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are threescore years and ten: and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow, for it is soon cut off, and we fly away." Are you sick? This reminds you that the night is far spent, and that the day is at hand. And the word of God, the ministers of the gospel, the tolling bell, the open grave, the death of others, often remind you that here you have no continuing city, and urge you to seek one that is to come. "The voice said, Cry. And he said, What shall I cry? All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field: the grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the Spirit of the Lord bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass. The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever." All should think seriously of the time of their departure from time to eternity, and set their house in order; do the work assigned them; and watch and pray that they enter not into temptation. Let me remind you-1. Of the happy land to which the believer takes his departure at death. He then departs to the land of promise. He goes to the inheritance promised him by his Father in heaven. "This is the promise he hath promised us, even eternal life." The blessing promised is vast, but the Promiser is able to fulfil his engagements. This land of promise is compared in scripture to a city-the holy of holies-a house-a templean inheritance-a palace a kingdom. The christian departs to take full possession of his inheritance. He then comes of age. "And if children, then heirs." He has no reason to fear any disappointment. He may repose full confidence in the Promiser. "He is faithful that promised." The christian departs to the dwelling place of Jesus. He has had Jesus with him in the wilderness, and now he shall have Jesus with him in Paradise. There he shall see his face, hear his voice, live in his smiles, resemble his likeness, admire his beauty, engage in his service, and behold his reward. The christian departs to be with Christ, which is far better than being here in a state of conflict. The disciple is there with his teacher, the spouse with her husband, the sheep with the shepherd. The christian departs to the purchased possession. He departs to enjoy a land that cost the Son of God tears, humiliation, agonies, suffering, and death. His soul was in sore travail to secure for us this better land. He shed his blood for it. He died to obtain it for all his saints. Sin had closed the gates of this eternal Paradise, and his atonement reopened them. The christian departs to the meeting place of all the members of the redeemed family. The soul departs from the body and leaves it until the morning of the resurrection. The traveller then reaches his home. The soldier quits the battle field and enters into rest. The mariner arrives in safety in the port of the new Jerusalem. The sower then reaps the harvest. The racer wins the prize. The pilgrim reaches the end of his journey. Let me also remind you

II. Of the manner in which the christian takes his departure from earth to heaven. He takes it reposing confidence in the great Keeper of souls. The apostle himself is an example of this. "For I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day." His faith looked upon Christ as the great keeper of souls. He is able and willing to keep them.

He

has been appointed to this office by his Father. And the atonement he has made for sin, the glorious perfections of his nature, and the universal government he exercises over the world, qualify him for his high office. The soul is a precious jewel which faith deposits in the hands of Jesus. This is done in our conversion to God, the act is often renewed through life, and it is the last thing a christian does in death. The prayer of the dying saint is, "Lord Jesus receive my spirit." The work of Jesus in heaven is to receive the souls committed into his hands, to watch over their welfare, and bring them all safe to heaven. The christian takes his departure in hope of realizing all the vast blessings God has promised. He dies in hope of receiving an immortal crown, of victory over all his enemies, a glorious resurrection, full redemption, an eternal triumph. He has often looked to the promises of God in life. They have been his pilgrim's staff; they have been the true bread on which he has lived; they have been wells of salvation from which he has drank by the way; they have been a full cup of consolation; they have been a strong tower from the enemy. He dies in hope of realizing all the good secured to him by many precious promises. He departs this life in submission to the will of God. He looks at the gates of death, and rejoices that the keys are in the hands of Jesus. He leaves the time, place, and circumstances of his death in his hands, assured that he will do all things well. When the time comes for him to leave the world, he looks, like his master, to the joy set before him. He has confidence in the wisdom, love, and faithfulness of God.

