Etat an aunt mee Sie vue my mother's own sister UND LI THE PRE-vari, and met the graves, they free tient s ...et netim La ering a denter wire for enough divided, 11 way wom of the wort DAT CPILSatay, and reMy mother fet maIT THEN ED my amt died in Rentem See the hated a long age ben even my to her tecas, sie apeared dearly and tale One Friday night she Ke der sloger benzed to her bed: all as meal. Ún Saturday Moring the wome-and went into another room. After awhile, Der berored husband was to look for hez. He saw her on her knees, as in prayer. He retired: but finding she did not come from her room, he thought she must have fallen asleep; and went geany in to arouse her. Still on her knees he beheid her! and on putting his hand on her shoulder, found there was a stiffness, a lifelessness; behold, she was gone! Yes, the spirit had fled. Without any intimation, without any "Good-bye," perhaps without any struggle, or groan, or pain, or conflict, the soul was gone, and only the empty tenement was left. Well, I was so glad she was on her knees :-retired to seek her God; and into the hands of Jesus, I hope, she committed her soul; and there found her full salvation. Thus, one by one, the different branches of the family fly away; and soon we shall all be gone. May we in that blest kingdom find a rest from all our toil; Amen. WHY? AH! WHY? FROM MR. SAMUEL COZENS'S "CHRISTMAS Box." B UNYAN somewhere speaks of being a long time in a dreadful state of bondage and conflict, and that he used to have his shackles taken off when he went into, and put on when he came out of the pulpit. I never could fully understand that, till I went to Warboys. I was not permitted, thank God, to enter "the iron cage," but I often felt very near to it, as near as the Castle of Giant Despair. The following extracts, furnished by an esteemed correspondent, will give some faint idea of the conflicts and trials of my soul: a minister once said these words came to him when he had a mad wife, a divided church, and a deserted soul, “Hope thou in God;" and he was able to hope in God through it all. And that text was often a sheet-anchor to my tempest-tossed soul. I have a few pencillings addressed to my own heart from the question,-"Why art thou cast down?" Why ?" Is Jehovah's love fickle? Can it change into hatred? Can He love to-day and hate to-morrow? Can He fold His bride to His bosom, and ravish her with His love, and then thrust "Oft hast Thou lifted up Thy rod, I come to be forgiven." I have often thought I would tell you of something in connection with your CHEERING Words. When I first went to service, I had just been brought, through the instrumentality of Mr. Myerson, to see the Truth, and CHEERING WORDS soon became a great favourite of mine. I was going down Leadenhall-street, one Saturday evening; I had only one half-penny in my pocket, and that I was carefully saving for my CHEERING WORDS at chapel next day. But I saw a poor beggar in the distance, and you cannot tell what a struggle I had as to giving my beggar up or CHEERING WORDS; and these words settled it quickly, "Inasmuch as ye did it to one of the least of these, ye did it unto "That is cheering words enough for me," said I. The beggar got his coin, and I a light heart, while some kind friend unknown and unknowing gave me your CHEERING WORDS the next day. I was a child then, but I shall never forget it. me." M. A. MY AUNT. H! I had an aunt once. She was my mother's own sister; and in the church-yard, and over the graves, they frequently played together. In settling in life they were far enough divided, in every sense of the word, locally, circumstantially, and religiously. My mother died many years since, my aunt died in September 1865. She had lived to a long age; but even up to her departure, she appeared hearty and hale. One Friday night she ate her supper, retired to her bed; all as usual. On Saturday morning she arose—and went into another room. After awhile, her devoted husband went to look for her. He saw her on her knees, as if in prayer. He retired: but finding she did not come from her room, he thought she must have fallen asleep; and went gently in to arouse her. Still on her knees he beheld her! and on putting his hand on her shoulder, found there was a stiffness, a lifelessness; behold, she was gone! Yes, the spirit had fled. Without any intimation, without any "Good-bye," perhaps without any struggle, or groan, or pain, or conflict, the soul was gone, and only the empty tenement was left. Well, I was so glad she was on her knees :-retired to seek her God; and into the hands of Jesus, I hope, she committed her soul; and there found her full salvation. Thus, one by one, the different branches of the family fly away; and soon we shall all be gone. May we in that blest kingdom find a rest from all our toil; Amen. WHY? AH! WHY? FROM MR. SAMUEL COZENS's "CHRISTMAS Box." B UNYAN somewhere speaks of being a long time in a dreadful state of bondage and conflict, and that he used to have his shackles taken off when he went into, and put on when he came out of the pulpit. I never could fully understand that, till I went to Warboys. I was not permitted, thank God, to enter "the iron cage;" but I often felt very near to it, as near as the Castle of Giant Despair. The following extracts, furnished by an esteemed correspondent, will give some faint idea of the conflicts and trials of my soul: a minister once said these words came to him when he had a mad wife, a divided church, and a deserted soul, "Hope thou in God;" and he was able to hope in God through it all. And that text was often a sheet-anchor to my tempest-tossed soul. I have a few pencillings addressed to my own heart from the question,-"Why art thou cast down?" "Why?" Is Jehovah's love fickle? Can it change into hatred? Can He love to-day and hate to-morrow? Can He fold His bride to His bosom, and ravish her with His love, and then thrust her into hell? No, there is no such fiendish passion in the heart of passionless love. 66 Why?" Is His grace terminable? Have you got to the end of it? Will He be favourable no more? Has He spent all His favours? Is God's exchequer exhausted? Is He a bankrupt, and unable to meet the demand of those who have claims upon Him-claims in promises-claims in promissory notes-in notes that are yea and amen, and never were dishonoured yet? No, no, no. For He is rich in mercy, and will do as He hath said, and all that He has promised. 66 "Why?" Is His mercy forfeitable? Hath He in anger shut up His tender mercies? Is His mercy clean gone for ever? O no! For the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear Him. "Why?" Will you dare to call in question the unquestionable veracity of God? Will you impiously ask, "Doth His promise fail for evermore ?" "Why?" Is there some defect in Divine power? Is His arm shortened? Is He become something less than omnipotent that He cannot save? 66 Why?" Is there some failure in the great intellect of God? Is it possible that His memory begins to fail Him? Hath He forgotten to be gracious? Why?" Hath God perjured Himself? Is His oath a false one? What saith He? "I have sworn that I will no more be wroth with thee," &c. 66 Why?" Hath God changed the terms of salvation? Is it no longer true that by grace ye are saved? Chosen, redeemed, called, pardoned, justified sanctified, and preserved? No, my soul, the terms are not changed; thou art saved by grace, adopted by grace, accepted by grace, &c. "Why?" Must we revise and take from that law of heaven. "All things shall work together for good" &c.; because the universal government of all things is not upon the shoulder of Him who is the Lord of all things and God over all things? No, no, there is no time when -no place where-nothing over which no person over whom He doth not rule-"He ruleth over all." |