God. Think, then, that there is a God, that your soul is immortal, and that the Scriptures are a Divine inspiration. Search, then, the Scriptures, that you may be made wise unto salvation. A. B. PRECIOUS THINGS. THE apostle Peter speaks of three very precious things. 1. A precious Christ. 2. Precious promises. And 3. Precious faith. Now, the preciousness of all these lies in their usefulness to the soul. Christ is precious, as being the Redeemer of precious souls. The promises are precious, as making over this precious Christ to precious souls. And faith is precious, as bringing a precious soul into union with a precious Christ, as he is held forth in precious promises. Oh, take heed that thou art not found overvaluing other things, and undervaluing thy soul. Meade. THE BIBLE. THE Bible is not designed to indulge our curiosity, but to be the guide of our faith, and the rule of our life; like the pillar given to the Israelites, which was not intended to amuse them as naturalists, but to conduct them as travellers through a trackless wilderness, to the land flowing with milk and honey. Jay. EXTRACTS FROM MATTHEW HENRY. IF God, in his providence, advance others above us, and abase us, we ought to be as well satisfied in his doing it that way, as if he did it as of old, by a voice from the tabernacle ; and this consideration, that it appears to be the will of God it should be so, should effectually silence all envies and discontents; and as far as our place comes to be our choice, our Saviour has given us a rule, "Sit not down in the highest room, ," Luke xiv. 8; and another, "Whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant," Matt. xx. 27. Those that are most humble and serviceable, are really most honourable. There is guilt insensibly contracted by the best of men, even in their best works; some good omitted, some ill admitted, which, if we were dealt with in strict justice, would be our ruin; and in consequence of which it is necessary for us to receive the atonement, and plead it as our righteousness before God. Those that might be very happy often make themselves very miserable by their discontent. It is an offence to God to let our desires go beyond our faith. THE DIVINITY OF CHRIST.. THE following are given as a specimen only of the Divine prerogatives attributed to Jesus Christ. 1. The Performance of Divine Works. The preservation of the universe, Col. i. 17. The miracles which attested the gospel, Rom. xv. 18. The guardianship of his people, John x. 28. The destruction of anti-Christian powers, Rev. xix. The resurrection of the dead, John v. 25-29. The transformation of the bodies of the saints, Phil. iii. 21. The renovation of the earth, Heb. i. 12. 2. The Bestowment of Divine Gifts. Saving knowledge, Eph. v. 14. Personal religion, John iv. 10-14. Sanctification, John vii. 37. Adoption, John i. 12. Comfort, Matt. xi. 28, 29. Inspiration, Luke xxi. 14, 15. Miraculous powers, Acts ii. 33. Support under trials, 2 Cor. xii. 9. 3. The Administration of Divine Laws. Moral government in general, John v. 22. Lordship of the sabbath, Matt. xii. 8. Institution of ordinances, Matt. xviii. 20; 1 Cor. xi. 23-25, 27. Assemblies for Divine worship, Matt. xviii. 20. Control over the invisible world, Rev. i. 18. A PASTORAL VISIT. Dr. Urwick. SOME time since I was sent for suddenly to visit a poor woman who was very ill, some persons having expressed their desire that she would see a minister, and allow them to send for me. Previous to going, I was informed that her husband was an infidel, and that the woman herself appeared to be very ignorant of religious subjects. I obeyed the call, and went almost immediately, feeling that no time ought to be lost when there is even the least hope of snatching a poor sinner as a brand from the burning, and more especially if it be at the last hour of life. The soul is too valuable to be neglected, and those who understand its worth will endeavour to be instant, in season and out of season, in seeking its salvation. I took my wife with me, not knowing to what sort of a place I was going, and thinking that perhaps she might be able to add a word in season, and that when she once knew where the house was, she might afterwards go alone, and see the poor creature. When we arrived at the door, we were conducted to an upper story, and entered a dirty and disorderly room, where we found the woman in bed, and in the last stage of consumption. Her husband, (a shoemaker,) with great unconcern, continued at his work in the corner of an adjoining room; but as the door was open, and he was within hearing, I did not disturb him. I was prepared to find his wife very ignorant, but should scarcely have supposed it possible for her to be so ignorant as she really was. She seemed hardly to believe there was a hell, or to know that she was a sinner; and when I said to her, I suppose you have heard of Jesus Christ?" she replied, "No, she did not know that she ever had." "What! not heard the name of Christ?" "No, she did not know that she ever had." "But where, then, have you attended, to what place of worship have you gone?" The answer was, "She had not gone to any." I endeavoured to explain to her the sinfulness and danger of her state, and the way of escape from the wrath to come by faith in the merits of Christ. She seemed but little interested, and gave an unmeaning assent to what I said. After using my best efforts preacher. If you converse much with God in the mount, as Moses did, and the old Puritans did, your hearers will perceive a gospel lustre on your countenance; and what is best of all, you will not be sensible of it yourself. Much secret prayer will solemnize your heart, and make your visits savoury as well as your sermons. The old Puritans visited their flocks by house row: the visits were short; they talked a little for God, and then concluded with prayer to God: an excellent rule, which prevented tittle tattle, and made visits profitable. May Jesus bless you, and water your flock. Your affectionate brother, JOHN BERRIDGE. Essex. SOCIAL PRAYER. To thee, O Thou that hearest prayer! To pray in faith, our hearts prepare, Our hearts with warmer zeal; Kindle in each a pure desire, And may that love's constraining power Our ruling motive prove. Permit us, Lord, to plead with thee, For those that dwell around; Lord, we adore thy wondrous grace, In saving numbers of our race, Keep them, O Lord, with power divine, And our whole lives may we resign J. B. Ir was upon a great reason that the apostle charges us not to be children in understanding. What fools we all once are! Even at first we cry and smile we know not wherefore; we have not wit enough to make signs what hurts us, or wherefore we complain; we can wry the mouth, but not seek the breast; and if we want help, we can only lament, and sprawl, and die. After, when some months have taught us to distinguish a little betwixt things and persons, we cry for every toy; even that which may most hurt us; and, when there is no other cause, we cry only to hear our own noise, and are straight stilled with a greater: and if it be but upon the breeding of a tooth, we are so wayward that nothing will please us; and if some formerly-liked knack be given to quiet us, we cast away that which we have, if we have not what we would seem to like. We fear neither fire nor water; nothing scares us but either a rod or a feigne l bugbear: we misknow our parents, not acknowledging any friend but the tailor that brings us a fine coat, or the nurse TRACT MAG., THIRD SERIES, No. 88, APRIL, 1841. E |