is melted because of trouble, and the dear Lord, seeing his strength is gone, and that in his own feelings his is a helpless case, speaks a word of encouragement to his disconsolate mind to this effect: "I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions as a cloud, and thy sins as a thick cloud." This is a good word, bringing him out of the horrible pit with a lively hope in the mercy of God. Faith and love go out towards and after the Lord Jesus Christ, and the feet are made swift to run the ways of God; for now his ways are ways of pleasantness, and his paths peace.

Thus he is brought to set his feet on the borders of Canaan, and he feels that nothing but tae pardoning love of the Lord Jesus Christ, brought home to nis heart, can satisfy his vast desires. But instead of this, it may be the Lord withdraws his love, and causes his courage to fail. Unbelief prevails, and he sees himself nothing but one mass of sin and corruption, and is ready to conclude that he must altogether be deceived, and that what he had felt never could come from the Lord. And here he longs for another token for good, that he may not be deceived with anything short of the power of God brought home to his conscience. Then comes the labour and travail of the soul between being brought to the birth, and having put on the ring of everlasting love, by the blood of atonement to his conscience.

With me that labour lasted for three years. During that time I had many a token for good, and many helps by the way; but sometimes the Lord cuts it short in righteousness, calls them into the vineyard, pays them their penny, takes them home to his bosom of everlasting rest, without bearing much of the burden and heat of the day; whilst with me it was otherwise; though I little thought, at the time, I, like Job, washed my steps in butter, and the rock poured me out rivers of oil, that I should again be taken into the wilderness with little to live upon of that rich provision which only can make glad the city of God; so much darkness, the sun almost a total eclipse, and the wild beasts of the forest coming forth in every direction, running as though they would soon make a full end of me. I find to this day the beasts of the world are nothing to be compared to those in my own heart, being constantly in their company, hearing, seeing, and feeling their malicious rage against the best of all beings; and such, at times, is their power that I tremble through fear that they will force me away with what Hart calls,

"Flood after flood, with mire and mud."

This is a troop that often overcomes Gad, and makes him obnoxious in his own eyes, and to cry with David, "Mine iniquities are gone over my head, a burden too heavy for me to bear. My wounds stink, and are corrupt, because of my foolishness." And how suitable again the words of David: "Deliver me, O Lord, in thy righteousness, and let me not sink." Many times, I would speak it to the honour of my God, has he brought up my soul from these depths, set my feet upon the Rock, and established my goings; and I have lived to prove what Hart says is true, that "a Christian is not

called to play or sleep, but to fight;" for seldom do I go long but some enemy is near at hand; and if there should be peace a little while, I am constantly upon the look out, and expecting some great trial is near at hand; which often drives me to a throne of grace, to cry unto God most high, who performeth all things for me. "It is by these things men live."

I think I am far from being dead, and yet often afraid my religion will dwindle into nothing, and leave me like a drone bee; but I hope I shall never be content to live upon the old stock, and upon what others have gathered, but still live to prove the Lord's mercies to be new every morning, and his faithfulness to the end of my life, and at last have an abundant entrance into the everlasting kingdom of his dear Son, who is my only hope, my only refuge from the windy storm and tempest; and I can adopt the language of the poet, and say,

"Other refuge have I none,

Hangs my helpess soul on thee."

May the Lord, in his tender mercy, still keep us by his mighty power through faith unto salvation, and each day enable us to commit our all into his hand, both in providence and grace, and be watching to hear what the Lord will say unto us, for he has promised to speak peace to his people and to his saints; but let them not turn again to folly. This is our only safeguard. The Lord has promised to keep the feet of his saints, and has said none of their steps shall slide: "I, the Lord, do keep thee every moment; and lest any hurt thee, I will keep thee night and day." The Lord well knows our strength is perfect weakness, and our utter inability to do anything that is good, and that if left but for a moment to ourselves, it would be a moment too long; but what condescension of the Most High that he takes up his residence in the hearts of such poor sinners by the indwelling of his Spirit, and then works in us both to will and do of his own good pleasure. This made the prophet to say, "He will ordain peace for us, for he has wrought all our works in us."