The subject should induce a serious consideration of our spiritual condition. Are we prepared for our departure so near at hand? None are prepared in their natural state. Have I then experienced a radical change of heart? Am I penitent for sin? Have I a true faith in Jesus? Who occupies the throne of my heart? Have I any delight in God? Who is my Master? Where is my treasure? How wise to improve the means appointed to prepare me for my departure. Mercy has given me a revelation of truth and salvation. Do I read it? Mercy has offered me a Saviour. Have I received him? Mercy has given me the ordinances of the sanctuary. Do I improve them diligently and in faith? Must I soon leave this world? Then what folly to make too much of it. Let me use it, but not abuse it. Let me hold all creatures with a loose hand, and fix my heart upon God, heaven, the prize. And let me be patient under trials. Let me not carry my cross as if I were to carry it for ever, but let me carry it as one who will soon lay it down, and exchange it for a crown. Am I a traveller to a better country? Then let me live every day with this country full in view. There I shall enjoy perpetual health. Live in eternal sun-shine. Drink at an infinite fountain of happiness. There my salvation will be perfect, and for ever. Oh let me live as a

pilgrim to this better land, then I shall live above the world, though in it; then I shall live in daily communion with God in Christ; and live to honour the God of my salvation. How great the contrast between the departure of the sinner and the saint. The one has hope in his death : the other is driven away in his iniquity.-H. H.

WORTH KNOWING.

A Unitarian minister, converted and saved by the Rev. John Angell James's Anxious Enquirer. At the death beds of his father and his wife he had learned by painful experience that Unitarianism has no consolation. After becoming awakened to the sad state of his country, and himself, he had none to take him by the hand and to point with apostolic simplicity to the Lamb of God. In a happy hour, however, in a stage coach, he had the Anxious Enquirer put into his hand, and by it he was guided to rest and peace. New views bringing new comforts, also brought him new troubles. "The common people heard him" preach the gospel "gladly;" from all quarters they crowded to his place of worship: but his Unitarian deacons heard him with displeasure, and persecuted him; but this only tended to increase attention and sympathy among the common people, who heard him with joy,-they came from twenty miles distant to hear him.

At length the persecuting deacons cruelly cast him out of the church. Now came the hour of trial both for himself, and for his excellent wife, to whom he said, "What are we to do now?" This most deserving woman replied, "Open the piano and sing a hymn; for it is written, 'Rejoice in the Lord, and he will give thee the desire of thine heart; but see that you do not strain the word of the Lord. Many will have the desire of their hearts first; and then they will rejoice in the Lord; but we are first to rejoice, and then to obtain the blessing." Cheered by such encouragements, he actually proceeded to the piano, chose an appropriate hymn, which he read through the glistening tear, and sung it to the comfort of himself and his partner.

Shut up and friendless, at length he made up his mind to proceed to America; but a friend meeting him at a shipping office, said, "You shall never go there, God has work for you in your own country. Here you must remain." This friend was a friend in need, he made substantial provision for him, for his employment and support in the press, in diffusing gospel knowledge among the people to the extent of no fewer than fifty separate publications. His wife, however, once more brought her excellent sense to bear on the position and prospects of her husband, asking him whether he meant to spend his life in such work as this, and to abstain from preaching the gospel of the grace of God to the perishing multitude by whom he was surrounded? These words of love and wisdom had their effect, and our preacher began at once in a manner most primitive, by obtaining a small shed, on which he expended all he could commandthe sum of £3, putting up some boards to prepare it for receiving a few of the people of one of the poorest districts. He began with three auditors, but numbers speedily gathered. One enlargement led to another, till at length he reared a chapel, which accommodated 600, which still proving too small gave place to another, till at length capable of accommodating 1,600, which is now crowded with anxious hearers at all seasons. These people, although gathered together in one of the most miserable districts of the city, raised for religious purposes not less than £450 per There is a school for girls, where they are taught the knowledge of the scriptures, and needle-work; and another for 250 poor infant chil

annum.

dren, otherwise left in the most miserable condition, literally to wallow in the mud the best part of the day, while their parents are out in quest of food, like dogs and pigs.

This improvement is commenced in a once hopeless locality, the results of which will redound not only to happiness in time, but through eternity to both old and young. What an example is this, to teach us not to despise the day of small things! The preacher began the preaching of the gospel with only 3 auditors under a small shed; and to show how God will increase, prosper, and honour those who will seek after, and care, as Christ did, for the poor of his people in such localities where the blessings of the gospel are most needed.

Partly extracted from the British Banner.
Bath.

T. N.

OPEN AIR PREACHING.

