shell to the kernel-necessary in itself for the end designed, and to sit down by his direction to partake of the portion provided for them. Then is it found that "the entrance of his word giveth life," and in receiving at his gracious hands that food which is "eternal life," we do truly receive Him "into the heart by faith," who has been "given by the will of God the Father, by the finished work of God the Son, and by the saving knowledge imparted by God the Holy Ghost, "for the life of the world ;" for the bread of God is he that cometh down from God. And our adorable Immanuel declared, "I am that bread of life," and again, "He that eateth me, even he shall live by me." Such are indeed blessed, and shall sit down at the marriage supper of the Lamb, where, removed from the field of nature, they sit down with him upon his throne, he having said before his departure, "I go to prepare a place for you," and "I will come again and receive you to myself, that where I am there ye may be also." Come, Lord Jesus, come quickly. Notice, further, the freeness of the gospel feast. Jesus bid the multitude sit down; they had no preparation to make; the food was provided by the Master of assemblies, and it was but for them to partake. So is it at the gospel table; without money and without price is the encouragement which accompanies the invitation. Wheresoever the blessing is communicated, of a hungering and thirsting after righteousness, the Scripture further declares that such shall be filled. The multitude did not question their want of such a repast, nor do we find that they questioned Jesus' ability to supply them, neither do such as are commanded by the covenant love of God to sit down and receive at the hand of Jesus that bread and wine which he says are his flesh and blood, and which to the spiritual wants of the soul are meat and drink indeed. Nor is there anything to purchase wherewith to spread the board, for Christ provides the feast, and the redeemed multitude being destitute souls, he having all power both in heaven and in earth, gives the appetite, and then graciously says, "Eat, O friends; drink; yea, drink abundantly, O beloved;" for, saith the Lord, "I will cause him that is athirst to drink of the water of the fountain of life." A highly-favoured soul, whom "Jesus loved," said in the spirit of inspiration, "In him was life, and the life was the light of men." With what compassionate mercy has the will of God the Father designed the gospel feast! With what endearing tenderness has the love of Jesus been manifest in the gracious promise, "He that eateth me, even He shall live by me." And with no less suited grace does the Holy Spirit reveal Jesus as our life, by awakening the soul dead in trespasses and sins, to a sense of spiritual destitution, and the willingness in the heart of Jesus to save all that come unto God by Him, he ever living to make intercession for them, with his blessed adaptation to the work of salvation, being "Immanuel, God with us," or in one nature. Oh for an increased manifestation of that simple, yet unfathomable declaration of truth, "I am that bread of life." A PHILLIPPIAN. DEAR SIR, To the Editor of the Gospel Magazine. I send you an extract from a letter of the Rev John Berridge, dated 1769. I had often heard of this account of the Lord's dealings with his soul, and therefore perhaps some of the readers of the "Gospel Magazine" may be as much gratified and refreshed as I have been by the reading of it. The language is certainly peculiar, but highly descriptive of the natural originality of this distinguished minister of the gospel, whose labours were so abundantly owned and blessed by the Lord of the harvest. May it please the great Shepherd to raise up and send forth many such itinerant servants, and open to them effectual doors for the preaching of Christ's gospel. Believe me, in the bonds of the everlasting covenant, your faithful friend, and fellowlabourer in the ministry, Stockwell. J. W. GOWRing. "Hitherto I had been kept a stranger to the livery which my Master gives his servants to wear, only I knew he had many rarities, such as diamonds and pearls, in plenty to dispose of. Accordingly, I had. begged a bracelet of him, a necklace, an earring, a nose-bob, and many other pretty things, which he readily parted with, being of a generous and noble nature. And will it not amaze you to hear,-I had the vanity to fix these ornaments on my old rags, intending thereby to make up a brisk suit to appear at court in? Well, to be sure, one day, whilst I was busy mending my rags, and pasting on my pearls, iu comes the Master, and giving me a sudden gripe, which went to my very heart, he said in an angry tone, "Varlet, follow me." I arose and followed trembling, whilst he led me to the House of Correction, where, having first made my feet fast in the stocks, and stripped off my ornaments, he then took up his nine-tailed rod, and laid upon me very stoutly. I roared for mercy, but he declared he would not lay aside his rod till he had scourged every rag off my back. And indeed, Madam, he was as good as his word. Think then how confounded I must have been to stand before my Master