JESUS WEPT. John 11, 35. O, How sweet, under the teaching of the Spirit of truth, to contemplate the various expressions of tenderness and love of our most glorious Head, the Lord Jesus Christ; and in the passage here referred to, we behold him in the tenderness of his heart, (over one with whom, no doubt he had often condescended to hold sweet communion,) groaning in spirit, and shedding the tear of pity. Were not those tears, in part, caused by the thought of the awful consequences sin had entailed upon all the posterity of Adam? and though, as God, he abhorred sin, yet, in his condescended love as God and man, the Lord's Christ, he could feel for those, who might be said to have no feeling for themselves; being made partaker of flesh andblood hehad all the feelings of nature over the death of a friend, and shared in the sorrow of Martha and Mary, and those Jews who came to comfort them. Should this meet the eye of any who may have the fear of death before them, and whose only hope and trust is in the blood of Jesus-O, may they be enabled to remember that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, to day, and for ever, that he still has all power over death; that he has washed away all the guilt of sin, and made full atonement to the offended law of God, by the sacrifice of himself, and though our own hearts may often condemn us, yet God is greater than our hearts, and knoweth all things; he knoweth the soul loathing that is felt, even by the poor sinner himself, on account of his being the subject of such abominations. He also knows the many groans, prayers and sighs, that have been breathed forth from a heart sensible of its own weakness: for he hath said that "for the sighing of the prisoner, and the groaning of the captive, now will I arise and deliver him saith the Lord, from him that is stronger than he." Oftentimes is the poor soul when in darkness and temptation, left to conclude that there is no hope for him; but remember that his name was called Jesus, because he should save his people from their sins "'Twas not the righteous in their own esteem, But sinners whom he came to call." An empty sinner who feels his need of a Saviour, is a fit vessel to receive a full Christ. Is he weary? Christ is the good shepherd, who carries the lambs in his arms, and gently leads those who are with young; and he hath said, "Come unto me all ye that are weary and heavy laden, and ye shall find rest unto your souls" dost thou find sin and self a burden? has the world lost its greatest charms for thee, and is the language of thy soul-"as the hart panteth after the water Yes: his dear name is unutterably sweet, when the Holy Ghost lets it into the conscience with unction and power; and gives us a FELT interest in all his salvation attributes. But, alas! how soon the sense is gone Thou "And we to our sad place return Our wretched state to mourn." But, my brother, let us praise his dear hell-captured souls. Who, but Jesus, as the name, for even once visiting our sin-sunk, "Mighty God," could have ever delivered of hell, from the potent Prince of darkness? us from the power of sin, from the iron grasp O, precious, lovely, loving Jesus! soul from hell; thou hast delivered my feet Strong Deliverer; thou hast delivered my from falling. And, bless thy name, thou sin, from every lust, from every tempta wilt yet deliver me from every foe, from every tion, and from the power of inbred, indwelling filth and corruption, for thou hast prothe work of thine own hands, that thou wilt mised precious Jesus, NEVER to forsake glorious mercy, brother Banks, that while not leave me, nor forsake me. O what a friends on every hand prove false, our Jesus still is true, and faithful to his promise, for he loveth, mark, loveth! not loves the poor sinner to day and hates him to-morrow; no, no; but "loveth at all times." There never was a time when he did not love his people : and there never will be a period when he will not love his people, with all their infirmities. He in covenant love espoused them, and became amenable (in their law place, room and stead,) to offended justice, and violated law, and fell a bloody victim beneath the direful curse, that his church, his low sunk church, should arise a glorious trophy of his almighty achievements over sin. O, blessed Redeemer! thou hast triumphed gloriously, thou hast satisfied justice, obeyed the law, swallowed up the curse, put away sin, destroyed death, and him that had the power of death, which is the devil;" thou hast opened a living way, wrought out, and brought in everlasting righteousness, which is to all, and upon all them that believe; and now, Lord, what wait we for? "The adoption to wit the redemption of our body." Rom. viii. 23. Ah, brother, is it not so? When the dear Lord visits our poor benighted souls, how we long to be with him: yes; long to be with him. A few more battles, a few more nights, and a few more sorrows and temptations, and then we shall come off more than conquerors, through him that loved us. And then the song of the ransomed shall for ever revibrate through our very souls, even "salvation, and glory, and honour, and power unto the Lord our God." Rev. xix. i. me." I had no idea of thus writing. I sat down to write you a brief outline of the Lord's goodness in delivering