that the greater the need, the writes Paul to the Corinthian church, nearer the Deliverer, whose eyes are even the Father of our Lord Jesus upon his distressed children-watching Christ; the Father of mercies, and the them with a tender care in all their dis- God of all comfort, who comforteth us tresses. Melt the metal, and behold its in all our tribulation, that we may be purity; try the Christian, and behold him able to comfort them which are in any shining, and bearing the pure image of a trouble, by the comfort wherewith we precious Christ. He, for thy profit, are comforted of God." And again he tried one (here's the line-upon-line work, says, "As ye are partakers of His sufbeloved) He, for thy profit, suffers this fering, so shall ye be also of His consolaand the other affliction, that it may be tion;' so that if a participation in His well with thee at thy latter end." sufferings works an effect, so also does a Yes, look at the calm countenance of participation in his consolation; it all that dying Christian, amidst the sobbing tends to root us and build us up group of sorrowing friends who have ga- Him," and "establish us in the faith." thered around the bed; that face wears Mark IN HIM, so that in gathering up a peaceful and serene aspect-now and these lines of discipline, and tracing them then lit up with a heavenly smile, as if to their centre the love of Christ, we see the departing spirit gained a peep into that it must be Jesus! Jesus! from first the holy city, ere the brittle thread of to last. Is it the line of knowledge, be life was severed, to set the aspiring soul loved, that seems to be more especially at happy liberty. Yes, all is peace. bearing upon your experience: "Ye are How is this? Why the thorns and trials my witnesses, saith the Lord, and my that have beset the pathway of the now servant whom I have chosen, that ye dying one, have done their line-upon- may know, and believe me, and understand line" work, producing such an effect that that I AM HE;" or is it "the line of government ?" He is "the stronger armed;" and as Zechariah says, "Shall bear the glory and rule His throne," * Mrs. Jaimeson the authoress says, "The most miserabie man I ever met had £12,000 a year." upon "IN man or is it "the line of deprivation ?" David | place" therein. "I have loved thee says His name is "JAH," and He is a with an everlasting love, therefore, with Father to the fatherless, and a Judge of loving-kindness have I drawn thee." the widows is God in His holy habita- More or less, beloved, we all find that life is a struggle from the cradle to the grave; and leave us to ourselves in any period of this intermediate state, and we should inevitably fall over the first abyss that presented itself across our pathway. But the "love" of which we have been writing, is our secret preservative; and every Christian at the dying hour will have to shout kept, kept-kept by the mighty power of God, through sovereign electing love, as he rides triumphantly through the pearly gates. Falter not, then, friends, at the discipline. Did you not, as you came up "out of the horrible pit and miry clay," feel, as it were, upon a rocky step, from whence you beheld a new state of things-old things had passed away in your experience, and all things had become new. Well, this "line-upon-line work" is but the step-above-step which leads you up and up, till at the top you will survey the land of bliss outstretched before you, with its prepared mansion. For you? And now, did our limits allow us, we Yes, even for you. Oh, then, we repeat, could enter into how this blessed truth falter not at the discipline; mount up is a conspicuous fact of the Bible. How cheerfully; sigh not for an angel's flight it is the result of covenant-engagement above these rugged steps of discipline; between the three Persons in the Blessed expect not to reach the lattices of heaTrinity before the world was made. How ven by any such soaring, because it is it is a fact that never can be understood by the caviller and carnal reasoner. How it is a fact consoling and comforting to the Christian under all dark providences. How it is a fact calculated to crush self, and exhibit the loveliness of the Saviour's character. How it is a fact which caused a precious Christ to come into this lower world, and to live and die therein. How it is the moving cause of divine calling. How it is a fact which, sealed home the heart of the poor captive, causes him to spring from his bondage and behold himself a free man." How it is a fact which inspires the Christian warrior with boldness in the fight of faith. How it is a fact that causeth the celestial city of Zion to be inhabited-each ransomed spirit flying home to its " prepared 66 not God's ordained way of taking you home, but bow with submission to His will, e'en though it be that " through much tribulation ye must enter the kingdom;" and lay hold by faith of the fact, that if it be in your experience "lineupon-line" work-yea, even load-uponload-it all radiates from love upon love," which love is a drawing influence, attracting you degree by degree to your "home of peace eternal rest-your upon the New Jerusalem. May the Lord grant that these few homely hints may cheer on some castdown one of His family, and His dear name shall have all the praise. London, June 1st, 1856. G. C. THE WANDERING SHEEP FOLDED; OR, LAST DAYS OF "The blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.” DEAR SIR, A short time since you expressed a wish that your readers would furnish any statement of facts connected with the Lord's dealings with His dear and blood-bought family, that we might join together in praising Him for the |