naked, and especially when I now saw myself a Zipporah, with an Ethiopian skin, which the rags had concealed from me before. For awhile I kept upon my legs, yet overwhelmed with shame, till at length, being choked also with the dust and stench that came out of the rags in the beating, I fell down at my Master's feet, and wept. Immediately the rod dropped from his hand, his countenance softened, and with a sweet voice he bid me look up. I did so, and then got the first sight of his priestly robe, the garment of salvation. Oh, madam, it was a lovely sight! A charming robe reaching from the shoulders down to the feet, well adapted for covering and defence; yea, excellent for beauty, and for glory also. "Here, prodigal Jack," said he with a smile, "put this robe on thy back, and then thou mayst come to court, and shame an angel. It was wrought with my own hand, and dyed with my own blood; wear it, and remember me." I thanked him, and bowed. But I must tell you, madam, although I do not ask you to be a confident : when my Master opened his robe, he gave me a hasty glance of his person; it was so divinely sweet and glorious, and withal so condescendingly humane, that I felt quite in love with him." THOUGHTS ON THE SONG OF MOSES. EXODUS XV. (Continued from page 453, Vol. vii.) : How blessed, oh! how blessed, to acknowledge the Lord as my leader. Is it not, my beloved brethren and sisters in the Lord, to see him go forth in the majesty and strength of his love? What a most glorious song is this! How poor are man's productions, unassisted by Jehovah's Spirit What exalted feelings of submission and gratitude! How lively is the whole transaction, set forth from the very leading out of Egypt, step by step, as it were, to the safe landing on the other side-the glorious triumphant safety of God's army, and the awful destruction of the enemies of the Lord. Yet more blessedly do God's beloved feel their glorious liberty, from the enthralling snares of Satan, the bewitching allurements of the world, the every moment rising lusts within-all these cause them troubles innumerable. Still, in the midst of these all the dear, tried, troubled children of God know, when led by the Glorious Leader, my Lord shall perform the good work He has begun. Faithfulness, divine faithfulness, is pledged thereunto, for, "Not any shall pluck them out of Jesus' hand of all whom the Father has given Him, none shall be lost; they have life eternal, kept by Almighty power and love." In the 13th verse of this chapter, it is said, "Thou in thy mercy hast led forth the people, whom thou hast redeemed, and hast guided them in thy strength to thy holy habitation." In the former part of this song, we found that it was addressed to the Jehovah. Yes, in mercy the Lord led them ; and what is there that he doeth for his dear people, but it is in mercy? None but the Almighty could deliver the people out of the bondage in which they were in Egypt, under the power of so mighty a King, supported by such an immense army! But ah! all human power and might is powerless in delivering God's people out of their enemy's hands. The Almighty blast performeth wonders. The power of the Eternal-He alone is the source of the effectual deliverance in their salvation; and in the eternity of his sovereign will," He hath mercy upon whom he will have mercy," Romans ix. Here, indeed, is Sovereignty displayed that sovereignty against which the potsherds of the earth vainly strive-which mere professors acknowledge, and as often deny in the same breath. Yet, here is the blessed-most blessed-foundation of the believer's bliss. Here, indeed, is that sovereign will of the Lord displayed, which He, by his mighty power, exercises towards the creatures of the earth, in forming them " vessels of honour or of dishonour;" and who can say unto Him, "What doest thou?" The Lord being thus set forth in the character of Father, compare Romans ix. with John xvii., we shall see that he thus, in his boundless mercy, gave unto the Son what was his own, for in John xvii. 9, Jesus said, "I pray for them; I pray not for the world, but for them whom thou hast given me, for they are thine, and all mine are thine, and I am glorified in them." Blessed union, glorious oneness of the redeemed of the Lord, with Him who is the Lord of life and glory. Jesus, then, acknowledges them as his own, however sinful they are by nature, and being glorified in them. He is beautifully set forth as the Leader of his people. Not that I would in any wise separate the glorious persons in the Trinity, for they are one, but in their different characters or persons they have each taken upon themselves a glorious part in the salvation of the elect, and clearly shown that what the Father willeth the Son willeth. Were the personalities of the Godhead, and the work which each have undertaken in the salvation of God's people, better understood by them, I believe there would be less cause for the many errors that are contiuually arising among them. Consider, my dear brethren, the interest Jesus has in them and in their salvation. They are mine-his own-part of himself-bone of his bone, blood of his blood. "He took not upon him