weakness was never seen before; voluntarily assumed, patiently endured, that he might accomplish by his life and death the salvation of untold millions, who shall sing his honours round the eternal throne.

These heavenly messengers attended the bursting of the grave. To witness his resurrection was to them a pleasure." He is not here ;" most joyful theme to guilty man; death could not hold him; the omnipotence. of his work had broken its bands; hence he prostrated the king of terrors at his feet. As in his holy life he could be weak without being wicked, so in his dissolution he was untouched by corruption. It is thus his character shines forth, and a ground of trust is presented to us, which shall not be made ashamed.

From the well known attendance of angels upon our Redeeming Saviour, we gather some faint idea of their attachment to the members of his body; hence we infer that they are appointed to a service which fills them with delight. The apostle Peter assures us that angels desire to look into the things of salvation. Nor can we sup pose such a wish to be sinful, otherwise it would have been condemned by the oracles of eternal truth. If then the things of Christ are matter of their enquiry, it is fair to suppose, that such a desire is for the church's sake; as a personal interest they can neither need nor require.

Their ministry is bounded by the thread of time, "For unto angels hath he not put into subjection the world to come." So that when we join their society, we shall cease to need their ministrations; but while pilgrims in the desert, it is our mercy to be sur rounded with such a celestial defence; to this source of protection we may trace our manifold deliverances. To have present with me an angelic guard, invested with the commission of a God to preserve my mind from fleshly pollution, horrid temptation, despairing thoughts, and the manifold snares of

the enemy, how cheering in this dark world; yet such is the portion of all who are born of the Spirit, to seek and find their all in Christ.

I now observe the characters of such on whose behalf they minister"Heirs of salvation;" that is, the elect family in every clime, kindred,' or nation; those who shall be manifested the heirs of salvation. The commission of these invisible attendants is as wide as the habitable globe; no bolts or bars can hinder their attendance; Peter's prison, or Cornelius's dwelling are alike accessible to them; the cottage of the peasant, or the palace of the prince, are alike regarded by them. It is not place, but persons they wait upon; and not every person, but the heirs of salvation; a distinguished race, who fear God, live at the foot of the cross, and delight in the exaltation of the Son of a Father's bosom hence, where Jesus reigns, they love to dwell.

Heirs of salvation! this is the title of those by whom the heavenly mansions will be peopled; but why not heirs of wrath? This is our just and deserved portion; but behold, look on and admire. The great and glorious Jehovah interposes between ruin, and ruined man; and through the im penetrable cloud that sin hath brought upon the creatures of God, a voice is heard, a plan discovered, a purpose opened, a head brought forth, an atonement made, the rights of justice regarded, the law magnified, reconciliation declared, a people delivered, clothed, and blessed for ever; and it is provided by this deed of covenant, that all the heirs of God shall come into the possession of their estate in Christ, to inherit everlasting life through the blood of the Lamb, and the word of their testimony. Thus they are known, by wearing the King's robe, having the King's scal, being fed at the Prince's table, and residing at Mount Calvary. They are foreknown only by their Father, Redeemer, and Sanctifier; but when they are born

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again, brought up, and led forth, they are not only known by men to revile and persecute them, but they are known by angels to visit, comfort, defend and lead them in their journey through frailty, to their perfect home; and as they rejoice in the conversion "over one sinner that repenteth," they no less are glad to minister to the followers of Christ, who are travelling the narrow road to their destined abode.

What debtors are we, therefore, to such love, mercy, and grace, to be provided for before time; blessed in time, and saved to all eternity. "Bless the Lord, oh my soul! and all that is within me, bless his holy name."

Nor should we be unmindful of gratitude towards those heavenly messengers who minister to us perpetually, according to the divine pleasure. In our private walks, in our closet intercourse, in our public services, angels are our attendants. Is not something intended respecting the order of divine worship in that memorable passage of the apostle, "For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head, because of the angels," 1 Cor. xi. 10; and again, when beloved Paul was charging his beloved Timothy, he makes his appeal" Before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels," 1 Tim. v. 21, from which it should seem that they attend us in public and also in private.

I am fully aware of my incompetence to illustrate this subject but in a small degree; yet, if my feeble effort should stir up abler pens on such a pleasing theme, I shall at least have the gratification of being a feeble pioneer in a good cause. I have long thought that it is a matter well adapted to beget grateful feelings, and may serve to gender that sobriety of thought which may prove acceptable to the service of the heirs of life. It is also, I conceive, calculated to reconcile us to the government of our Lord on earth; and whilst the whole seems before us like a friendless waste, it is

comforting to reflect we are not alone. The Patriarchs had their angelic visitors. Prophets were similarly indulged. The apostles of the New Testament were alike favoured; and though not visible to us, they are not less interested in our behalf. We should then be careful not to indulge in a vain, light or trifling conversation; but more particularly so when engaged in the Lord's service; some ministers possess a peculiar talent for making people laugh; would not such do well to pause, and inquire, whether such things do not feed their pride at the expense of the honour of truth, and the divine glory.

May the Good Spirit pour out upon his churches more of that heavenly unction, that we may be learning of him, in truth and reality, and thus find rest unto our souls.

