CHRISTIAN EXPERIENCE. THE theories of God are inseparable from their practical exhibition. The thoughts of His heart are destined to discover themselves in due order, and with enduring brilliancy: possessing Wisdom unimpeachable, and Power, boundless in degree, employed and controlled according to the numberless designs of glory purposed by "the Majesty of Majesties"the Blessed and only Potentate."

Within the unmeasured gates of heaven, the greatest purpose was conceived: in that undisturbed pavilion where glories are which no vision can behold without a veil; and mysteries reserved for Him alone

to scan.

But when the time of the promise drew nigh, the Great Messenger arrived from the bosom of the Father, to make public the knowledge of that! eternal love, and publish the principles of that plan purposed within the veil, before the world began.

By faith in the coming crucifixion, the hearts of our guilty forefathers were sprinkled with the heaven-giving blood of the Messiah, and thus, Mercy began to practice her official work while the theory of salvation was yet a dark parable, and the practical basis of His mighty acts the foundation of the inner courtdesigns not yet "manifest to Israel." Thus the men whom mercy had designed to save became the personal witnesses, and God-glorifying portraits of the divine conception; and the "open books," to be known and read, of that covenant, "settled in heaven."

Divine theories then are co-equal with their display; and all the thoughts of God are practical, and to be evidentially fulfilled. Hence it is untrue, that salvation as a system, is larger in purpose than in its practical blessings.

And the gospel theory, given to a man by supernatural tuition, is inseparable from-CHRISTIAN EXPERIENCE.

The instant the soul is made a partaker of the divine nature, it is the seat and subject of true Christian experience; and as surely as the sailor knows the presence of the stormy wind, by feeling, hearing, and seeing; so the soul is made alive by a sensible and immortal reality, and is the possessor of functions, wholly of God. No space of time can intervene between a birth divine, and feelings divine. Life is life. The discoveries it makes to others of its existence, and the plain exercise of its functions, are not actually necessary to prove it legitimate; neither does the man's ready comprehension of the reality of his illustrious tenant, at all hinder the fact of the existence and exercise of spiritual life being inseparable; also the developments of the New Birth are so various; displaying the sovereignty, in the diversity of the Spirit's operations, that our hearts would be spared much grief if some public men were favoured with a knowledge of the workmanship of God-as rich in variety, varied in perfection, glorious in all!

It is our desire, in the "The Pot of Manna," to feed the hungry, and clothe the naked-to be instrumental in testifying of Zion's appointed food, Christ-in bearing witness of that garment so acceptable to the spiritually naked-in confirming the feeble knees, and in leading the weaklings on the way, by the aid of sober, scriptural instruction. We are far, very far from favouring any thing short of a Christianity, which will bear the test of the text-"Christ, in you, the hope of glory; but we should feel a fearful responsibility rested on us, if we were guilty of subjecting men to some selfconstituted standard of experience ere we pronounced them truly quickened. We dare not do so. We believe that He shall come to be our judge, and we pray to be kept from the presumptuous sin of aiming to occupy the official seat of the High and Holy One, in our feeble and faulty

'ministrations on the earth. But believing that,

"Religion is something more than notion,

Something must be known and felt." It is our part to find the living family in their low estate, and shew what it is, that must be known and felt.

Desiring to do this, we remark that we have already shewn that, an experimental acquaintance with divine things is absolutely necessary in order to assure a man that he is "born of God;" for the acquirement of the theory of the gospel plan unconnected with certain experimental evidences, is vain and ineffectual, forasmuch as all theory, divinely communicated, is inseparably connected with a progressive experience.

First: before we treat on the persons who are the subjects of supernatural experience, we say of the great subject itself that,

"Christian experience, is the result of the operations of the Holy Ghost in the soul, whose sacred ministrations are confined to the great end of testifying of the necessity of the blood of the everlasting covenant to take away sin, and of bringing the soul to the inestimable knowledge of the love, that called the divine attributes into harmonious exercise, on behalf of the ultimate glorification of the soul." This work is so noble and lofty that none less in dignity than the Mighty God could undertake to teach such sublime lessons, without failing in fitting the scholars for their heavenly degree; nor can there be a more palpable display of the ignorance of the knowledge needed, than in the offers of public men to undertake such official business. We might hear the hallelujahs of the ten thousand times ten thousand, and yet, if untaught by the Holy Ghost, never learn that song. We might witness the practice of obedient spirits before the throne, yet never know that obedience. We might inspect the cross-constructed harps of the heavenly hosts, yet never have the hands of true-love to hold one. No! though God should give the precise theory of the Cross, and a great company of men to preach it, the breath of Ezekiel might have blown with equal success on the bones in "the open valley," if the Great Tutor of the Redeemed

the Holy Ghost, did not consecrate the gospel report with His own power.

