far aside our base inclinations would lead us did not the love of Christ restrain these ungovernable propensities. Where would the man of God be, if left for one single hour while crossing the wilderness? Some pitfall would enclose him fast; some dark dungeon or filthy cave would be his abode; some snare, set by the artful fowler, would hold him a victim in the stranger's grasp. I was now brought into close quarters, all outward doors shut, no opening call for my services, a life of activity suspended, with the mortification of beholding all efforts used prove abortive. I cried unto the Lord under thick darkness, and brought my prayer away with me sometimes without hope. I felt restless and impatient, and wrote many letters with an aching heart, which neither the professor nor the profane could enter into. Surely the family of grace must travel alone; there is no help for them but in God. I was favoured even at this period by receiving several dear Christian communications; these were sent to encourage me in my wilderness captivity. Sometimes I journeyed off from fifty to sixty miles on foot in search of temporal good; but no success attended my steps. I had at this time a strong nervous affection preying upon me, that victimized my frame, and I fell into the arms of jealousy and self-reproach, concluding that every one pointed the finger of censure at me. Here the child of God, who has been where Job was, who asked, "Why is light given to a man whose way is hid, and whom God hath hedged in ?” can decipher my feelings and situation, which drank up my natural life, as it were, and proved a bitter draught indeed. Some will say these are all casual things. Yes, the word of God is full of them, and so are the saints. They come not by chance, but are sent to answer some special purpose for the good of the Lord's chosen. He hath said, "They shall glorify me in the fires." God is said to be the author of all good, both temporal and spiritual, and he deals it out to his children as he pleases. Sometimes they are taught to be content with little, and are abased; at another time his aboundings carry them over all trials, and they swim in the ocean of love, fearing nothing. At these moments they are supported with some sweet whisper, "I am with thee," I am God, "look unto me; " and something responds within, "Lord, I believe all is for the best; I would not change with others for millions of worlds. I see prosperity around me, which my fleshly heart covets; but look at the characters who have nothing beside." Sometimes, in this deep exercise of mind, I questioned my wife in order to learn her mind. When care lay upon me like a mountain, I have found her a help to my weary spirit, and a blessing from the Lord. While I remained in this recluse domicile I began a most friendly spiritual correspondence with a young man of highly-respectable connections. It was of that nature which drew my pen into considerable exercise, and the Lord made it profitable to both; nor did a sincere brother-yea, brethren-from Hull, forget me at a time when the clouds of a wintry sky and dark season lay heavy upon me. I also received many kind tokens from others of God's saints, which served greatly to lift up my heart in praise to the Lord. The brook now gave notice of its soon drying up-I mean as to the little place in which I had dwelt; for my kind and greatly-esteemed friend, the landlord, informed me he intended fitting up the rooms I occupied as a residence for himself; but added he felt sorry to disturb me. Here I saw the hand of the Lord moving again, and that his concealed mercy bade me move on in the wilderness once more; and having been informed of a small business to be put off within fifteen miles of London, I set off and walked to Chelmsford; stayed there one night at the house of a dear Christian friend, in the morning journeyed on again, and reached London the same night: afterwards went with a friend to look at the place, who at once persuaded me to have nothing to do with it. All to us, below the skies, is uncertain, and even our best comforts have their many bitters. Our heavenly Father will have it so, that we shall not rest in anything short of himself; for he trieth them all at the waters of Marah, and in this I have had to drink many large draughts. I was now put back again, and was ready to give all up. I said what more can be done? Where am I to go? And so dark was my path, I knew not where to set my foot; but the way was opened. A voice said, "Come to London." I asked for what. No answer. I faultered, yet again the voice said, "Come." I complied; a lodging was sought, and immediately obtained the means, bountifully supplied. I returned, and made arrangements for our departure. In a few days with pack and penny we entered our new dwelling in the " great Babylon." Men placed in easy circumstances can feel but little concerns for these matters, and less interest can they