As I do not live "in our native isle," it must necessarily be some time before I can answer correspondents through the pages of this Magazine. I have, therefore, begged a brother in London to open, and then forward me, all letters addressed to "Gershom," at the Printing-office of the Gospel Magazine, 1, Long-lane, City, London. All post-office orders to be made in the name of "Gershom," and in the letter full directions must be given how the "Portions" can be forwarded to those who subscribe. As I cannot purchase before I have the money, being obliged to pay cash to have the books at such a low price, I beg the favour of those friends who subscribe for copies, sending a post-office order for the amount, with their order for "Portions." Letters should also clearly state for what the money is intended.

These arrangements are necessary, as I cannot employ a bookseller either to take orders or to forward copies. If I did so, I should be obliged to pay trade prices; this would make the books so much the dearer. The whole business will be done without the charge of a single penny, beyond the cost of paper, printing, and binding.

In writing this, I hear a whisper, "Who do you think will trust you, an unknown stranger, out of England, with £100? My dear brother, say a word for me. Say you know me, and that I may be trusted; and promise, also, that you will give me a page to publish the result of this attempt to do good. I am sure that will be enough to satisfy all the doubts and fears of your readers. A pensioner of the King of kings has promised to contribute £5 5s. to the fund this year (1847). Is it free or loan? May I not add, and £5 5s. for 1848? Say £10 10s. I will find here £10 10s., half of which shall be free contribution. I will also engage to take thirty copies at 2s., and I have sold twenty more to one person, a descendant of Dr. Hawker. A few more such friends and the work is done.

I have an impression on my mind that this plan will succeed. I think I can see already the hand of the Lord in it. A few weeks ago I was thinking the matter over with an anxious mind, when almost the same post brought me two letters, one from the western extremity of England, the other from the middle of India.

66

says, is a great favourite with many, but I cannot enjoy his preaching; it reaches the ear, but not the heart. One of dear Dr. Hawker's sweet Portions' is worth a hundred sermons and more." That from India says, "We think of you all every time we open Hawker's Daily Portions.' See how appropriate that for the morning of the 23rd of June was" (referring to the circumstance mentioned in the letter.) I had given a copy to this friend when on the eve of embarking for India, hoping it would secure that which I rejoice to see has been accomplished-the bringing of us together at a throne of grace.

Dear brother Pensioner, your letter of the 14th of June, page 336, encouraged me greatly. I thanked you heartily for your kind offer. You will see by the present that I fully count on calling on you for the subscription promised. Let me hear if the clouds you men

tioned

"Were big with mercy, and did break
In blessings on your head."

66

Much-beloved Crispin, the "Gospel Magazine" is frequently my "travelling companion." We were steaming it together when your kind words in the October number caught my eye. I cannot express to you the pleasure afforded me by your Gershom, thou deservest well." For many a mile I enjoyed most pleasant converse with you. Gershom is but a young man, and he felt the kindness of "Crispin, the aged" in taking notice of "the projected scheme." I had been much grieved at the indifference of other correspondents, but your word of approbation amply repaid me for all my pain and anxiety. No one's commendation is more valuable to me than 66 Crispin's," even should it be dashed with a little discouragement. In this I am not alone; there are "in this strange land" those who love Father Crispin most sincerely. The sound of his hammer is sure to make them glad, and his shreds are always considered "dainty bits." We are disappointed when we do not see "Crispin's" signature. From your long silence I had thought that "a chariot of fire and horses of fire had parted us asunder.' Often did I read over the "recent deaths" in the corners of such newspapers as I thought might inform us of Crispin's true name, if numbered among the dead. Right glad was I to see once more his "nom de guerre." May thy mantle fall on me, and a double portion of thy spirit be upon me.