As one star differeth from another star in glory, and one tree differeth from another tree in stature, yet all have a perfect root; so all quickened men do not possess an equal measure of the divine Spirit, which is the reason that they do not know all things to an equal extent; for a man can be acquainted with no more of himself and Jesus than he is allowed, by the effectual teaching of the Holy Ghost; and while it is the work of the Ministry, to shew the praises of Immanuel, it is certain that all have not an equal conception of " the Glory of the Lord," granted unto them; we have consequently, degrees of self-knowledge. Here is the cause of the diversified states of true Christian Experience-the Sovereignty of the Holy Ghost—“ dividing unto every man severally as He will." I. "THE INFANT OF DAYS"-an astonished subject of a still, small, pleading voice, uttering its gentle testimony to the uncleanliness of human nature-searching the yet unopened cells of corruption, and moving with God-like grace, presents its strange scroll to the view of the wondering child. The eye turns hastily from the open story of self-history, with but little credit given to the truth of the tale, and a partial uneasiness created. the child has read something strange, and a truthful witness within has grasped truth. Wisdom Divine is gently preaching to the attentive soul. It begins to credit the appearance of God, and lo! a few words escape. It is PRAYER. The Holy Spirit is stirring with hallowed gentleness, and operating with matchless certainty. The child is not crying lustily for an apostolic guide, but is in silent meditation on things once heard with the outward ear, but now brought to understanding-remembrance. But the revelation is transitory, and the strange hours pass away; yet there are the indistinct traces of a throne which a great guest has built, and from which the supernatural statement was read. He thinks he has had, by the feeling of what he has not. The Highest now begins to read aloud; and testify with authority of excellencies." The beauty of holiness, is pictured to the mind-the magnifi

But

cence of real righteousness. An unearthly prospect is vouchsafed:

Into the heaven of heavens,

His faith presumes-an earthly guest,
And draws imperial air,

Whereby the cherished excellencies of this tabernacle fade as a leaf, and the fair flesh of man is changed into corruption. Blushing for the sensible loss of long-estimated beauty, the blood-bought pupil hastens to some secret pavilion, and surrounded by spiritual spectators, indulges in confession. The glories of "My Father's house," unfold to the view, and "I am not so much as worthy" is the truthful testimony of the suppliant; but there is a timely witness that strengthens with the answer, “fear not."

Thus, with such tender words as these, are many of the Lord's elected sons drawn. No preacher has ever been " a son of thunder" to them. The tables of stone have not yet touched them with much of their native coldness; but, first experiencing the loving approach of Him who has "justified from all things," they are to live to prove the greatness and glory of that justification, by experiencing, "what God hath wrought."

"The child shall die an hundred years old," is a promise verified spiritually, with regard to all those "chosen in Christ Jesus," forasmuch as "the work of God" is fulfilled in the hearts of all, ere they quit this earthly constituency for their seat in the perpetual parliament of heaven. Christ, as Prophet, Priest, and King, is effectually enthroned in each heart, whether of the wild man whose ear has been opened by sovereign grace, by the instrumentality of some missionary, or of the fair child that suddenly changes its elegant cot for its spiritual and sleepless home.

In the hearts of some, the fulfilment of the work of grace, is as rapid as the creation of the world. The Lord God, who prepared a plant to deliver Jonah from his grief, can prepare a plant for Himself

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a few days." The parent may just have time to be "exceeding glad," when the new-born saint, coming up like a flower, is cut down, for God has " prepared a worm" to wither the root of

earth, that it may bloom from "the Root of Jesse," in "the Paradise of God."