It is a lamentable fact, that although there are so many places open for the public worship of God, that a large portion of our fellow men do not avail themselves of the privilege thus presented to them. The causes of this melancholly indifference we need not stop to consider. What we have to do with is the painful fact. It is a pleasing sign of the times that the church has been aroused to think seriously of this matter, and consider what means can be employed to diffuse abroad in our land the knowledge of salvation through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. Many faithful ministers were engaged during the summer months last year, in proclaiming the unsearchable riches of Christ to the masses who are in the habit of attending no place of Divine Worship. These ambassadors of the gospel were received by the people, in almost every case with kindness; they were heard with marked attention, and there is every reason to believe that much good was done.

If it be a fact that multitudes of our fellow men do habitually neglect the public ordinances of the Sanctuary, then it is the plain duty of the Christian Church at large to devise means by which the Gospel shall be taken to them. The command of Christ is plain and imperative-“ Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind." We are in an age in which errors of the most insiduous and subtle character are prevalent, hence they are all the more formidable and dangerous, and the uneducated and unthinking are more easily entrapped. There is Puseyism-rather call it by its proper name-semi-popery, on the one hand, and Scepticism open and concealed on the other. It is to be feared these errors pervade our land to an alarming extent-the one endeavouring to dethrone the Bible as the Word of God, and the other to subvert the Gospel of Christ and to blind the souls of men on the momentous subject of their salvation. We rejoice in every movement which has for its object the conversion of men, the glory of Christ, and the diffusion of his name-such as the circulation of the Holy Scriptures and Religious Tracts. But the preaching of the Gospel of Christ, in all its simplicity and power, is the

divine instituted means of bringing the sinner to God. Would it not be a delightful sight to see all earnest christians, who are able to speak publicly to their fellow men on the great concerns of their souls, thus employed on the Lord's day, or in the evenings of the week? This is a matter which demands the serious and prayerful consideration of our churches. Have we light? Then we are solemnly bound to diffuse it. Do we profess to feel the value of souls? Where is our sympathy if we do not " go out into the highways and hedges" and endeavour to rescue them by urging upon their attention-repentence toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ-and by pointing to his blood, by which alone they can be purified and made meet for heaven? Cannot the various denominations of Christ organise together to hold open air services during the summer months? Cannot the members of our churches help in this work? The times are urgent. Souls are perishing for lack of knowledge. Moral ignorance covers the minds of thousands. The Gospel alone can dispense it. Other means may be valuable. This is invaluble. Other means may touch the surface, this eradicates error, infuses Divine light into the soul, and whispers peace to the conscience. Men of God ponder and pray over this matter. Come to the help of the Lord, to the help of the Lord against the mighty. Canterbury.

Things Lew and old.

'All things come of Thee, and of thine own have we given thee."-I Chron. 29.

"David's munificence, and that of the nobles with him, sprang from this root, the acknowledgment that nothing was their own, it came in all from God. When they had offered so willingly and bountifully towards the building of the temple, David shows the mine which yielded so much treasure; even this we have digged in all this while. They confessed that all came of God: they were but stewards, he was the owner, and his own they could not withhold from him. God giveth us the use of the creatures, but he keepeth the right to them in his own hand; when we have possession of them, he hath the property. Wherefore let the consideration that God giveth all, make us ready and open handed; to give unto God, when he calleth and requireth it at our hands.-Caryl on Job.

Let all who read this consider that God expects a due proportion of what he bestows-that this is a reasonable service that it ought to be returned to Him from love-and that our great Master, Christ, has said "It is more blessed to give than to receive."

J. G. C.

Review of Books.

NONCONFORMIST THEOLOGY; or Serious Considerations for Churches, Pastors, and Deacons: being Seven Letters to the Principals and Professors of the Independent and Baptist Colleges of England. By John Campbell, Ď.D.

We believe this pamphlet to have been the offspring of a zealous care, "lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect,"-lest the Nonconformist churches of Britain, and of London especially, should be deemed to acquiesce in, or approve of, a very questionable Theology.

If

Never, we believe, might the words of the illustrious Roman, "the wife of CESAR must be above suspicion,"-be applied with greater force than now. in the mouth of a ruler of this world, these words had a certain fitness, how is it here? The Church is the Bride of the Lamb, and upon it no shadow of suspicion can be allowed to rest even for a day, without soil being contracted, and influence for good being weakened. Holy Writ moreover warns us to avoid even "the appearance of evil." There has been and still is an appearance of evil, in the scutcheon of the Church, and it is this which has given rise to the letters before us.

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