Now, dear friend, I have gone on to some length, but desire it may not be in vain, but be in some small measure owned and blessed of God, who ordereth all things after the counsel of his own will.

It seems a day of small things with the church, especially with me; yet I believe if my heart deceives me not, the Lord has not left off to be gracious, but that he still condescends, from time to time, to quicken me in his ways, and draw out my heart towards him. To have assurance and standing in the church of God and a lifeless soul, is of all things most to be deplored; and this the Lord complains of in the Laodiceans, who said they were rich and increased in goods, &c., but knew not they were poor, and wretched, and miserable, and blind, and naked. May the Lord never lay this to our charge, but may we be found amongst that number that came out of great tribulation, and who have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. We are all fast hastening out of time, and know not what a day may bring forth. We daily see in the midst of life we are in death, and whether in the first,

second, or third watch, may we be found ready with our lamps trimmed and our lights burning. These things with me, at times, are solemn things. Knowing, from a weak body I must soon put off this tabernacle, with all its trials and cares, I can sometimes adopt the language of the poet, and say:

"Weary of earth, myself, and sin,

Dear Jesus, set me free;
And to thy glory take me in;

For there I long to be."

And now, dear friend, I shall conclude, hoping, if it be the Lord's will, this may find you in good health of body, and a soul prospering in the things of God, which is the only thing worth living for. May the Lord give us faith, feelingly to say with Paul, “Whether I live or die, I am the Lord's.

Yours in the best of all Bonds, Brighton, June 28th, 1864.

JAMES FARRANT.

[The above letter was written to the late Mr. Grace, who gave it to us. The writer, not long after he had sent it, was called away, dying after a short and severe illness.-ED.]

A LOVE VISIT.

My dear Friend, and afflicted Brother in the Lord Jesus Christ, who hath loved you and given himself for you.

I

But you may say, "Are you sure of that?" Well, I can feelingly say before the Lord that my soul has been knit to yours now for many years. You are never long out of my mind and memory. seldom fall upon my knees but you are brought before me; and I seldom enter the pulpit but your case is brought into my mind; so that my soul tries to ask the dear Lord to restore you to your usual health and strength, that you may resume your pulpit-labour again.

I could not go to see you during my engagement in London, for want of time, and I found travelling very trying through the frost and snow; but I wanted to see you, because I had some good news to tell you from a far country; but I must communicate a little of it to you by letter.

In the first place, I had been very much tried for some weeks in my mind about many things, and out of the pulpit my soul was left in a dead, hard, cold, and barren condition. The Lord favoured me with life and liberty in the pulpit; but in a short time afterwards my soul sank into a dead, dark, and confused state again. I was often led back to see how the Lord favoured me in gone-by days out of the pulpit; and now I seemed left without life or feeling, desire or prayer; and faith and hope were at a very low ebb. Thus my mind was much perplexed and my soul much cast down, at times, and I seemed to have no spirit of hunger or thirst left within my heart; but on Wednesday evening, the 18th of January, 1 was led to speak a little from these words: "But we all, with open face beholding, as in a glass, the glory of the Lord, are changed into the

same image, from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord." Next morning the text came fresh upon my mind with some sweetness, power, and savour; and as I was thinking it over, the Lord Jesus broke in upon my soul with his mighty power and love; so that all of a sudden my heart and mind were carried away into heaven by God the Holy Ghost. The Lord Jesus was opened up to my soul, and my interest in his love, blood, and righteousness was opened up within my heart. The gates of righteousness were open in heaven, and the door of hope and the door of faith were opened in my soul; and the Holy Ghost poured into my heart the oil of joy, love, and praise, until my cup was full and ran over. sweet scriptures were broken up within my soul, so that I had nothing to do but to eat and drink the precious gospel of the Son of God. The power of it enlarged within my soul, so that I could not keep it from my dear wife; she thought I was going to die, and I thought so too.

