the apostle say, "Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us," in choosing us, vile, filthy, sinful us, and giving his Son for our Surety, who became incarnate. Hear the lovely language of this immutable Friend; "In sacrifice and offering for sin thou hast had no pleasure; but a body hast thou prepared me; Lo, I come to do thy will, O God." (Heb. x. 5, 6, 9.) What was this will of God? Why, that Israel, the church, should be saved in the Lord with an everlasting salvation. And how was this to be done, seeing that justice was inflexible towards the criminal? (“The soul that sinneth shall die.") Why, mercy now steps forward and meets truth, and says, "Deliver him from going down into the pit, for I have found a ransom.” Well, then, says justice, "Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and against the man that is my fellow, saith the Lord of hosts; smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered; and I will turn mine hand upon the little ones." (Zech. xiii. 7.) Yea, such was the love of this Friend, that although the stroke of divine justice was so heavy that he exclaimed, "My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death;" that he prayed, saying, “O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me;" yet, I say, such was his love that he exclaimed, "Nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt ;" (Matt. xxvi. 38, 39;) "For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. And this is the Father's will who hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day." (John vi. 38, 39.) Thus, "I lay down my life for the sheep, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again." (John x. 17. 18.) "I am the resurrection and the life, whosoever believeth in me shall never die. Because I live, ye shall live also." See here, then, what wisdom, power, faithfulness, and love there is in this immutable Friend! O how delightful when the Spirit, as a quickener, enlivener, and remembrancer, is pleased to bring these truths home to the soul, and exhibit Jesus to faith's view, in his suitability as the Friend of sinners, that loveth at all times. Yes, believer in Jesus, thy life is hid with Christ in God; and no enemy, either from the world, the flesh, or the devil, shall ever be able to extinguish it. Annoy and distress thee they may, and will, while thou art in the body, but this Friend that loves thee at all times "will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." He is the eternal conqueror who hath spoiled principalities and powers, and made a show of them openly; yes, "This mighty warrior faced the whole, Though wrath lay heavy on his soul, "He stain'd his garments in their blood; And, O victorious King! In triumph rose the conquering God, Sweet victory to sing. "Nor hell without, nor hell within, Shall Jesus overcome; He'll save from devils, wrath, and sin, And lead his children home."-GADSBY. O then, what an unspeakable mercy it is to have such a Friend as this, that resteth in his love, so that, come what will, as the apostle exultingly said, "What shall separate us" from this Friend? Neither things present, however perplexing or distressing; nor things to come, however gloomy in their appearance; nor height, nor depth,-the height of God's holiness, nor the depth of our infernal nature; for this Friend is our Daysman, which lays his hand on both parties. Here God and sinners meet; as the poet sings, "And since my Saviour stands between, In garments dyed in blood; 'Tis he, instead of me is seen, When I approach to God." What an infinite Friend is this! O how has my soul been humbled down in the dust of self-abasement under a feeling sense of my rebellion, unworthiness, ingratitude, and a thousand other evils of my wretched nature, when he has been pleased to visit my soul with a sense of his love and friendship. Yes, bless his dear name, let unbelief and the devil say what they may, I have found and proved him to be my Friend, both in providence and grace, in times of deep distress, in delivering me. How sweetly and powerfully has he appeared, and broken every bond asunder, and restored my captive soul, by leading me forth into a wealthy place, where I have gone forth in the dance of those that make merry, and sung a song to the praise of the glory of his grace. But, when this Friend withdraws, I return to my own sad place; unbelief and the devil come in again, evil questionings arise in my mind, and I conclude that changes and war are against me. But, my dear fellow-travellers, what a mercy it is that God is faithful to his covenant; he is of one mind, and not all our changes can change him; he loves at all times; he loved in eternity past; he loves in time, in death, and in judgment; he loves in darkness as in the light; he loves in poverty, in riches, in prosperity, and in adversity, in sorrows, in joys; yea, his love is from everlasting to everlasting to them that fear him; he loves his people when they think they feel no love to him, but, on the contrary, nothing but enmity, peevishness, mistrust, and a host of evils, like Jonah and others. He is the same; he rests in his love. That the editors, spiritual readers, and writers of the Gospel Standard, may happily experience the love of this Friend manifested in their own souls, is the prayer of one of the most unworthy of the family, Sutton Banger, May 19th, 1839. A SMOKING FLAX. A FRIEND IN NEED. Dear Sister in the Faith of God's Elect,-I have often had a desire to write to