sight-be out of mind. Let us ponder over their many trials, their peculiar snares, their bitter hardships, and then sit still if we can. Shall our army and navy teem with popish guilds; our garrisons and naval prisons with popish chaplains; our barrack-rooms and lower-decks with Satan's tares; our men's mess-tables covered with demoralizing trash? and shall lovers of truth sit at home with folded arms? In our day, Satan has monopolized thousands of pulpits, taken entire possession of as many platforms, and he seeks to buy up the press with another gospel other than the Gospel of the grace of God. Surely, it behoves every lover of truth, therefore, to extend only those publications which magnify Christ and ascribe salvation to our God.-Believe me, dear sir, yours to serve in the Gospel, CHARLES BRIDER.

Mr. Brider thankfully acknowledges the receipt of 6s. in stamps, for the free circulation of the GOSPEL MAGAZINE in the army and navy, from "J. W. P."; also 5s. "W. T." (Leicester); 18., Mrs. Wolfenden; 1s., Mrs. Chackley, and 5s., Mr. H. Hodges, to defray expenses in sending books abroad.

[We have received two or three small amounts in stamps for the aforenamed object. We shall feel obliged by our readers forwarding their contributions direct to our kind and zealous correspondent, Mr. Brider. -ED.]

FAITH, HOPE, AND LOVE; OR, THE TRIPLE GRACES.

To the Editor of the Gospel Magazine.

DEAR SIR,-Your leading article of the present month (March) reminds me of a short reminiscence of a sermon in my Journal preached some years ago by the Rev. F. W. Davis, late pastor of St. Peter's Church, Oldham Road, Manchester, who is now quite laid by, suffering from a protracted illness, his medical attendant having informed him that it is only a question of time when he may be called away, as his recovery is looked upon as entirely hopeless. It is satisfactory to know, as I heard from his lips a few days ago, that he is simply resting on Christ alone, and not upon any of his work for Christ; yet, if he were raised up again, he should preach the very same glorious distinguishing doctrines of grace he ever had done when in comparative health; for he was ailing in body some years before he finally gave up active service in his Master's vineyard. It is sad to sight and sense to find so many true servants of Christ called away at a time when there appears most need of them; but the Lord can as easily raise up others to supply their place as He is so rapidly saying to them, "Come up higher." "Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that He will send forth more labourers into His harvest."

Allow me to say, with regard to the leading article already alluded to, that your avowed unwillingness to commence writing is largely shared by your unworthy correspondent, since, of late, the backwardness to put pen to paper in the Lord's cause is extremely painful; and it is with shame and confusion of face I confess it, but your unusual delay seems evidently the leading of the Holy Spirit to direct your mind to the subject at length chosen, for it has proved a very rich and unctuous one to myself, and I trust will be blessed to many other readers. To God be all the glory.

I am, dear sir, yours in the faith and hope of the Gospel, Manchester. A LITTLE ONE.

Reviews and Notices of Books.

Tears of the Pilgrims. By Rev. W. FRITH. London: Elliot Stock. THE Rev. Hugh Allen, in a recommendatory preface to this little volume, says: "There are few of the family of God who have not shed all the tears mentioned in this book," viz., tears of deep contrition, of heart sorrow, of temporal loss, of bereavement, of holy gratitude, of holy joy, and of sympathy."

Bowing to Uniform, and its Results.

By THOMAS CHESIRE.
London: Elliot Stock.

THERE is some truth in this volume, but it is put forward in a very unsatisfactory way. The author acknowledges that it is of "necessity somewhat the 'gathering up of fragments;' partly from the little leisure which its writer can command." We think, then, that it would be far better if he were to defer writing for the public until he has more leisure at his command.

So Great Love!

Sketches of Missionary Life and Labour. By Miss BRIGHTWELL, author of "Palissy the Potter," &c. London: John Snow and Co.

THIS is an attractive volume; it contains interesting sketches of several eminent Missionaries, such as John Williams, Robert Morrison, Robert Moffat, &c., &c. It is well illustrated, but some of the principal pictures have hardly any explanation.

