and refuse the false foundations which Christ's Word exposes, and discover, and choose, and cleave to in judgment, will, and affection, the Lord Jesus Christ, a complete Saviour, as the Rock of their foundation. Thus they are led to depend upon him for pardon and righteousness, for life, for will, for love, for power, for all. This is being disciples indeed, and hearing and keeping his doctrinal words. This, too, in truth, is the beginning and sum of all doing, for "this" (says Christ) "is the work of God, that ye believe or him whom he hath sent."

The hearing and doing of the second sort of sayings entirely arises from or flows out of this first hearing and obeying. Without faith it is impossible to please God; and unless a man first look to Christ for righteousness, and then to Christ for strength to serve him in all things because he desires so to do, he never does anything as he ought to do it. This David points out when he sings, "He set my feet upon a rock, and ordered my goings." And again: "I will go in the strength of the Lord God; I will make mention of thy righteousness, even of thine only."

Thus, then, by a heart doing or keeping of Christ's doctrinal sayings, a man avoids false foundations, and finds a rest truly in Jesus. Then, being on the Rock, by and from the hearty doing of his preceptive sayings he manifests that he is on that Rock, and living by the faith of the Son of God, who loved him, and gave himself for him.

Now, the false disciples and foolish builders never get here. Some are for doing; but then they do not do things in the gospel order. By the latter class of doings, or by a kind of obedience to the precepts, which, therefore, they are making secretly their righteousness, and which they are really depending upon themselves to perform, with or without some supposed assistance of Christ's Spirit, they are thinking to build, or even get upon the Rock. Whereas, from the doctrinal words of Christ not being really apprehended by them in their true meaning, they are never brought out of self, and off from the flesh, or placed upon that Rock. Thus, hearing they hear not, and do not understand, and therefore never do Christ's words at all, neither of the one sort nor the other; and consequently are foolish builders. Or if these persons attempt also to do a little in the way of believing, here again they are foolish; their faith is more a law-faith than a gospel-grace; their work without the Spirit, and not the Spirit's work in and by them; an effort of the foolish and corrupt natural man, and not the operation of the Spirit of God. Thus, in all these persons doing they do not. Their reliances are really in the flesh. Thus they build upon the sand, and, as the Lord by Malachi says, "they may build, but I will pull down; and they shall be called the border of wickedness, the people against whom the Lord hath indignation for ever." Though they in appearance come to Christ, they do not really hear and understand his words; but, misapprehending them, set about a certain sort of doing which they think is a building on the Rock;

but, as it is done in self-reliance and self-righteousness, it is a building off of, not on him; and the day of thorough trial will abundantly prove this.

But, then, others despise doing altogether. They profess to rest in a whole Christ, and to love and rejoice in a free-grace gospel; but then their profession is proved to be false by their not doing practically the things which he says. If, as living stones, they rested on that life-giving Stone, Christ Jesus, then living influences would proceed from him into them, and their conduct would be in some degree squared to the preceptive words of the gospel. Faith, true divinely-produced faith, would conform or assimilate them to the living Stone on which by it they are really resting. But it is not so; and as these persons are no more doers of Christ's words than the false workers already spoken of, they too, in spite of all their correct notions, and freegrace professions, will be found in the end foolish builders. The hour of severe trial, which proves the blessedness of those who have come to Christ, and truly heard his sayings, and from wise and understanding and living hearts really done them, will prove the folly of the foolish builders. These last came indeed in appearance, but they heard without understanding, and acted without Christ, or despised his commandments. Thus they did not his sayings, but walked on in self-deceivings, and perished finally in the total overthrow of their sandy-foundationed buildings. But the hopes of the wise stood the shock of all trials, and remained firm; for as one writes,

"The hope that's built upon his word,

Can ne'er be overthrown."

DIVINE INTERPOSITIONS.