inform you of the dealings of the Lord with me, for I know of no one who ought to be informed more than yourself, as I am not forgetful how much you travailed in soul for me until Christ was formed in my heart, the hope of glory, and of the cup of cold water you gave me in Christ Jesus our dear Lord's name. You, no doubt, will sympathise when you hear of my numerous family, the price of the staff of life being exceedingly high, and our scarcely having any employment. I was sent to prison by my baker for the sum of five pounds which I owed him; and Pharaoh, (for such I shall name him,) my landlord, would not, at my request, allow me to leave his house without six months' notice; and although at that time I owed him half a quarter's rent, I should have left sufficient furuiture behind to pay him; but the dear Lord, being on my side, never suffered him to take a single thing from me, and I truly became, as I am told, the song of drunkards, for he could not tell what to make of me, being, through rich and undeserved mercy, enabled to cast my burden on the dear Lord, who, in a wonderful way, gave me the means to discharge the same. Bless his dear name, none that trust in him will ever be ashamed or confounded. The landlord thought that as the baker had hedged me in, he would turn me out, and strip me of my little all; but he, or, at least, the devil, was restricted from touching my goods; for he was under restriction, as in the case of my brother Job. Do you weep with, and for me? Methinks you do, and for my heavy family. Now then I will change the subject. A certain lady, or ladies, having heard of my distressed situation, sent into the neighbourhood to make strict inquiry concerning my character, and, as it proved a blessing to me, I am led to suppose a good report was returned. "Now for a theme of thankful praise To tune the stammerer's tongue." A friend who knew what stronghold I was in, sent and delivered me. That burden was taken away, and the other put upon my raw shoulders, and nothing but destruction before my eyes; ten pounds and expenses to pay, and not a penny to pay it with. "Well," says unbelief, "you must fall by the hand of Saul or Pharaoh;" but as the devil was a liar from the beginning, so I proved him to be, which I shall show. A day or two before the execution on my goods took place, the ever-blessed Captain of my salvation, who was made perfect through suffering, and is set down at the right hand of his Father, told me he despised the shame, which was a great comfort to me, and a cordial to strengthen me before the trial came on. About one o'clock the next day I entered my chamber, and pleaded the following promises: thou hast said, "Call upon me in trouble, I will deliver," &c.; "Ask your Father in secret, and he will reward you openly;" "Glorify thy servant, and thy servant will glorify thee;" "Thou hast promised to deliver in six troubles, and in seven thou will not forsake;" "O let thy hand be known toward thy servant!" "Before you speak, I will hear; and, while speaking, I will deliver," &c. O what a sweet cluster of heart-cheering portions was, by the eternal Spirit, poured into my distressed soul. I found much energy in this promise, "Glorify thy servant, and I will glorify thee;" and, as I felt much weakness, I begged the dear Lord would strengthen me, and not suffer me to disgrace his ever-blessed name, as I expected to be stripped of all my little property, still believing it would then work together for my good. craving his blessing on my labours, and praying my dear Lord to let his goodness pass before me, and his presence to go with me, I went out, for the first time after my imprisonment, and the first house I called at (mark the goodness of my ever-blessed God and Father!) was where two widow ladies lived, who had sent the butler. After delivering the goods which the servant had ordered, and receiving my money, the servant who paid me said it was the request of the ladies that I would walk into the drawing room. I did so, and they asked me about my wife and family, and how I got on in business. I answered and told them what had happened to me a few days before, but I did not know at that time that they had sent the butler. After a little further conversation I was for withdrawing, but they kept interrogating me; and I again was coming away, but a glass of port wine was given me, I not in the least expecting my dear Lord was there to deliver One of the ladies withdrew to an adjoining room, and in a few me. After minutes brought in her hand a ten pound and two one pound notes, and, to my great astonishment, gave them to me, desiring I would go home and settle what I owed as soon as possible. O the sudden and unexpected great goodness of my ever-faithful and ever-blessed God to one so vile, so overpowered me, that I burst into a flood of tears before them, for my heart was filled with gratitude and praise. "Surely goodness and mercy have followed me all the days of my life!" O! where is there a people that have a God like unto our God, to supply all our needs! seeing, knowing, and feeling we have no worth or worthiness in us; yet what care and watchfulness he has over his chosen. His eyes are ever over the righteous, whom he alone has made so, and his gracious ear ever open to their cry. O the faithfulness and goodness of our covenant God. Whoso honours him he will honour! Ever-blessed be his name, he is a God unto Israel, he never will leave nor forsake the work of his hands! O