I have called thee Abba, Father, Soul, then know thy full salvation; Something still to do or bear. Think that Jesus died to win thee- God's own hand shall guide thee there. THE ISSUE OF PRAYER. THE following anecdote, while it illus-minister's chamber-"Oh! Mr. Porteus," trates the power of prayer, speaks encouragement to those whose hearts may at any time be led, under Divine influence, to plead before a throne of grace for others. The records of eternity will prove how often we have been indebted to others' prayers for favours we asked not for ourselves. And even here below we are permitted to know sometimes of answers vouchsafed on our behalf through the pleadings of others, when no prayer was indited in our hearts. Thus the Lord stops the mouth of boasting, while He carries out His own covenant designs according to His own appointed way-"For this will I be inquired of by the house of Israel, to do it for them." Saunders Macivor, the mate of the Elizabeth, was a grave and somewhat hard-favoured man, powerful in bone and muscle even after he had turned his 60th year; and much respected for his inflexible integrity, and the depth of his religious feelings. Both the mate and his godly wife were especial favourites of Mr. Porteus, of Kilmuir, a gracious minister of Christ's gospel; and on one occasion, when the sacrament was dispensed in his parish, and Saunders was absent on one of his continental voyages, Mrs. Macivor was an inmate of the Manse. A tremendous storm burst out in the night time, and the poor woman lay awake listening in terror to the roaring of the wind, as it howled in the chimneys, and shook the casements and doors. At length, when she could lie still no longer, she arose, and crept along the passage to the door of the she exclaimed in an agony, "do you not hear that? and poor Saunders on his way back frae Holland! Oh! rise, rise, and ask the strong help of your Master." The minister did rise, and retired to his little study; and the transactions with heaven during these brief moments were to be made visible on earth. The Elizabeth at this critical moment was driving onwards through spray and darkness along the northern shores of the Moray Frith. The fearful Skerries of Shavelwick, where so many noble vessels have perished, were close at hand, and the increasing roll of the sea showed the gradual shallowing of the water. Macivor, and his old towns-man, Robert Hossack, stood together at the binnacle. An immense wave came rolling behind, and they had but barely time to clutch the nearest hold, when it broke over them half-mast high, sweeping spars, bulwarks, cordage, all before it, in its course. It passed, but the vessel rose not; her deck remained buried in a sheet of foam, and she seemed settling down by the head. There was a frightful pause. First, the bowsprit and butts of the windlass began to emerge, next the forecastle-the vessel seemed shaking herself from her load-and then the whole deck appeared, as she went tilting over the next wave. "There are still more mercies in store for us," said Saunders Macivor, addressing his companion-" she floats still." "Oh, Saunders, Saunders," exclaimed Robert, "there was surely some God's soul at work for us, or she would never have cowed you." FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT. "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance; against such there is no law."-Gal. v. 22, 23. How dreary the very sound of the in construction, is the parable of the words "the works of the flesh." How vine and the branches in John xv. Ah! sad the catalogue of them, which the who can tell all the labour of that apostle gives the Galatians! Does not Husbandman, which was necessary to the heart ache at the thought of the enclose that garden, and plant that vinecheerless toil, hopeless and thankless, yard! who the price that He gave for the which the taskmaster requires for their field! who, even the loving grace which performance; at the bitter wages of hedged about the tender plant, and disappointment and death, wherewith dunged it, so that it became "like a he requites his deluded victims ? With tree planted by the rivers of water, that what pleasure must not Paul have bringeth forth his fruit in his season," turned to the "fruit of the Spirit." and is still bringing forth "fruit in old Mark, beloved, not the works of the age" (Ps. i. 3; xcii. 14). Spirit. That were blessed enough. But But the idea of "fruit" carries with here it is "the fruit of the Spirit," as it not only all this, but also the Husthough the apostle would not lose one bandman's joy in gathering in the word which might mark the contrast. pleasant fruits of the harvest. Can I, How his heart must have glowed with says the poor, timid believer, proholy fire, and his eyes have brightened duce such fruits that shall bring joy and with heavenly ecstacy, as he displayed