The Pictorial World is a new illustrated weekly paper. Its object is "to set before the public a world of pictures, and a record by pen and pencil of all that can interest, amuse, and elevate," for threepence per week. During the three months' issue of this journal, many illustrations of the most imposing character have been given, affording a life-like view of the stirring scenes which have occurred in the quarter that has just passed. Events so promptly and graphically illustrated must secure for so cheap a journal an immense circulation. The Pictorial World is a marvel of the age.

Our Own Fireside, The Day of Days, and Home Words, still continue on their useful course, filled with instructive and interesting matter.

We have also received:- "Brief Notes on Literature and Dogma," "Kalendar Notes," "The Sunday Magazine," "The Day of Rest," "The Gospel Herald," "Sunday," "Chatterbox," "The Parish Magazine," "Good Stories," ""Mission Life," &c., &c.

THRONE OF GRACE.-To linger from the throne of grace because of unfitness is to make it a throne of merit; but to plead the merits of Jesus Christ as the only ground of thy propitiation is always to find it a seat of mercy.-J. Miley.

JUSTIFICATION.-Justification by works is not a greater heresy than justification on account of faith, but justification through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, having works and faith as evidences or effects of the same, is sounder theology.-J. Miley.

THE

GOSPEL MAGAZINE.

"COMFORT YE, COMFORT YE MY PEOPLE, SAITH YOUR GOD."

"ENDEAVOURING TO KEEP THE UNITY OF THE SPIRIT IN THE BOND OF PEACE."

JESUS CHRIST, THE SAME YESTERDAY, AND TO-DAY, AND FOR EVER." "WHOM TO KNOW IS LIFE ETERNAL

The Family Portion;

OR, WORDS OF SPIRITUAL CAUTION, COUNSEL, AND COMFORT.

No. 1,303, OLD SERIES

"Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God."-2 Cor. i. 4.

THE GREAT TEACHER AND HIS TEACHING.
Who teacheth like Him ?-JOB Xxxvi. 22.

NONE, none teach like Him! And His teaching is simple, effectual, and lasting. And why? Because He is infinite in wisdom, omnipotent in power, and everlasting in His existence! "He is from

everlasting to everlasting.

First, He teaches condescendingly. We are quite sure, dear reader, that the more this thought is kept before us, the more we shall see it confirmed. We lose much for want of observation. We are told distinctly, in the closing up of that memorable 107th Psalm-that wondrous epitome of the daily experiences of the Lord's living ones -that "whoso is wise, and will observe these things, even they shall understand the loving-kindness of the Lord." If, therefore, it were our mercy to be more "sober and watchful unto prayer," oh, how much more should we discover of the Lord's good and gracious hand! Moreover, we should be perfectly surprised in tracing His loving interest in our mean and minute affairs. We are so apt to consider them as beneath His notice, and we are so disposed to cherish the idea that to bring the various minutiae of daily life before Him would be, as it were, derogatory and an insult to His ever-adorable Majesty. But this is not the case. It is far otherwise. We generally find that it is the littles which lead to the weighty and the mighty and the uncontrollable. The molehills become mountains, and the mountains dwindle into molehills, in the actuals of life. And why? Because, in our ignorance, folly, and misconception of self, we calculate upon sufficient personal wisdom, strength, and courage for what we vainly deem the trivials. Hence, we venture in our own strength, but only, alas! to be defeated, discouraged, and put_to_shame! Whereas, with respect to the weightier, the greater, and the more important, we dare not confront them, but almost as a matter of course, in the actings of faith, carry them to the Lord; and, as a blessed fruit and consequence, we trace His hand and handiwork. Now, did we know what thorough intimacy and holy and child-like

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familiarity with our best Friend, heavenly Guide, Divine Leader, Elder Brother, and Brother born for adversity, were, we should unbosom every thought, feeling, perplexity, and desire to Him. And, again, we affirm that, were it at once our privilege and our practice to do so, we should be astounded as we contemplated, in our every-day and all-the-day experiences, the ratifying that great fact, that "not a sparrow falleth to the ground without your Father's knowledge."

Ah! if the headaches and the heart-aches, the fear here and the trembling there, the doubt upon this matter and the dread upon that, were at once carried to the Lord, oh, how different things would be with us. If, in a word, in a really spiritual and Gospel sense, we were perpetually "tale-bearers at the throne of grace if found constantly running to tell JESUS, what a vastly different aspect would everything assume. How right and straight would matters appear, where now, alas! for most part, they seem to be adverse, crooked, and perplexing.