my dear Rachel, press forward towards the mark for the prize of our high calling in Christ Jesus. You plainly see what I have suffered, seeing the dear Lord has stripped me as he did Job, and, I trust, put his fear in my heart, although you are not acquainted with one hundredth part of what I have been called to pass through since he brought me into the furnace of affliction, and made choice of me therein. Remember, we are called to fight the good fight of faith, and to lay hold of eternal life. O what a sweet promise, "I will never leave you, nor forsake you," notwithstanding our numerous doubts and fears, but he will give us strength equal to our day. If you read Zeph. iii. 16, you will find it verified in me, and my God has promised me, in the 19th ver., to undo all that afflict me, that he will get me praise in every land where I have been put to shame; therefore, I am upon my watch-tower, and hope patiently to wait the fulfilment thereof; and also the latter part of the 20th ver., “And I will make you a name and praise." I am afraid of being too much lifted up with the goodness of my dear Lord; it makes me cry to be kept humble at his feet. The apostle says, "Be not high minded, but fear." Be it so, O Lord, unto me. "O that men would praise the Lord for his wonderful works to the children of men !"" When I paid the broker, I told him my God paid the money, and I was not ashamed of him, neither was he ashamed of unworthy me, for he calls us brethren. You may suppose I think but lightly of you, as I am but seldom at your house, but the Lord knows I am often conversing with you in spirit, and remembering you in my feeble prayers, as I never can forget your labour of love towards me, nor be unmindful of my obligation to both of you. If you lived nearer, you would have more of my company, as I delight in none but those whom I firmly believe to be of the household of faith. I have found out some who walked in the light of our departed pastor, Mr. Huntington, for a season, but, alas! now he is gone, their light is gone too, "running after every low herd," &c. Bless the Lord, they are well kept whom he keepeth, for they never can finally fall, for no man can pluck them out of his hands, nor can anything separate us from the love of Christ Jesus our Lord. O what a blessed thing it is to be despised and hated of all men when faith is in lively exercise. This promise was sweet before a severe trial came upon me; "He shall not be afraid of evil tidings, his heart is fixed, trusting in the Lord." I have been very cold, dead, and barren for months past, but this purging draught has brought forth more fruit to the glory of God, and to the comfort of me, his unworthy servant. What a mercy and blessing it is to be enabled to put our whole trust in one so mighty to save. To live by faith is sweet living, although the Paschal Lamb is eaten with bitter herbs. Do not say I always bear heavy tidings, for here is good news from a far country. I must now think of concluding, praying the dear Lord to bless you both. I remain, your weather-beaten brother in our dear Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, A BRUISED REED. PS. The following lines have been verified in me so far as I have come: "They that in the Lord confide, Walworth, 1st Feb., 1814. [We have left out a portion of the above, as the writer will perceive, for we did not like the spirit of it.-EDS. JESUS FOUND. "Philip findeth Nathaniel, and saith unto him, We have found him of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the Son of Joseph."-John i. 45. While meditating on a part of the above verse, the first revelation of the love, mercy, and grace of a covenant God to my soul occurred to my memory. I call him a covenant God, because I believe that he did, long ere he gave this world an existence, bind himself in an oath inviolable, settlements immutable, and in a covenant eternal in matters concerning the salvation of the whole election of grace, and praise to his holy name, I have some assurance that he has communicated to my soul, by the Holy Ghost, the heavenly tidings that he has put me among the predestinated number. But what is the ground of my assurance? My deliverance from the power of darkness, and my translation into the kingdom of God's dear Son; and, as calling and election are bound hand in hand, therefore, if I am enabled to trace my calling, and can prove it to be of God, and of God alone, in this I prove my election; they are inseparable. But what is calling? It is the gracious act of the Spirit, when, by his almighty power, he takes the sinner out of the broad way that leads to death, and puts him in the narrow way that leads to life. (Matt. vii. 13, 14.) And a most blessed way it is; it was cast up by eternal love, and opened by redeeming blood: and none can get into this way but they who are brought there by the Lord of the way: neither can any get them out of this way; it is an everlasting way. Calling is a timestate act, and it precedes all other acts of the Spirit in his great work of glorifying the Lord Jesus Christ in the heart of a sinner. "He shall glorify me," said our Lord; and it was this first act wrought in me that brought these words fresh to my recollection; We have found him of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth;" which words were uttered with surprise, and with as much surprise can I utter them; so can every dear heart that has tasted that the Lord is gracious. And now I will state how, |