In the hearts of others there is the gradual growth of "the renowned tree," the sufferance of the wilderness windsthe long experimental proof of abounding thorns and thistles. Of such are those called in Scripture, "Fathers," and

II. "YOUNG MEN." There is a period that usually arrives in the experimental history of a saint, when he ceases to enjoy the delights of spiritual boyhood, and is led forth to tread the wilderness, and do business therein, to the discovery of the horrible world, from the claws of which sovereign love has redeemed him; and of the native iniquity of his own heart; also to prove what is the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness towards him in Christ, in the salvation of a creature, progressively discovering himself as, "the vanity of vanities."

The parental smiles no longer seem to rest upon him. He has left the roof where joy and gladness reigned, and his spiritual senses are subject to a sharp and searching exercise. By this means the lessons taught him in the sunny seasons of quietude, are called forth to prove their practical truth. The promises which were gathered as readily as apples from a well-stocked orchard, begin to preach the necessity of the fruit producing power of the Holy Spirit; and, proving the incapacity of human fingers to gather them, they become as "gold."

"The Young Man" then grows fretful, and applies with proper diligence to that word, where he has often gathered a golden pot of fruits from the delectable mountains, but the country refuses to yield its fruit, and he lifts up his eyes in hope of the world to come, where a temporary blight shall never be known, and a foggy hour never experienced. He cries, for "the God of Elijah"—“ Oh ! that thou wouldst rend the heavens, that thou wouldst come down, that the mountains might flow down at thy presence." But God is coming down and consuming the stubble altars of the human heart. Thus the lower streams are dried up, and his spiritual search is directed towards "the Fountain-head" of that "river, the streams whereof make glad, in due season, "the city of God."

(Such an one is destined to adore the Alpha-fount.)

For the glorification

"Of that fountain filled with blood,
Drawn from Immanuel's veins."

He is being deeply taught that, "The best obedience of his hands,

Dares not appear before His throne," and he sighs, and he cries, for the abominations done in the flesh, and counts himself "a wretched man." Like the typical dove, he can find no rest, and a fiery host of temptations assault him— picturing a gloomy report of his condition; contrasting therewith,

"The joys that once He knew,
When first He saw the Lord."

Every fresh device to gather feathers for a nest, is brought to nothing, by reason of some great wind, brought out of the Divine treasuries, and sorrow filling his heart, he bemoans himself thus:

"I'm like a pelican become,

That does in deserts mourn;
Or, like an owl that sits all day,
On barren trees forlorn."

Such words as these compose the saint's love song, in which is expressed the testimony of a heart, won by the love of Christ, and anxious to know how, and where, he might find Him.

(Thus, the great end of the Holy Spirit's instruction is, to endear "the Lamb of God" to those that are destined to be with Him. To create an experimental association of "the Head of the Church," with the members; so that every joint shall know that it is supplied from His fulness. The man is thus brought into the knowledge of inner court-mysteries: weaned from repairing to terrestrial wells; and the evidential possessor of a thirst only to be satiated with holy water.)

III. FATHERS. Blessed characters! They have borne the burden and heat of the day; and their day of time is far spent. The numbered sands have nearly run out, and the angel is about to say that, to them, "time shall be no longer." ED.]

Live not so much upon the comforts of God, as upon the God of comforts.

MANNA GLEANERS.

EPHRAIM'S

warm affection of heart breathes in fraternal congratulations toward the little band of "Manna gatherers," at this season of the year, who, according to the command of Israel's God, are found engaged in collecting Israel's food, and proving, as with the type, so with the great antitype "he that gathered much, had nothing over, and he that gathered little had no lack."

If at this distant day, imagination could be so far engaged as to run back to the wilderness of Zin, and behold the busy tribes all engaged morning by morning, in picking up their daily supply, what a graphical subject would it furnish the limner, in delineating the variety of expression in the countenances of those engaged in this, for forty yearsa daily exhibition, with the exception of those days which were the sabbath of rest, as commanded by the Lord.