You say that my projected scheme is not locomotive enough to ensure its success.' One part of my plan is eminently "locomotive." (See April number, page 179.) I fear it is too much so to succeed. We want more the spirit of a Paul. Our ministers like to stay at home, and not to travel to see how it fares with the brethren, and the churches like to have it so. Paul was more locomotive. However, I trust the readers of the "Gospel Magazine" have little to do with "Rome, priestly perfidy, or universal indifference." I wrote for those "within," not for those "without" (1 Cor. v. 12). I hope to them also "the cause of truth is dear, and becomes the more so as the horizon around darkens, and the combined force of its enemies are raised against it." It is this feeling, beloved brother, which, as my blood runs through every vein, I feel it sometimes burning within me. My heart is often ready to burst when I see with what unblushing impudence, deadly error and soul-destroying doctrines are working throughout the land. But there is another sight which equally grieves me, and at that "my eyes weep sore, and run down with tears." It is" the real fact." "We are minus of those who were in other days to be found famous for lifting up the axe upon the thick trees ;" and those who do remain, live apart, and do not strive together. This "real fact" has made me, young and weak as I am, venture my "scheme" in the pages of the Gospel Magazine. You have said,

"Thou deservest well;" lend me, then, "all your test." A word from you, I am sure, would greatly help on the proposition which I have made in the present number. "These are not times to allow veterans to sleep at their post."

And now, dear Editor, correspondents, and readers, I have once

more laid the matter before you. "As every man hath received the gift even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God, as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion, for ever and ever. Amen."

Nov. 16th, 1847.

Yours in gospel bonds,

GERSHOM.

[We cannot but attach to the foregoing letter the expression of our hearts namely, our most fervent wish that the object may be achieved. We are not at liberty to say who Gershom is, nor where he is. But we will give our readers this hint-he lives some hundreds of miles from us, in another land, where (like ourselves) he ofttimes sighs for Christian communion--the meeting with a brother or sister in the Lord, who has an experimental acquaintance with the chequered scenes of the pilgrim's pathway; with whom, in pleasing contrast to the awfully delusive scenes of Papal superstition and idolatry by which we are surrounded, we can, in sweet fellowship, rehearse the righteous acts of the Lord." Our brother is at present (and has been for many years) engaged in a great-a mighty work, and no man is either better adapted or more favourably circumstanced for the Cisseminating such sterling works as those to whom his letter has reference. The Lord, in mercy, crown the effort with his blessing!--ED.

FRAGMENTS BY A REDEEMED ATHEIST.

A just God and a Saviour.-Is. xlv. 21.

Ir justice consist in giving to every one his due, and mercy be the giving of what is not due to the undeserving, then justice is satisfied by an exact settlement; Lut mercy must remain unsatisfied and unappeased so long as an object can be found to excite its outpourings. It is the character and nature of Justice to claim, to demand, to exact, not as a robber who has no right, but as a creditor who I as a lawful debt, the amount of which is accurately known. It is, on the contrary, the character and nature of mercy to give, to distribute, to forego right, to forgive wrong, to be never weary of lavishing forth its stores. Hence, while it is customary to speak of boundless mercy, we never hear of anything but strict justice; for justice is restricted by the amount of its due, but mercy, in its very nature, has no limit. Regarded as Divine attributes, they appear as much opposed, the one to the other, as war and peace. Nor are they reconcilable except by an exertion of Almighty power. The Son of God brought them to dwell harmoniously in his own person, for He paid off the claims of the one that He might indulge the sympathies of the other. But for Him where had the whole human race been throughout eternity! What had been their condition in time? Nay, the moment Adam's transgression was known, who but He withheld the angel from crying "Time shall be no more!" Mercy, regarded merely as an attribute, might perhaps lie dormant for ever, but there it must remain unknown, unfolded, undisplayed.

D

The Sun would not have lost a beam of his glory, or ceased to be what he is in himself, had he remained below the horizon ever since the creation. But his power, his light, his warmth, and majesty would have been kept secret from the creature. Had this earth been a globe equal with the sun in size, heat, and splendour, the sun would have been an unnecessary appendage, or at least the earth would not have served as a foil to set off his glory. Light cannot be seen in light, heat cannot be detected in the midst of equal or greater heat. Darkness is necessary to the exhibition of the one, and coldness required for the perception of the other. To make their properties or qualities manifest, the presence of their opposites is demanded. It is even so with mercy. She requires a closet to receive and refract the heaven y hues of her brow. The clouds of misery and sin are the opposites which Divine wisdom has thought fit to choose, as a background best calculated to display the effulgent glories of mercy. And as in nature, the darker the cloud the brighter and more marked the bow, so in grace the blacker the sin, and the deeper the misery, the higher mercy is exalted, the wider the void for her outpourings, and the fitter the people for her empire; yea, Mercy peoples her kingdom with none but the miserable.