take in the travels of God's dear people through the wilderness, where a life, big with wonder and deliverance, daily calls for gratitude from those who are exercised therein. On the other hand, should any poor, tried, and tempted child of promise cast his eye on this narrative, he will, with the writer, have cause to give thanks to the Lord who ever watches over his "mean affairs" (for so Dr. Watts has it), persuaded, as I am, the Lord does nothing wrong. He has been pleased that mine should be a thorny passage-a land to go over full of pits and snares; but He hath been a Guide through all the way. It is impossible to express how much the poor of God's flock are enabled to apprise the cleansing efficacy of a Saviour's blood; nor can the details of sovereign love and divine care be explained while, as prisoners of hope, they continue in their vile bodies of sinful clay. The Lord has been the helper of his people in all ages, and to this present hour, "no good thing has failed them." The church in the wilderness must all pass the bitter waters of Marah-they must have their part and portion of sorrow in this vale of tears. The chosen, for the most part, consist of the poor of this world. Not many rich or noble are born to wear a heavenly coronet-at least we see but few aspiring after spiritual blessings. Indeed there are not many who inquire after the ordinances and statutes which the Lord will make and establish for ever to be observed. In Him the palm trees shall bud and break forth P and bear fruit for the support of Zion; and the well-springs of water shall be opened for the weary traveller to slake his thirst at under a burning sky. So have I found it in my long and tiresome journey; nor dare I say anything has lacked since the first day I set out until now, though I must confess my ingratitude and base unbelief have kept pace with every mercy; and often has my rebellion dictated to the Lord, while his forbearance has thrown a mantle of love over all; for it is not possible that Jehovah can go out of himself to destroy his murmuring child. The marked and distinguishing difference which God hath put upon his own, is his care and regard manifested to them both in nature and grace. Yes, while their turbulent passions know no bounds, God so narrowly watches over them, that destruction shall shut its mouth, the poor soul shall be rescued, hell defeated, and the sinner preserved. The many incidents and hair-breadth escapes, with the thousands of providential mercies, together with the means employed therein, are so many proofs of God's care over, and love for, his elect. The same towards their connections; instruments are appointed, in themselves nothing, nor are they to be accounted of. Sometimes gracious means are blest to the soul, wandering far from the truth; at other times, natural and worldly coincidence, foreign from every creature intention, the Lord takes to alarm and bring the strong bias of the carnal mind into subjection. God can throw down from a lofty eminence the towering pride of man, be he wise or learned, by means contrary to the fitness of every established rule-sometimes in a dream-sometimes a thought fastens upon the mind, which it is impossible to get rid of. At other times more desperate means-yea, suicidal attempts, have proved life to the dead, and brought the intended victim to bow at the foot of the cross. The Lord has left no established means by which he will work to call in his scattered fold; they shall all come at the appointed time, his invisible arm being put forth in a supernatural manner, as best suits his sovereign mandate, that his glory may be placed above the flesh. The way the Lord hath brought me has often been a matter of the deepest humiliation to my admiring eyes-to my hell-deserving though redeemed soul; and I trust it is for His glory that I have attempted in this poor feeble way to note down a life which has been so mercifully preserved, and which the Lord will take care of till the last sand is run out. The highest honour I crave is to be placed amongst those whose names are recorded in the "Lamb's book of life," then "to live is Christ, to die is gain." But should I be called to endure more for Jesus and his truth, in that needy moment may the heavens open to my wondering view, and may my heart glow in the prospect of death, under the happy and peaceful persuasion that God's grace shall be sufficient for me! Thou, Lord, saith to all thy dear family "I will not leave thee comfortless; I will come unto thee." Oh, thou faithful Jehovah, none ever trusted in thee and were disappointed! May I be enabled to keep this in view! May thy sweet presence be mine when the so-called monster death shall thrust his last but friendly dart! May faith's wings expand, and soar above to meet my God in heaven! It will matter nothing then how or in what way the vile body is deposited, "sown in dishonour, it shall be raised in