me out of that awful state of wretchedness I was in, the last time I wrote. I continued in that desperate state till Tuesday, when these words kept following me, with a softening, and solemn power"When my spirit is overwhelmed within "When my spirit is overwhelmed " "When my spirit is overwhelmed." This worked like leaven in my poor soul, till it brought me into sweet communion with the God of Jacob. My rebellion was gone, my temptations flew like chaff before the wind, and I felt such a sweet, solemn resting in the love, and faithfulness, of a long-suffering God, that I cannot now express; I thought in that dreadful state of darkness I never could attempt to speak in the Lord's name again; but when light came, the word came with it, and I believe the blessed Spirit lodged these words in my soul, for our morning's meditation; for, in speaking from them, I found some mighty, and solemn matter. Exodus xvii. 2. "Moses's hands were heavy; and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon, and Aaron I had three and Hur stayed up his hands." ideas given me on the subject:-First, Weakness implied. Second, Strength made perfect in weakness. Thirdly, The glorious result; the discomfiture of Amalek. Time forbids my proceeding, but I would say in conclusion, pray for me, that the work of God, and the fear of God, and the love of God, may be blessedly deepened in soul; that a tender conscience may be my kept alive. Really, brother, preachers and professors, in the present day, seem to have no conscience but a seared one. How many miles you may travel to meet with a healthy soul. Parsons seem more alive for gain than godliness in this evil day, a fair show in the You are always in the Extremes. up 'You err, poor soul, not knowing the scriptures, and the manner of your God, and of his dealings with his to think that his mind is people ; changed, when his countenance is, and so to run away from him, as Jacob did not him your portion, if you could "But you that are more deeply and lastingly distressed, I pity you: I blame you not for being troubled; for when he hides his face, the creatures are troubled; (Psalm civ. 29.) If you should not thus lay it to heart, it were a sign you had no grace; that you made "But you will say, if this desertion were for a moment, it were something ; but mine hath been for many years. the text says, One that fears God may THE REAL CONVERSION, AWFUL CONFLICTS, AND HAPPY. DEATH OF A WICKED SINNER. A LITTLE work has just been published by Nisbet and Co., of Berners Street, entitled "The Rescue: a narrative of a very recent conversion.-By an Eye. witness." We have read the tract with much suspicion have been made deeply to weigh and to examine its contents; and we must confess that although death-bed repentances, and death-bed conversions are frequently delusive; here is a case wherein is most wondrously displayed the sovereign grace, the boundless love, the overflowing mercy, the omnipotent power of a covenant God towards poor, elect, repenting, returning sinners,. let them be found under what ever circumstance they may. Here is indeed a most striking illustration of that great scripture "where sin abounded, grace doth much more abound:" and here is a testimony which seems to throw open the full meaning of the Apostle's words, "" By grace are ye saved; through faith, and that not of youuselves; it is the gift of God." Oh, how rich and free, how sovereign and unmerited is the saving grace of God in Christ! Truly, truly, "it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy." "There is no searching of his understanding." Solomon declares that it is impossible "to find out the work that is done under the sun." "The righteous and the wise, and their works are in the hands of God:" that is, are secretly hidden in his hand : no man knoweth either love (them that are loved) nor hated, (them that are finally left in impenitence) by all that is before him." No, Judas is a follower of Christ, but he betrays him and goes to his own place; the thief on the cross was a reviler of Christ, but he is a vessel of mercy and goes to glory with him. "The first shall be last, and the last shall be first." 66 heard, but his habitual course of life was openly profane and vicious. And, as he was remarkable for vigour both of mind and body, and for boldness and generosity of natural disposition, he had great influence with his companions. He was, indeed, a chief among sinners. "It was not until about two years after I first saw him that I had intercourse any with him. But about that time I overtook him on the road to P- —, and we had a long and very interesting conversaHe made no secret of his sentition. ments, but instantly avowed himself a Deist. It was evident he had read the Bible a great deal and that he had thought much on religious subjects. He spoke warmly in praise of God's goodness, and power, and wisdom, and ridiculed the notion of there being no God; pointing to the star-spangled sky over our heads in proof of God's being and glory. But he utterly rejected the Bible as a revelation from God." that It is recorded of R- D he was laid down on a sick bed through intemperance; when from a Deist he became a Unitarian; rejecting the Godhead and atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ. From this