pleasure to God? Yes, beloved, you one by one the choice and clustering both can and will, for "faithful is He fruit which his Master loved-their that calleth you, who also will do it" beauty heightened by contrast with the (1 Thess. v. 24). Doubtless, He will sad picture he had just drawn-and work "in you, both to will and to do proudly exclaimed, "Against such there of His good pleasure" (Phil. ii. 13). is no law." Paul exhorted the Thessalonians, that The term "fruit" is often used in as they had received of him, how Scripture to express the results of the they ought to walk and to please God, divine life in a believer's walk and con- that so they should abound more and versation. This characteristic meta- more (1 Thess. iv. 1). Writing to the phor is highly suggestive. It brings Romans, he said, that now they had before us the toil of the husbandman in their "fruit unto holiness, and the end the preparation of the soil, and the everlasting life" (Rom. vi. 22). It is anxious care bestowed upon the tender true that we receive the end of our growing plant-pruning the too exuber- faith, even the salvation of our souls ant growth, or propping up the over- (1 Pet. i. 9); but it is also a wondrous taxed strength of the thriving sapling-fact that "we are His workmanship, till it arrive at perfection, and return the grateful result of his labour. It is under the figure of the husbandman that the LORD often graciously discovers Himself to His people. In the Canticles He addresses the Church, “a garden enclosed is my sister, my spouse." "Thy plants are an orchard of pomegranates, with pleasant fruits" (Song iv. 12, 13). Again we read, "My wellbeloved hath a vineyard in a very fruitful hill; and he fenced it, and gathered out the stones thereof, and planted it with the choicest vine" (Isaiah v. 1). Similar in figure, though slightly altered created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained, that we should walk in them" (Eph. ii. 10); that we should be "to the praise of the glory of His grace" (Eph. i. 6), and "show forth the praises of Him who hath called us out of darkness into His mar vellous light" (1 Pet. ii. 9). The sal vation of the soul (Song vation of the soul is one great object of redemption, but it is not the only one. There is another, and that is the practical life of holiness. Oh! beloved, it becomes us "to consider one another to provoke unto love and good works" (Heb. x. 24); not only that man, recogniz. ; ing the tree by its fruits, may glorify our the gifts that were in the Corinthian Father which is in heaven (Matt. v. 16; Church to the Holy Spirit, "But all xii. 33), but also that we may, in our these worketh the one and the self-same own measure, glorify God; for "herein Spirit, dividing to every man severally is my Father glorified," said our Sa- as He will" (ch. xii. 11). In the eighth viour, "that ye bear much fruit" (John chapter of the same epistle, when reXV. 8). The soul that has been regene- minding the converts that he had sown rated by the Spirit of a risen Saviour unto them "spiritual things," he, doubtcannot be selfish. It is not satisfied in less, meant "the things of the Spirit;" the contemplation of its own blessed-intimating that he was but the favoured ness. It rather goes out in holy long-channel of communication that the ings for a more entire devotion of every blessed Spirit made use of to minister to thought and action to the service of their necessities; so that no flesh might Him who has done great things for it,"glory in His presence," but "that whereof it is glad. How astonishing is according as it is written, he that glorithe grace that God should deign to take eth, let him glory in the Lord" (1 Cor. pleasure in the works of His hands, in i. 28, 31). us the worms of the earth-the creatures of a day! But it is so, beloved, for Himself hath said it. Yes, like the husbandman of the earth, He waiteth for His precious fruits, and hath long patience for them. Who can tell how long-suffering that patience is? And shall not He be first partaker of the fruits? Shall we not bring out the best, the choicest, for this gracious, patient Husbandman? Then will He rejoice over us with joy; then will He rest in His love, and joy over us with singing (James v. 7; 2 Tim. ii. 6; Zeph. iii. 17). Again, this "fruit is called the "fruit of the Spirit." A parallel passage is found in Eph. v. 9, "For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, and righteousness, and truth.' Must we, then, understand that this fruit is literally the work of the blessed Spirit Himself, and not of man? Yes, beloved, this is the grand master-truth of our religion, that it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that showeth mercy (Rom. ix. 16). It is only what we have received of God that we can return to Him again; for "all the rivers run into the sea; yet the sea is not full: unto the place from whence the rivers come, thither they return again" (Eccles. i. 7). Of ourselves we can do nothing acceptable to Him; for our blessed Saviour has said, "Without me ye can do nothing" (John xv. 6). Paul, writing to the Ephesians (ch. i. 3), says, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings (or blessings of the Spirit,') in heavenly places in Christ." Again, he refers all They must indeed be the "fruit of the Spirit." For otherwise the only alternative would be the wild and spurious fruit of the flesh. But it is not so, and the secret of our fruitbearing being all of God, from first to last, is our union with a risen Saviour our being made to drink "into one Spirit," and our baptism by this one Spirit "into one body" (1 Cor. xii. 13). It is thus, in the beautiful parable of the vine, that believers are seen to be the branches upon which cluster the precious fruits of the Spirit. "He that abideth in me," says the Saviour, "and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit." The branch cannot claim the fruit as its own. Severed from the vine, it is useless and powerless. It is only while in close and intimate union with the root that the generous sap can rise and produce the luscious fruit. Thus we see the truth and force of the expression, "From me is thy fruit found" (Hos. xiv. 8). But when this union does exist, there must result the precious fruit to rejoice the heart of the Husbandman. Beloved, it must be so. These two things must result. There will be first an absence of evil fruit, for "a good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit;" and there will likewise be the good fruit, for "every good tree bringeth forth good fruit" (Matt. vii. 17, 18). The subject is exhaustless; but these few lines must conclude, with a word of exhortation. It is addressed to myself more than to my readers. Beloved, if these things be so, how anxious ought we to be to "bring forth fruit unto God" (Rom. vii. 4). Let us remem ber the secret of strength, our union | loving Master takes so much pleasure with the Saviour, who said, "Abide in in, and exhorts us to cultivate. Oh! me, and I in you. As the branch cannot that the blessed Spirit would fire us with bear fruit except it abide in the vine, a holy ardour and rivalry to produce no more can ye except ye abide in me. "the acceptable fruits of righteousness. Should not love and gratitude lead us, Oh! that the north wind would awake, and in dependence on Him, to strive to the south wind come, and blow upon our become "fruitful in every good work," garden, that the spices thereof might and thus glorify God in our body and flow out, and that our Beloved might our souls, which are God's? (Col. i. 10; enter into His garden, and eat of His 1 Cor. vi. 20). I hope, if God will, in pleasant fruits (Song iv. 16). a future paper to consider in detail T. B. L. Brighton. some of the precious fruits that our A WORD FROM AFAR; OR, THE TESTIMONY OF AN OLD PILGRIM. To the Editor of the Gospel Magazine. seventy, and am daily listening for the orders to ford the river, and meet the heavenly convoy to my Father's house. A few more sighs and tears, a few more pains and groans, and then, MY DEAR BRother, ." Metrios "| I am now a Zion's pilgrim, past congratulates you on again finding rest for the sole of your foot on English ground. The activity you displayed at Bonmahon gives assurance that you will not suffer your present abode to become a "bed-minster," but an arena, in which "All my powers find sweet employ to fight against the rulers of the darkIn that eternal world of joy." ness of this world. May the Lord give you many souls for a crown of rejoicing I take comfort in the Gospel Magazine. in the day of our glorious Jesus. The I never open its pages but I find someopposition of the carnal heart against thing suitable to the state of mind I the soul-humbling, God-glorifying way am in. I should be glad to possess the of salvation is as great as ever. Our means to give it and Old Jonathan a milk-and-water divines on this side the wider circulation, but I do not. great sea have made a grand discovery; they have found out that sinners, dead in trespasses and sin, without strength, enslaved by Satan, have only to give their hearts to God, who stands with arms extended, waiting to receive them, and all will be well. The notion that God will ever open the heart of any one is a mere hoax; for that He cannot do, "for the fastening is on the inside." The wind blowing where it listeth, or God having mercy on whom He will, are expressions entirely obsolete. What a powerful creature man must be, who can thus "bind the arms of Omnipotence!" Bunyan had the temerity to assert that the gate of the castle of man's soul was broken to shivers by Immanuel's battering rams: but alas! poor man, he could only have been dreaming. Oh, my dear brother, how blessed