the nature of angels, but of the seed of Abraham." Is this oneness with the dear Christ sweet to thee, dear to thee, my oft-tried brother, my fellowpilgrim? Remember moreover, In all their, in all thy affliction, he has been, he still is afflicted. Not a temptation but he knoweth it and feeleth it." Oh, what a mercy, my heart oft can and does say, in review of this mercy, "Bless the Lord, O my soul"-to have a friend who feels for me, who knoweth all my sorrows and my every trial, and to whom I can so freely tell all, yea all things concerning me and mine. He came into the world to fulfil the work of covenant love; in that covenaut he undertook to save his people, for when there was no man, he said, "Lo! I come to do all thy will, O my God." Set apart from eternity to atone divine justice for all the sins of the elect, Jesus, their great security, sanctified, devoted himself, and by one offering for ever perfected them that are sanctified, for the Father's will was even their sanctification. (See Hebrews i. throughout.) Jesus, as the surety of his people, and their great and glorious Leader, actually did satisfy all the divine justice, fulfilled all the righteousness of the law, became a curse, became sin for them. He who knew no sin! Truly here is an overwhelming truth, and indeed "Great is the mystery of godliness." The Father was satisfied; all was finished, and Jesus, as the leader of his people, overcame all his and our enemies. Glorious oneness ! He triumphed over hell and death, broke the bars of the grave asunder, trampled sin and Satan under his feet, satisfied and restored the justice of God's holy law, and entered victoriously into heaven. The everlasting doors triumphantly opened for the all-conquering King. Heaven rejoiced; hell groaned; God's people are saved; their Leader is entered into glory, seated at the right hand of the Father. Hallelujah! Hallelujah! We are saved-eternally saved! Well might Toplady sing, "A debtor to mercy alone, Of covenant mercy I sing, "The terrors of law and of God, With me can have nothing to do; My Saviour's obedience and blood, Hide all my transgressions from view." Jehovah the Spirit does not less share in the glory of the salvation of his adopted ones. It is said in the text, "Thou hast led forth," or more literally "guided the people." Now, where is the work of the Holy Spirit? Very diversified indeed. But among others, "He shall take of the things of mine," said Jesus, "and show them unto you." And how? By leading them into all truth-guiding them by his counsel. It is thus the Holy Spirit performeth his work-by his Almighty power, compelling them to come, convincing them of sin by the holy law. Oft-Öb, what obstinate resistance, what awful rebellion-full of Pharisaical free-will-they are determined-resolved never to believe these free-grace doctrines-and even afterwards, when the Lord leads them, step by step, showing them the awful depravity within, and teaching them that it is impossible for them to do any saving work. They spurn-they kick-they refuse-going on to rebel against the glorious truth of free sovereign grace. Long-very longthey often cling to the mother of harlots, and want to draw back to the flesh pots of Egypt-long for, and trust in all the law works. But the Holy Spirit having taken them in hand as sheep of the flock, he will lead, guide, and bring them, notwithstanding all their vain attempts, stripping them gradually of self in every shape, and leading them to the haven of everlasting rest, the city of habitation,-comforting them and upholding them as they are travelling on, and will not let them go. And now, who are this people? Who? A peculiar people, chosen, redeemed, and adopted; chosen as the objects of God's peculiar favour. That there is such a people, none who really believe in the Scriptures, can deny. But it is one thing to believe this, and another to know I am one of them. It is clearly set forth from Gen. iii. 16, throughout all the word of God. In the first promise of the Saviour, the Lord himself makes the distinction there between the seed of the woman and the seed of Satan, setting forth that continual warfare between Christ's seed and Satan's seed; and soon after, in the first children of our first parents, is seen the astonishing difference. God, in sovereign love, accepts Abel's offering, and refuses Cain's, followed by the outbursting of Satan's work in Satan's seed-murder-for he was a murderer from the beginning; and they do indeed the will of their Father. Before the flood the seed or sons of God are distinguished from the sons and daughters of man (Gen. vi. 2). Noah alone was safely shut in, with his family, whilst all the rest were lost. Abraham enjoyed the particular favour as the friend of God. Isaac was the Son of promise, whilst Ishmael, son of the same father, was but the son of the bondwoman. Esau God hated, but he loved Jacob. And the people spoken of in this chapter, though called a hard-hearted and stiff-necked people, we find to have been under the peculiar notice of God, and mentioned as "my people," and as being under the kind peculiar notice of God-yea, under his paternal protection. "I have |