FRIENDLY VISITOR.

No. CLXI.]

FEBRUARY, 1832.

[VOL. XIV.

SHORT SERMON.

"It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you."-Acts i. 7, 8.

Our blessed Lord reproves the Scribes and Pharisees for not discerning the signs of the times; while in the passage before us, he tells us that it is not for us to know the times and the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.

Now there is no contradiction in these two passages, though it may be thought so at first sight; but there are very useful lessons to be learnt from them in their connexion with each other, for our guidance and' direction in religious knowledge and practice.

It is our bounden duty to discern the signs of the times, now present; but as to times and seasons not yet arrived, and events not yet accomplished, it is not for us to know them. It would be strange and heedless indeed, if we could shut our eyes to the signs of the times in which we now live. What, when the angel stands over us with his drawn sword ready to smite us, can we be thoughtless? when the Almighty has come out of his place to judge the inhabitants of the earth, shall we not discern his movements? Is it possible, that we should be deaf to the wars and the rumours of wars, which rage around us? No, we must rouse ourselves to reflection; we must lift up our eyes and see, that we may be driven to prayer and repentance and amendment; that if we cannot avert the threatened vengeance, we may at all events be prepared ourselves for the coming storm, and be enabled to possess our souls in patience and peaceful confidence. Oh! reader, listen to the voice of God now speaking to us as a people; and rouse, rouse from your slumbers. Rest not till you feel within you the joyful workings of a

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lively and life-giving hope, and are in all respects thinking and walking worthy of your high vocation.

But with regard to the times and the seasons yet to come, they are known only to the Father. He has been pleased indeed to reveal much of his will concerning the Church and the world at large; he has cheered and encouraged his groaning and wearied inheritance with the prospect of brighter days, when Satan shall be more thoroughly bruised, and the Church shall lengthen her cords and strengthen her stakes; but when and how all this shall take place he has not told us. We seem indeed to witness now the breaking up of every thing; which may probably lead to that happy state of things when he has promised to make "all things new;" but most interpreters of prophecy who have been positive and certain in their statements, and in their fixing of dates and times, have found themselves wrong; for it is not even for inspired apostles to know the times or the seasons.

While

however, we attend to the duties conveyed in these two passages, and on the one hand, discern the signs of the times, and on the other hand, beware of presumption and self-conceit, let us learn from our text what is our first and grand duty. It seems as if our Lord drew off the attention of his disciples from speculative and curious points to one of much greater moment to their best interests; "ye shall receive power after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you;" which literally means, "ye shall receive the power of the Holy Ghost coming upon you.* Here is the greatest blessing: not to understand all mysteries: not to be able to speak with the tongue of angels; not to dive into futurity, and to bring out of its darkness the hidden things of God; this is not the best gift earnestly to be coveted; no, the best gift is the Holy Ghost, which Christ promised in the character of the Comforter, when he ascended into heaven.

This, my dear Reader, is what we want and what we should seek after more of Christ's promised Spirit to be poured out upon the world at large; on the land we live in; on the Church of Christ; on our own souls in particular that what is wanting in our faith and practice may

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be supplied; besetting sins be overcome, the world conquered; the lovely graces of the Spirit increased and strengthened; and in one word, that we may be beautified and adorned with salvation, anointed with fresh oil, and strengthened to press forward with redoubled vigour to our promised kingdom.

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In these desires and pursuits we cannot be wrong. we do these things we shall never fall. The curious speculator in the hidden things of God may be following the flimsy lights of his own fancy, which after all leave him cold and barren and unsanctified: but the soul that hungers and thirsts after righteousness, alive to its own. emptiness and believing in Christ's all-sufficiency, shall be filled with grace. Christ has promised it, and all his promises shall most surely be fulfilled.

Let us be much in prayer then for the Holy Spirit; that he will guide us into all needful truth; but above all that he will make us to feel more of his sanctifying power in subduing sin and promoting holiness. This is what we all want; to know more of the power of the Holy Ghost. Never, never be content without the experience of this power. It will be given. Patient, believing prayer will bring it down into the soul.