-Boston!

WILLIAM FELTON.

SERIES OF LETTERS FROM REV. E. PARSONS OF CHICHESTER, TO A FRIEND. No, 9-To be continued.

Dear Sister,

MAY the boundless sea of everlasting love pour forth its streams of divine comfort to make your heart glad in, and through, our dear dying and loving Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

I received my kind and dear friend's sweet letter; and truly glad was I to hear froin her, but very sorry to hear of her many afflictious; but my hope of her is stedfast, knowing that as she is a partaker of the sufferings of Christ, she shall also be a partaker of the consolation,yea moreover, of the eternal glory that shall be revealed, when Jesus shall come to be glorified in his saints, and for ever to be admired by all that love him. Through a sweet knowledge of him as our only sin-atoner, death-destroyer, devilconqueror, world-overcomer, and by a blessed sense of his heart-feeling, sin-subduing, soul-ravishing, and mindenlarging presence that we have tasted

at times here below, we know that he loves us. Oh my sister, cast not away thy humble confidence, for, "He that will come, shall come, and will not tarry;" it is but a little time, and our dear all-conquering ever-prevailing, ever-loving Jesus will come to make our joys complete, our happiness everlasting, our rest eternal, our peace uninterrupted, our union and communion with him clear. Then, oh then, my beloved, we shall see him with unbeclouded eyes, shining forth with majestic glory, uncreated Deity and every divine perfection of the eternal Godhead through the glorified manhood. Then, and not till then, shall we be fully satisfied, when we awake in his likeness, and see him really and truly as he is, and know as we are known of him. Surely if one, piercing look of love here below breaks our hearts, and fires them with such unspeakable love to his blessed and precious name, for his great and unequalled love to us poor hell-deserving sinners; what must the sight of him be in endless day, without night? Oh! methinks that love so shines in every part of his benign countenance, that every inhabitant of the eternal world above is completely lost and swallowed up in the sight of Him, whose blessed head was once crowned with thorns, and lovely countenance covered with blood! And oh, amazing grace, matchless love, and mercy, unsearchable, that this was to procure for you and worthless me a sight of our Father's face with joy. Surely the fountain of mercy, will so fill us, and a sight of our dear everlasting, ever-loving Father fire our souls with love, that we shall never cease to sing one constant, unceasing, uuweari ed song to God and the, Lamb. Oh the thought of eternity in heaven with Jesus; is too much for our weak capacity to bear in half its meaning: for if a distant glimpse of the King eternal, immortal, and invisible here below, causes us to cry ont " It is too much for our weak tabernacle to bear; and a sense of his flaming love so

completely swallows up every faculty of our souls, in deep meditation, silent and solemn contemplation, and our minds are lost in gazing and endeavouring to fathom and explore the unfathomable love of this lovelyJesus ; and, if here below at the distant rays, glorious reflections, and shining beams of the glorious Sun of Righteousness, when he shines forth in his holiness and grace, we hide our blushing faces and cry holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God of the whole earth!" surely then, before we can bear a full sight of him who is the light of heaven, the brightness of his Father's glory, we must be immortal; and this our God has promised, and he most certainly will fulfil.

But oh! what a poor mortal am I to attempt to set forth what the eye hath not seen, nor the ear heard, nor heart conceived. But my dear sister and I, must suffer a little longer here below, to make us long for the rest above. Then, are we persecuted ? so was Jesus;are we tempted ? so was heare we wounded in the house of our friends? so was he ;are we hated for our love? so was he;

does reproach break our heart? so it did his ;-are our counsels and reproofs set at nought? so was his ;do we look for some to have pity and find none ? so did he do our friends forsake us? so they did himare we under the hiding of God's face? so was he;-are we men and women of sorrow and griefs? this was the very path through which our dear Jesus went; and even now he is a merciful High Priest that is touched with a brother's feeling for all his tempted members!-arise, my dear sister, He calleth thee to commune with thee.

I have run on, and told my friend nothing how I go on here; but I have been something, like David, hunted like a partridge upon the mountains, for I have incurred the batred of my landlord and landlady, by insisting upon the truth, so that they gave me warning to quit their house; but they

cannot give me warning to quit Jesus my safe habitation, neither can they keep me out of an earthly one, for the good Lord has given me another, much better and cheaper, in answer to my poor prayer, The dear Lord has been very gracious to me in a strange land; the people increase. The Lord was blessedly with us on last sabbath; we continue to pick up poor stragglers in the way, that have been much harrassed and wounded by the enemy, and have laid long faint ing under the heat and burden of the day. I should much like to see you all again, if the Lord's will; but know not that I ever shall. May the Lord bless you all, so prays

EDWARD PARSONS.