honour," and wake up in glorious immortality. Then no more sobs and sorrowful anxieties, pains, or fears, shall heave this troubled breast-earthly connections shall then end for ever, and near and dear Christian friendship cease for a short period to be renewed for ever more then no more discontented sounds of disaffection shall longer rankle in the heart to do me harm for truth espoused-the invidious treatment I have passed under will no more cause me anguish. Blessed change! I rejoice at the thought at seeing Him who sitteth upon the throne, "making all things new." I have seen an end of all perfection below, and do anxiously desire to enjoy experimentally in my spirit that heavenly grace which alone can support me in the last stage, when the evening shade is gathering fast about me-then to have a portion in the unsullied glory of Immanuel is far above and beyond the perishing baubles of time, where all things decay, and at best must have an extinguisher put upon the whole. Blessed consideration! "The Christian's sun for ever shines From far above the clouds ; 'T will blaze with bright refulgent rays, to make the path dark over which we travel; yet Zion's Lord has promised himself to be the safeguard to his own dear blood-bought family, declaring to them at "eventide it shall be light;" but if not so blessed to enter port with the high pennant of joyous faith flying in the breeze, the vessel shall be safely neared to shore, though by an invisible arm of gracious power, and laid up in harbour, to the everlasting praise of Him. who first launched it upon the boisterous and troublous ocean of human life, and this is sure to all the chosen. Thus have I written to extol the free rich grace, love, and mercy of Jesus to one of the most unworthy of all, to whom be everlasting praise. JAMES GROOM. July 13, 1843. THE REV. JOHN NEWTON.-Speaking of this highly-favoured man, a few days since, a friend informed us that upon a country Minister calling to see him when he paid his annual visit to Town, such was his perpetual remembrance of past scenes and God's delivering mercies, that he invariably broke in upon the conversation by saying, "Now let us go back to Africa."-Reader, dost thou ever go back to Africa-to Egypt -to the rock whence you were hewn, and the hole of the pit whence you were digged? THE CHURCH-AND WHAT IT IS. (Continued from page 152.) THE Emperor Valerian for the first three years of his reign not only tolerated the Christians, but was the most kind and favourable towards them; but about A.D. 257, influenced by his favourite Macrianus, he commenced a most fierce persecution during the remainder of his reign, which lasted three years and a half. "It is better to trust in the Lord than to put any confidence in princes." The most amiable tempers are not to be depended upon as stable and certain, for often a mere straw (as it were) may disturb the apparent equilibrium of the mind. Hazael seemed to recoil from the crimes he was told by the prophet he was about to commit, and said, "Is thy servant a dog that he should do this thing?" and yet, as an old writer quaintly observes, The dog went and did it. How often it is found that the greatest natural amiability of temper is completely ruffled and disturbed, when it comes in contact with the Gospel faithfully and fully preached. Our God may foratime so soften the hearts of men in general and princes, that they may appear to favour his righteous cause, but if they receive not the truth in the love of it, sooner or later the enmity of the carnal mind will show itself. Such seems to have been the case with Valerian, who now began to breathe out nothing but threatenings and slaughter against the Lord's disciples. Cyprian was soon brought before the proconsul and was ordered to worship the gods, but he owned himself a Christian and refused to worship any but the true God, who made heaven and earth. On being told that his sentence for the present was to be banished, Cyprian replied, "He is no exile who has God in his heart, for the earth is the Lord's and the fulness thereof."" He refused, though severely threatened, to make known where his presbyters were, and he was sent into banishment to Curubis, a little town on the sea coast, fifty miles from Carthage, and was allowed to live there in his own lodgings, where he remained eleven months, and was treated with great kindness. This comparative moderation seemed to have been caused by the respect he had earned on account of his affability and generosity to the poor. While here he received information that the persecutors had seized nine bishops with several priests and deacons, and a great number of the faithful, even virgins, and children; and after beating them with sticks, had sent them to work in the copper mines among the mountains. Cyprian sent them assistance in money, and wrote to them a pastoral letter of condolence, of which the following is an extract: |