From Moses, the Jewish historian of these things, we learn that Israel before the descent of the "Manna," had been from Egypt one month, and to them it had been a month of wonder, from the first midnight march, until they had trod the bosom of the red sea without wet

feet; yet no sooner a little apparent

trouble arose before them, and a short delay in what they conceived should be speedily placed before them, they fell a murmuring, and preferred death in Egypt by the iron furnace and flaming cauldron, to that full protection afforded them by the pillars of fire and cloud, with a triumphant deliverance from their oppressing foes, and a foretaste of the faithfulness of that God who had sworn unto their fathers, that He would give the How land for a possession unto them. true in their case, as well as in all like them, is the Lord's aboundings of grace seen. Justly might He for their rebellion, have destroyed them, and took unto himself another people, but, no! grace must reign without a rival, and in opposition to every foe; its charter running in these words "where sin abounded grace did much more abound." Rom. iii. 9.

What a season of awful suspense and apprehension must that have been to the

rebellious camp during the interval between the Lord's declaring He had heard their murmuring, and had said in the evening they should have "flesh," and in the morning "bread," to the full -and could the forebodings of their guilty hearts have presented any thing further than His just displeasure and wrath unto the uttermost? but Israel's God was, and is still, "He that pardoneth iniquity, transgression, and sin, and passeth by the iniquity of the remnant of His people, because He retaineth not His anger for ever.

"And in the morning, the dew laid round about the host, and when the dew that lay was gone up, behold! upon the face of the wilderness there lay a small round thing, as small as the hoar frost on the ground, and when the children of Israel saw it, they said it is MANNA; and Moses said unto them, this is the bread which the Lord hath given you to eat."

There was no doubt a thousand endearments of this Manna to the spiritual Israelites, who were amongst that rebellious camp, for Paul, in after day, told the church for their instruction and edification, concerning their fathers

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they did all eat the same spiritual meat, and they did all drink the same spiritual drink, for they drank of that rock which followed them, and that rock was Christ," hence, what this wilderness Manna was in sustaining Israel's bodythe Lord Jesus is, as the "true bread," in sustaining the soul.

Much of the spirituality of this divine miracle, it is to be feared is overlooked even by the Lord's own people, who do not in their daily exercises and circumstances of the wilderness, view the Lord's gracious designs therein. Moses, under the Lord's instruction, gives us the first comment on this merciful act of a covenant God; who, when rebellion and murmuring called forth His just displeasure, instead of raining down brimstone and fire upon them, as in the case of the cities of the plain," sent them bread from heaven," whereby "He humbled them by suffering them to hunger: and fed them with Manna, which they knew not, neither did their fathers know, that He might cause them to know, that man did not

live by bread alone; but by every word which proceedeth out of the mouth of the Lord doth man live."

One sweet feature in this "Manna," was the copious manner in which it fell "around the camp" for the victualling of no less a number than nearly one million of people, and for Israel alone did this fall-its confines being between the Red Sea, through which they had been brought, and the Jordan which they must pass to reach the promised land. None of the neighbouring nations were so much as gifted with the sight. So in like manner Jesus, the true Manna, becomes food for a living sinner immediately he has been brought to the sea of blood in which all sins are drowned, until the overflowing banks of Jordan are gathered up to allow him to go over dry shod, as Jesus the Priest and Ark, hath stood in the very bed of that Jordan.

Another feature was, its " peculiar properties:" in the Sun it melted-but, upon being brought into the tent, became hard, and was the household food.

Thus

the Lord Jesus, while He may be admitted by the many thousands as a general or nominally needed Saviour, might lay upon the ground, and like the dew be an acknowledged benefit, yet melts away before the world's Sun, and passes into forgetfulness, as the morning cloud and early dew; but where He is brought into the heart by the power of the Holy Ghost, who wakeneth the ear morning by morning, to wait for the divine distillation, He satisfies the appetite, though it is still craving and crying, "Lord, evermore give us this bread."

Another very remarkable quality is recorded of the wilderness "Manna." If gathered contrary to the command of God, who reserved unto himself the credit of sending the supply daily, it stunk and bred worms, and became unfit for use, while the sabbath supply-like the day itself was preserved holy unto the Lord: a sweet lesson this to teach us to trust at all times, and place confidence in Him who feedeth the young ravens when they cry. Faith allows of no hoard-"to whom coming"-requires the hand to be empty, and the heart needy, and does it not appear very clear in