Dear Friend, I have felt uneasy lately in keeping back some of the many kind interpositions of the Lord for me, a poor unworthy sinner. I will record them faithfully and minutely as they occurred. My days will soon close; but the few instances may be useful to help and encourage some in their trials. Make what use you please of them, or cast them aside. Yours very truly,

Camera Square, Chelsea, Sept. 1, 1879.

ALFRED BRANDON.

“Thou hast been my help; leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation."- Ps. XXVII. 9.

I CAN truly say, with the Psalmist, "O God, thou hast taught me from my youth," &c. (Ps. lxxi. 17). As early as 1833, when truth was dawning on my dark soul, the Lord was pleased to teach me the value of prayer, and his readiness to hear my cry. I was then seventeen, and my dear brothers being opposed to the change wrought in me, would sometimes tease and trouble me. One winter Lord's day evening, my brother William took my crutches away (I was then very lame), and hid them behind

one of the high hedges in the garden, and said, "There; you cannot go to chapel now, as I am sure you will not find your sticks." My heart sank in me, I buried my face, and said, "O Lord, help me." And the spot came clearly before me, and I then went behind the hedge, in the dark, on my hands and knees up the very right path (for there were several), and to the very right place; and putting my hands through the hedge, to my joy felt my helpers, and hastened where my heart had already gone. My own dear brother was confounded, but I could only say, "Bless the Lord for delivering me."

The first part of the inspired Word which came with power to my soul was Isa. xxvi. 4; and that has been drawn forth in trials and deliverances these forty-five years. But O! what ingratitude, unbelief, and hardness has this heart thrown up since that day!

Another instance was as follows: Just a month after my wife died, and I was left with my daughter, her two aunts being in the house with us, on the Tuesday morning a strong impression fell upon me that our house would be broken into. I named it to my daughter; at which she smiled, saying such a thing had never been. But I could not get rid of the deep feeling, and sent for a man to fix a large bell in the upper landing, with a pull in her room, and one in mine, and arranged with her that when she heard them, she should pull the bell and open her window, which faced mine, and that I should do the same. All was quiet that night, and the next, and next; but on Friday night my heart was held in prayer, until I cried out, "Lord, what can this mean?" But I retired, and fell into a sound sleep until about one o'clock; when a noise in the room beneath awoke me. Thinking I might be mistaken, I waited and listened, and then was sure I heard footsteps. I rang the bell, and my daughter also pulled hers, and threw up the window. I said, "They are in the house;" but she tried to appease me, telling me I was nervous. Then there was a noise in the back garden, and all was quiet. I listened, and heard no more. the morning revealed the matter. The front doors were both injured by a jemmy, and the glass-house at the back broken into; the room under me forced open, and the door leading to the stairs partly broken. But the noise of the bell, doubtless, as a means, caused them to flee, considering it was the police.

But

It was at the end of the next year that I fell into a very low state of mind; and after much trial and exercise the Lord took an unusual way to deliver me. I fell into a deep sleep, and dreamed I was walking up a certain road. The sun was shining; and suddenly I was stopped by the falling of a small white cloud. And in a moment the voice came: "It is the Lord; ask." I felt a solemn reverence, yet faith and courage; and said, "Lord, hast thou really called me by thy grace? And am I thine?" And the Lord (out of the cloud, which was resting upon my arms) said, in a kind and tender way, "Have I

not given you many proofs of it? It is even so." I said, "Lord, tell me; hast thou really called me to speak in thy name? Is it thy work in me? O tell me!" And he again distinctly said, "Have I not helped thee, and led thee all the way, and proved it to be so?" And with this he caused me to feel the sweetness of his presence. Then I said, "O my Lord, once more I ask. Will my end be blessed and peaceful? And shall I be with thee for ever?" Putting the happiest feeling into my heart I ever felt, he said, "Yes; mine for ever." The cloud then went up, and I went on my way; and soon awoke in the most blessed state of soul I ever felt. And the feeling and effect to me was so manifest, that I really thought I should never doubt again; but, alas! I have many times. Still the Lord thus delivered me; and deliverance from him is deliverance, and blessing from God is blessing, whatever the means and channel he uses may be.