to turn away from such mawkish divinity, and fall back on God's sure foundation, and sing the new song, "Not unto us." I have watched the discussion of "Caleb's "query, but, in my poor opinion, nothing of importance has been elicited more than was contained in your first observations. It would be well for the people of God to bear in mind the first question Jehovah asked Job, "Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth ?" The most sure token of the communications of the Holy Spirit with our spirits is the sovereignty of His going and coming. He will generally surprise His people with unexpected mercy. At least, so I have found it in more than fifty years' experience. The Lord bless you, and make you a blessing to many, so prays your loving brother in our most glorious Jesus, Grand Lake, DAVID PALMER. April 11, 1859. [Dear aged friend and brother,— Literally we are far apart. Thousands of miles intervene between thee and us but how sweet is the reflection that we pathway, but the right road, nevertheare near and dear to each other in our less, towards a city of habitation. Thou glorious Head. "Members one of art in advance of us, and wilt arrive at another." What a thought is that! home first, but we shall not be long and by that wondrous union and identity after thee; and the thought cheers us, which subsists between us, realize a one-that we shall recognize and commune ness of life, interest, and enjoyment, in with each other there! It will be a and from the same blessed Fountain and blessed time, brother! Full, glorious, Spring-head! We should love to meet everlasting! The wilderness passed; thee and to greet thee in our common sin gone; Satan silenced; the world Lord. We should delight to see thee extinct. What blessed society now! face to face, and to speak with thee of angels, the spirits of just men made His kind and gracious dealings with thee perfect; Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; during thy fifty years' experience." David, Samuel, and the prophets; It seems that thou hadst entered upon thy apostles, martyrs; but oh, infinitely spiritual race before we had commenced above and beyond all, Jehovah, Father, our earthly pilgrimage. But, blessed be Son, and Holy Ghost; our precious our God, in the exercise of that divine Christ in glorified humanity! We sovereignty of which thou hast spoken, merely state the fact: description, imand in the riches of His grace, and sweet possible! But of this we are certain, exercise of His boundless love, He "in that the set time to favour Zion," brought us to enter upon the same narrow way with thee; and we journey on after thee, finding truly this but a strait and thorny "There we shall see, and hear, and know, PEACE BY THE BLOOD OF JESUS. DEAR BROTHER IN THE LORD, I have had a desire to write to you for some time, with reference to sending you a little manuscript which I found among my dear sister's papers since her death. I thought it might be profitable to some of the Lord's dear people, as I have often found comfort in reading similar experiences; that is, if you think, on perusal, it is worthy of a place in the Gospel Magazine, to which I am a subscriber, and read it with much pleasure and comfort. I felt as if I would like to tell you a few things respecting the last days and death of my dear sister. The Lord was pleased to spare her life forty years after He gave her joy and peace in believing, during which time she never enjoyed a day's health, and was sorely tried with the buffetings of Satan. The Lord enabled her to live a consistent and humble Christian life, trus'ing in His blessed promises, and at times rejoicing in the finished work of a dear Redeemer. Her last illness was short, but very severe (four days and nights). The Lord was marvellously kind, and granted her great patience, under all her suffering, never murmuring or complaining, but often said, "The Lord does all things well." She talked to all the friends who came to see her, of the lost and undone condition of sinners by nature, and of the finished work of the blessed Lord Jesus, telling them that in and of herself she was a poor, lost sinner, but in the Lord Jesus Christ, and Him alone, she had full, free pardon, and was fully justified. With much earnestness she would cry out, "What could I, poor worm of the dust, do to save myself?" "What a blessed thing it is salvation work is finished!" A few hours before she died, she was speaking to a young friend, who came to see her, of the goodness of the Lord to her; when, all at once, she clasped her hands, and exclaimed, "Is it possible that I can be deceived, and not right at last!" Her countenance exhibited the greatest agony I ever beheld. I said to her, "My dear sister, it is Satan tempting you to think so; it is his last effort to worry your dear soul." And so it proved, for the Lord rebuked him, and |