affliction, he was raised again; and went deeper into the practice of sin than ever. The time, however, to pluck him as a brand from the burning, drew nigh. And it is the circumstance connected with his real conversion and death that we are desirous to lay before our readers. One solemn fact like this, is, to us, better than ten thousand doctrinal arguments, or the most elaborate essay that ever could be penned. Here is a true account of "A SINNER SAVED BY GRACE." The writer says: "About two months ago, I heard that he was again laid on a sick bed, and very ill. Again I visited him. But I was, on the whole, less satisfied with him than ever. He would listen to anything I pleased to say contradicting me in nothing, whether I spoke of God, or of himself, or of the Lord Jesus; but it always seemed like a tale told to a man who knew it all before hand. He would rouse himself when I spoke of his body X -or of any remedy for its diseases-or, cry, that a neighbour in an adjoining of his beloved wife and children-and he always manifested the strongest possible anxiety to live. Indeed he would never allow the idea of his not recovering to be entertained. "About half-past three o'clock that very night my bell was rung, and on my looking out of the window, a man said, If you please Sir, to come up to Mr. RD- for he is dying, and he is very anxious to see you! The shock which this gave me was very great, and it was much increased by the instant remembrance of the feelings with which I left him only a few hours before. As speedily as possible I was at his bedside. And here I found a scene of terror such as I never before witnessed. He was stretched out at full length on his bed, with his eyes closed, and his mouth wide open, uttering the most fearful cries and groanings. His whole appearance was expressive of extreme terror. He looked like a man who felt he was seized by some power hitherto unknown to him-a power alike irresistible and terrible! And yet, fearful as his appearance then was, those in the room told me that the groans he was then uttering were not to be compared to his cries about half-an-hour before! "It appears, about half-past one, he said to Mrs. D- 'Don't go to sleep, for I am worse 9 She asked him if he felt much worse, and he said, 'No-only don't go to sleep.' Soon after, noticing that he was much disquieted, she again asked if he felt worse. He said, 'Yes,' -presently adding, 'I have been very wicked-and now I fear God has forsaken me!' His distress increased very much, and Mrs. D-- saw that he was trying to pray. She said to him God will hear you, if you pray to him.' As his excitement and agitation still increased she became much alarmed, and said, 'Shall I send for Mr. D-- P'Yes do, -said he do-and beg him to come at once.' He then seemed to make a strong effort to cry to God; and presently said, 'tell them to go directly and beg Mr. Dto come as fast as possible, or I shall be dead before he comes!"' Just after this, he became exceedingly agitated, and suddenly uttered the most awful and piercing cry of terror it is possible to conceive! He seemed swallowed up in terrors! So awful was this house told me that it awoke him from his sleep, and said to his wife,—'Did you hear that cry? This person assured me that it did not sound like a human voice that he could not have supposed it possible for any human being to utter such an appalling sound. "But if all this was so terrible to hear, and to look upon, oh, what must it have been to the seized and terrified one himself! There is a vast world unseen to us, but which will be seen, sooner or later, by us all! And how little do we know how the struggling spirit may glance through into eternal things, and see whither it is going!. God may unveil the unseen world, at such an hour, before the soul—and how overwhelming must that sight be, to one wholly unprepared to launch amidst its awful realities! "When I entered his room this terrible storm was subsiding. And yet, as I found him, he was a fearful and heartrending spectacle. I instantly attempted to make him hear my voice, but he appeared to be quite unconscious of my efforts or of my presence, and continued this loud, long groan, until his powers of utterance were exhausted. He then appeared to be quickly settling down into death. His breath grew shorter and fainter, and the signs of instant death were thick upon him. But to our astonishment he continued in this state for nearly seven hours; sometimes violently convulsed, sometimes so low that we thought him gone. "These were, I think, the most solemn hours I had ever passed. Death was no new sight to me, but this was to me no common death. Before me, in the very gripe of death, lay one in whom I had long taken deep interest-but in whose safety I had no hope! His fearful death my own want of diligence in the efforts I had made to set the truth before him; the awful solemnity of all that into which he was so rapidly entering-his piteous cries, evidently more from horror of soul than from agony of body;-the wreck, so soon to come; the plunge;-the flowing over him of waves of fire never to be quenched; all these things rushed through my soul and ploughed it like a field! And yet what could I do? During all these hours he gave no sign of being conscious of my presence. |