Another gracious interposition was on the evening preceding my daughter's wedding-day. It was eleven o'clock. My niece was staying with us; and we were in the lower room, under the shop. There being no benzoline in the small lamp, my daughter fetched the can, which was full, and, pouring it in too near the gas, both the can and lamp caught fire, and throwing it on the floor, the room was soon in a blaze. Our position was perilous. The only door of exit caught fire, and a chest of drawers, as the burning liquid ran over the room. I called to a good old lady who was with us to escape for her life; and as we three stood on the flames, I lifted up my hands in the most distressing feelings I ever had, and fully believing what I uttered, I said, "We must be burnt this night, and at once!" The words had no sooner escaped my lips than that sweet sentence (which will abide with me for ever) came with blessed timely power: The Angel of his presence saved them." That moment a new life and power entered into me. I lost all despairing feelings; and although very lame, with boots loose, I hastened through the burning door into the back kitchen, caught up the carpets from the floor, threw them on the flames, which extinguished the part at the door; then, with a sort of unnatural force, threw the drawers from their position. My daughter and niece took courage; and although nearly suffocated with the smoke, by throwing carpets, rugs, and chair-covers upon the flames, they were at last subdued. And thus the Lord mercifully delivered us again. Blessed be his holy Name.

The Lord's presence is our life-token, and the Lord's voice is our love-token. Some time after this sweet help and comfort, my daughter was taken very ill, with something forming in her throat. She lay for several days, getting worse, until we were all alarmed; and the day of severe trial came, and the doctor gave no hope. She could with the greatest difficulty breathe. I sat in my little room, fearing each moment to hear she was gone; but could not see her die. I think I never wept so much

in my life. The person nursing her came down, and said, "It is nearly over; her face is black." My sister, who was staying with her, then came down and said, "Do come down and see her; it will be but a few moments." I arose; and when half way up the stairs, the wondrous relief came: "She will not die, but live." I then, instead of going further, turned into a little ante-room, and falling on my knees, said, O Lord, if it be so, do speak it again." And he favoured me with the word and the power: "She will not die, but live." O! I felt, I can go into the room now. And to my joy she smiled, and said, "Father, I am better; the lump is gone;" and she soon recovered.

With me it is usual for the good Lord to withhold help until I am utterly helpless; but he never comes too late.

A WORD IN SEASON.

WE announced on the wrapper of our periodical last month the decease of Mr. Pert. At the funeral of our departed friend and brother, which was very numerously attended by those amongst whom, as an aged and faithful servant of God, he was much respected and loved, Mr. Hull, before engaging in prayer, made a few remarks to the following effect. And though we cannot ourselves consider that the removal of a minister in a ripe old age, after he has served his generation, is in itself a token of divine displeasure; and though we would also caution our friends lest, in eulogizing the ministry of the past, they go too far, even to unduly disparaging the ministry of the present (Matt. xxiii. 29-32), and thus grieve the Giver of all spiritual gifts; still we do believe that there is plentiful reason for the self-searching spoken of in our churches. The worldliness, covetousness, carnal ambition, love of praise, love of eminence, envy, evil speaking, and detractions, with numerous other evils, so prevalent amongst us, may well grieve the Holy Spirit, and bring upon us Fatherly displeasure and divine chastisements. May we and our friends, then, hear the following counsel:

My dear Friends,-In approaching the throne of grace at this time, I feel sure there will be found among you who are present much heartfelt sympathy with the bereaved widow and family of our late dear friend, and also with the church, who have now lost their overseer and beloved pastor, who for so many years ministered to them the word of life. In the death of our dear friend Pert we all have sustained a great loss; and although we cannot regret the change, so far as he is concerned, when we consider the eternal state of bliss and blessedness he has entered into, yet, as far as the church of Christ is concerned, it is no small matter that faithful pastors are thus rapidly removed from our midst. We sorrow because they are no more with us in the field of labour; but if we rightly reflect upon the speedy dismissal of one and another, will not the solemn inquiry force