Again, His teaching is considerate. Ah! "who teacheth like Him" in this respect? How, in all His loving, tender discipline, He maintains the precious and endearing character of Father, and how He proves the truth of His own testimony, that, "like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear Him. For He knoweth our frame; He remembereth that we are dust." How tenderly and lovingly was this consideration exhibited upon the part of Jehovah-Jesus, even in the depths of His anguish, and in His bitter soul-travail. "And being in an agony He prayed more earnestly; and His sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground. And when He rose up from prayer, and was come to His disciples, He found them sleeping for sorrow, and said unto them, Why sleep ye? rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation" (Luke xxii. 44-46.) "The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak" (Matt. xxvi. 41). Dear reader, be assured that the Lord would be the last to seek to "gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles." Blessed be His name, He "knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit;" and, in His pitifulness and Fatherly kindness and consideration, He accepts the will for the deed. "If there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not" (2 Cor. viii. 12).

Again, His teaching is comprehensive. As the Lord is pleased mercifully to open up, little by little, His own loving mind and gracious purposes, how remarkably is seen the wide, clear, and marvellously complete manner in which He has embraced the varied and numberless details of our state, conditions, and circumstances, both in providence and grace.

Dear reader, have you not again and again found, in your daily walk and diversified experiences, this, that, and the other thing presenting itself; but there has come an inward check, and you have mentally said, with respect to this felt want, or that newly-discovered need, "Oh, I dare not think of this or that now. I have other

matters pressing upon me, and with these I must ply the throne of grace, as best I can, under present circumstances ?" But when He who teaches so condescendingly, so considerately, so comprehensively, pays, in sweet and blessed manifestation, another visit to the soul, you stand amazed, dear reader, as you contemplate the fact that not only has the Lord heard and given heed to the more prominent and persevering appeals at the throne, but even those passing thoughts and but momentarily-presented feelings, the which you felt you durst not entertain or cherish, have been graciously and lovingly embraced in those large, merciful, and comprehensive gifts, on account of which the Lord has visited you afresh, and come on purpose to bestow. So that, in the contemplation of the fulness of His grace and the boundlessness of His mercy, you have such an enlarged and blessed insight into that precious Scripture, "And it shall come to pass that before they call, I will answer, and while they are yet speaking, I will hear" (Isaiah lxv. 24).

Beloved, such seasons as these with which the Lord occasionally indulges His dear children-rarely, we admit-are typified, to our mind, by the visit of the queen of Sheba to king Solomon. When she had heard of his fame, she went "to prove him with hard questions;" at the same time, rely upon it, she had not the veriest thought or intention, when she set out, to do as she afterwards did, namely, to "commune with him of all that was in her heart;" but, in spite of herself, and regardless of all previous thoughts and intentions, such was the marvellous influence of the presence of Solomon, and such the special drawings upon her innermost soul, that she could not refrain nor hold back; she must "commune with him of all that was in her heart; " and so comprehensive was the answer, that "Solomon told her all her questions; there was not anything hid from the king, which he told her not." Well, therefore, might the queen testify, "It was a true report that I heard in mine own land of thy acts and of thy wisdom. Howbeit I believed not the words, until I came, and mine eyes had seen it: and, behold, the half was not told me: thy wisdom and prosperity exceedeth the fame which I heard. Happy are thy men, happy are these thy servants, which stand continually before thee, and that hear thy wisdom. Blessed be the Lord thy God, which delighted in thee, to set thee on the throne of Israel: because the Lord loved Israel for ever, therefore made He thee king, to do judgment and justice" (1 Kings x. 6-9).

Ah, dear reader, be assured a greater than Solomon is here; and, upon the ground of the comprehensiveness, as well as the condescension and consideration, of His leadings and teachings, have you not (like the queen of Sheba in the presence of Solomon) stood before Solomon's great and glorious Antitype in adoring wonder and amazement as you have contemplated His wisdom, love, and mercy? Yea, have you not, in the fulness of your heart, exclaimed, and that most emphatically, "Behold, the half was not told me?"

And, if so