COPY OF A LETTER FROM THE LATE REV. W. J. BROOK. OF BRIGHTON, TO SOME CHRISTIAN FRIENDS

My dear Friends,

God's ways are marvellous and the more wonderful they appear, the more I consider them. Indeed it is a hard thing to be a sinner, that doth delight in the salvation of the Lord, and such an one is he whom the Lord calls to repentance. It is an easy thing with Him to give godly sorrow, but our hearts are exceeding hard, so that dreadful work must pass before He effectually brings this to act. I can hardly believe that ever the Most High wrought any thing good in me, for me, or by me, I am so vile ! This I know when I cannot feel it. It is in my judgment, when it it is not as I wish in my heart I am sensible according to the first, He has been exceeding good to me; that He hath magnified His mercy; that all his works have been full of kindness, wisdom and power towards me; that He hath guided me, sustained me, preserved me, and saved me; when at the same time I am full of rebel lion; that He hath not let me have my own way; I know it is good for

me to be what I have been, though it is humbling to me, and yet I quarrel with Him, because He hath not kept me from much evil as others : I am persuaded the weakness of my tabernacle is profitable, yet I repine at times that I am not in health and strength, but clogged with restraints. Shocking these things are, and dreadful, yet so it is. The worst seasons with me have always been after the greatest kindness manifested towards me;

and the best after the greatest baseness and vileness from me. I should and must give all up, if such as these were not recorded in the scriptures and a measure of faith, hope and love imparted to me with a view of them.

He

After the preservation of Noah from the deluge, we read of his drunkenness. Incest succeds Lot's deliverance from Sodom. Abraham's faith is followed with deplorable unbelief; the promise is out of sight and Hagar hath many charms. Isaac embraces Esau and poor Jacob cleaves to Rachel. Moses is shut out of the land for rebellion. David has much indulgence from the Lord by a message through Nathan and lo what followed. Solomon in his old age after all his glory worshipped idols, and when nature's vigour failed, strange wives possessed his heart. Yet the Lord doth not change. rests in his love, nothing can move that. So he declares, and so he remains. Again, the best seasons have followed hard upon the worst, all through the scriptures. David's unbelief is preparatory to Saul's destruction. Peter's denial to sweet repentance. Jonah's stubbornness to the happiest deliverance. Job's self-righteousness to full propitiation, and the outward troubles of each, with their inward fretting and perverseness, to great enlargement and wonderful deliverance and blessings. So God still rests in his love! I am sometimes in the remembrance of what goes before, afraid to be thankful for what follows after; which shews much of the legal leaven

of the bottom; yet when goodness is felt, God must be and God is praised.

I have of late, passed through deep waters, and an end has always come. I had perished if the Lord had not been faithful. I should have destroyed myself had not his mercies been infinite, but mercy is from everlasting to everlasting. I can say at times Lord correct me, but with judgment, not in thine anger lest thou bring me to nothing; and yet under correction, complain that within being plagued, without being pursued, my life is harder than others. Yet O Lord thy judgments are right, and in faithfulness thou hast afflicted me. Last Saturday I was distracted, and to day am in heaviness through manifold temptations.

A

Brighton

Ever your's

W. J. BROOK.

When I sent you the remarks on the piece of W. F. I did it, not to provoke a controversy, but to elicit the truth from one who appeared from his own account, to be deeply, or solidly taught the truth: but I find my simplicity is construed into a presumptuous trifling with the word of God; be it so, that alters nothing, truth shall flourish out of the earth: and it appears to me that W. F. is the trifler with the word of God, in its spiritual import, by the manner and way he hath treated it: and this is plain by his rejection of the old testament; saying, the dispensation of Moses was only ceremonial; and the whole of that dispensation was symbolical: then, Sirs,by the same parity of reasoning, as water baptism and the Lord's supper are only symbols, we are still living ceremonial, under the dispensation of Moses; then Christ hath died in vain, and W. F. makes himself a transgressor, by building

again the thing which he destroyed; whether this is done in a trifling way or in ignorance, I judge not.

But another charge is that, I have attempted to establish an analogy between the dispensation of Moses, and that of Christ; surely W. F. must be dreaming or somewhat worse, when he penned it; for I never attempted such a thing, but have believed for years that the Lord himself established that analogy, in its unalterable blessedness; though W. F. fights against the Lord for so doing. Our Lord saith," Moses wrote of me, and he began with his disciples at Moses, in the prophets, and in the book of Psalms and expounded to them the things concerning Himself." Nay saith W. F. these things were only ceremonial, and thus endeavours to make the God of truth aliar; and he also sets aside the testimony of the eternal Spirit who saith "through faith, Moses kept the passover and the sprinkling of blood; by faith they passed through the Red Sea as on dry land" and in this I see the blessed analogy and complete harmony between the old testament and the new therefore I cannot throw away the old testament, nor trifle with it and reject it as W. F. doth; for as Moses wrote of Christ, so all the sacrifices, offerings, the tabernacle with all the ritual, set forth Christ, who was made sin for us: nor doth the living faith of the then children of God, who received Christ and lived Christ, in that dispensation prove the apostacy of saints: neither did, or can the unbelief of those who only receive the symbols, make the faith of God without effect; nor the empty profession of those who only pass through the water to the table. It is a sad thing that those who think themselves eyes to the blind (and especialy such a one as W. F.) should not first pull the beam out of their own eyes, that they may see clearly how to pull the mote out of their brother's eye, and this is plain to an observant eye for whilst

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