The

This took place about half-past nine o'clock in the morning of the 19th of last month, near to the spot where I am now sitting. It remained with me all that day. My heart was broken, and my soul melted into nothing before the Lord, and the sweet tears of peace and joy came up out of my heart so freely and so fully that I could not see out of them. I saw and felt myself nothing, and less than nothing, and vanity before him. What self loathing and self-abhorrence there was in my heart before the Lord! I could not abase myself low enough, nor make myself little enough. I left home the next day for Hitchin, with my soul full of peace and joy in believing.

On the Saturday morning we left Hitchin for London, and I had not been in the railway carriage many minutes before the Lord Jesus broke in upon my soul again. The Holy Ghost led me into him by faith. His glorious countenance was lifted up upon my soul, and my heart was so enlarged, and the book of Solomon's Song was so sweet and precious, I held communion with the Father in and through the Son and by the Holy Ghost. O what language the Holy Ghost indited in my heart! My soul desired to live as holy as God is holy; and certain I am that the power of the Holy Ghost, felt and enjoyed in the child of God's heart, produces the same fruit in the soul, and in the life, movements, actions, dealings, and conversation of the believer which the precepts of the gospel set forth. The precepts of the gospel cannot be obeyed in any other way nor by any man on earth, but by him whom the Holy Ghost anoints with divine power and living faith. This, my dear brother, your soul has learned experimentally again and again. What can melt or move such a hard and rocky heart as mine but love and blood to holy obedience before the Lord, by the actings of living hope and living faith centering in and through the precious atoning blood of the Lamb? For without faith it is impossible to please God.

The Lord help you, my dear friend, to go on in your good work, and may he bless your soul in it, and give your heart a powerful anointing with his holy oil. O what a mercy that the Lord hath

put your soul and mine among the children, and that we are saved in the Lord with an everlasting salvation; and O what a salvation it is to save such a sinner as I!

Yours very affectionately,

Godmanchester, Feb. 7th, 1865.

A FRIEND LOVETH AT ALL TIMES.

T. G.

My dear Sir, I desire this evening to write a few lines to you, and do hope that the dear Spirit will teach me what to say; for I am sure without such a teacher, and such a guide, I shall be nothing better than sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal. I found and still find that without the Holy Ghost I can do nothing.

What an unspeakable mercy, then, it is to have the Holy Spirit given to us, to instruct us in the way we should go! I stand more in need of the Spirit's power than ever to put me right, and to keep me right; for every day and every hour of my life do I find something going wrong within me, and wonder how such a vile monster as myself can have any part or lot in the mercy of God. In my own feelings I am more fit to be cast into outer darkness; and I do believe if such were my eternal doom I could say that God is holy, just, and good. O how long-suffering is the God of all grace to me, a helldeserving sinner, who rebels against him a thousand times a day. Really, I think my wretched heart is worse than any other man's, for it is continually oozing up and teeming forth all manner of sin and wickedness. And how full of meaning are the words of the prophet on this head: "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?" My soul answers, "None but God." It is he by whom all actions are weighed; for he searcheth the heart and trieth the reins of the children of men.

But, notwithstanding my heart being so full of sin, and so rebellious, there are other desires springing up from time to time, which make me inwardly cry and sigh to the dear Lord for a sweet manifestation of his pardoning love and mercy; and though, with Jeremiah, "I have seen affliction by the rod of his wrath," yet hath he not given me over to death; and though he hath caused me to walk in much darkness, so that I could not find him on either hand, yet hath he been in these sore trials a Friend that sticketh closer than a brother, and one that loveth at all times. Blessed be his dear name, he is a God nigh at hand, and not afar off; and, though he cause grief, yet will he have compassion.

O what a compassionate God I found him to be to my poor soul a short time ago in my room. How he condescended to listen to the poor breathings of a feeble worm! How long we were in communion I cannot say; but I never in my life poured out my soul with more freedom. It was as though the Lord himself had come down to me, and made everything around as holy as he is holy.

These precious visits break my hard heart and melt my benumbed soul; and at these times I can say there is none so precious to my soul as the Lord the Lamb. He is the chiefest amongst ten