Let us take the kingdom of heaven by holy violence; and wrestle, like Jacob, with the angel of the new covenant in importunate prayer, until he bless us. Then will the Lord make us to know the reality of religion; and then shall we be fitted with the whole armour of God for all the trials and duties that may await us.

ON THE CHOLERA MORBUS.

DEAR READER,-We are visited with a pestilential disease called the cholera morbus, which may carry many of us to the house appointed for all living. If you should be one of those who are called to die by this swift messenger from heaven, have you scriptural ground to believe that God has not appointed you to wrath, but to obtain salvation in Christ with eternal glory; that if this fierce disease carry you to your long homes, your spirit will be carried by angels into Abraham's bosom; that before

your dear weeping, surviving relations can be sensible of your departure hence, your happy soul will have mounted up to heaven, there to bask in the sunshine of redeeming love, and to be filled with all the fulness of God. It must be a most serious thing to die; but it matters not when, where, or how you go hence, if you do but die in the Lord, whether in the morning of youth, or evening of age; whether by a violent stroke, or gradual decay in the bosom of endearing friends; at home or in a desert land abroad. Jesus will smooth your bed of dissolution, enlighten the dark unknown through which you must pass, and lead you forth into the bright shinings of eternal day, where death is swallowed up in victory, and life eternal reigns. Prepare then at once to meet your God: entreat the Lord the Spirit to turn you, and you shall be turned: the Lord Jesus to heal you, and you shall be healed: God in covenant to save you, and you shall be saved. Let Jesus be the choice of your wills, the object of your affections; let his word be the delight of your heart, and the rule of your life; meditate on death, not as if you were merely meditating, but as if you were dying; think of it not as at a distance, but near at hand; not of the death of others, but your own; learn to die with those who die, and place yourself in their stead; and never rest seeking, that death the king of terrors may be a conquered foe through the death of Christ, a messenger of peace through the resurrection of Christ, a very angel sent to conduct you safe to heaven. May it, my dear reader, be to you and to me, Christ to live, and gain to die. Amen!

R. L. C.

A WORD OF CAUTION.

If it should please God to allow this dreadful plague called the Cholera to go through the country, it is of great consequence that we should in all respects be prepared for its approach: prepared as it respects ourselves, and also as it respects our duty to others.

One great preventive of infection, I do believe to be the absence of fear. Let the people of God then seek for an increase of faith and hope, and for the exercise of that perfect love which casteth out fear. Poor, fearful Christian, think of thy Saviour's love and tenderness. Think of the shame of distrust

ing his love and wisdom. for the worthless sparrows: remember that the very hairs of your head are all numbered: and rest peacefully and quietly in the hands of your Saviour, with whom are the keys of death and hell. Think of that: he has already locked the mouth of hell, and opened for you the gate of heaven: he has the keys of death too, and depend upon it, you are immortal, that is, you cannot, you shall not die, until your work is done.

Remember your Father S care even

But if the cholera comes close to our door, what is to be done? I wish most earnestly to warn my readers against needlessly exposing themselves to danger. There is a very bad custom when any one is ill, for all the neighbours to crowd one after another into the sick room. It is kindly meant, but there are few cases where it is not very hurtful to the sick person. Now if the cholera comes, beware, I entreat you to beware of going rashly and needlessly into an infected house. As far as possible keep to yourselves. Keep your children together. Keep from a shop where the cholera is. In most cases those of the family who are as yet well, are the persons to whom belongs the duty of nursing and doing all for the poor sufferer. And they should not lose a moment in sending for a doctor, as it is of the greatest consequence to apply remedies early.

If there is a House of Recovery for your district, it is of the greatest consequence that neither patient nor friend should object to avail themselves of it. Going to a House of Recovery may save many precious lives by preventing infection.

It is clearly the duty of some to nurse and attend upon those who are ill, and I hope that none whose plain duty it is to do so, will be backward to perform every kind office required of them; but all that I wish to urge is, the bounden duty of all to keep away from the sick, save those who must attend upon

them.

This is a general rule which ought to be attended to in all places: but its application to particular cases is not very easy to define. How far Ministers ought to be expected to go to infected houses, or other friends not directly wanted for the purpose of nursing, I cannot exactly say. Perhaps some lati.. tude may be allowed for each to do as he is disposed in his own mind.

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