If God had created man because he deserved to be created; if God had continued the race till this hour on account of services rendered to its Maker; if in our way man had been able to make God his debtor and himself a creditor, upon the divine estate, then this had not been a world in which mercy could have sought for subjects. Justice indeed would have found room for the display of its rigid perfections, by complying with the demands of man, when he cried out, "Pay me that thou owest." The inexhaustible nature of the divine attribute, Justice, would have been displayed, while it discharged with unwearied faithfolress, the claims of the meritorious creature; but in such a state of things men would neither seek for mercy, nor would mercy seek for

men.

The fall of man made way for the introduction of mercy in its highest form and brightest aspect. The deluge of sin and suffering that has ever since covered the earth, affords a scene above which the dove of free grace loves to hover, with the olive branch of peace in her bill. We hear nothing about the dove before the deluge; and mercy and the righteousness of God were not discernible even amid the mists of prophecy, until transgression had stripped men of his own righteousness, and abandoned him naked to the wrath of the law.

It is not for dust and ashes to limit the Omnipotent, and say that, save by the admission of guilt into the world, there is no way in which the mercy of Jehovah could be magnified. With Him all things are possible, and doubtless there are a thousand other plans by which He might have magnified that mercy which endureth for ever. We only know that He has taken occasion of the presence of sin, ruin, and misery, to manifest himself as a God of mercy. Hark to his hallowed voice, herald of his own perfections; for who but Himself could announce, introduce, or reveal Himself? The LORD descended in the cloud and proclaimed the name of the Lord. And the Lord passed by

before Moses and proclaimed the LORD, the LORD God, merciful and gracious, long-suffering and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping inercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin" (Ex. xxxiv. 5-7).

Language is exhausted to set forth the fulness, the deepness, the breadth, and freeness, of His mercy while with regard to His justice, he simply says, he "will by no means clear the guilty," only glancing at the demands of justice, because He had already determined how to be "just and yet the justifier of the ungodly," by laying their sin on the Lamb, slain before the foundation of the world.

The objects of his compassion and love have been in all ages the same, for although metaphysicians and professional moralists, are fond of splitting hairs with iniquity, and distinguishing corruption and ruin into bad, better, and worse, the word of God authorizes no such discrimination. It concludes all under sin, and proclaims all equally guilty in the sight of God, notwithstanding what the learned dispute to the contrary. Sinners of all sorts and ages-such are the rough and polluted stones with which mercy designs to build a living temple to the glory of Father, Son, and Spirit-a temple which, though constructed of the souls of sinners, shall have no trace or taint of sin about it: for they shall be purified and made white and tried (Dan. xii. 10), being created in Christ Jesus (Eph. ii. 10), in whom they are born, not of corruptible seed, but incorruptible (1 Peter, i. 23), for they cannot sin (1 John iii. 9), inasmuch as they are partakers of the Divine nature (2 Peter i. 1), and born of God (1 John, i. 12).

What a prospect is this for worms, fighting daily in this mundane gulph of perdition with sin and Satan, often foiled, often down, disarmed, and trampled upon, yet sure of victory, for the Captain of their salvation (Heb. ii. 10), even Jesus their forerunner (Heb.vi. 25), is now within the veil, and to ensure their final safety and triumph, He hath under his command all power in heaven and on earth (Matt. xxviii. 18). Happy dust to have the prospect of such a salvation! Hippy to look forward to that time when ye shall fall upon your faces and worship God, saying (Rev, xi. 17), We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned."

THE CITIES OF REFUGE TYPICAL OF CHRIST.

Kedesh, from a root signifying "to sanctify." Hence, that which is holy, pure, consecrated. Surely this must remind us of Him, who was consecrated or set apart, from all eternity for the work of salvationwho was "holy, harmless, undefiled "-" the Holy One of Israel."

Shechem, signifying a shoulder. "The government is on his shoulder." Jesus has the entire management of all that concerns his church. How