with ardent expectations, and sighed out your holy desire to be accepted in him, and saved by him with an everlasting salvation. "But while you were thus coming, you experienced another attack from the prince of darkness, not unlike that which befel the young man whose father brought him to Christ, Luke ix. 42. "as he was yet coming, the devil threw him down and tare him." Did he not suggest that you had committed the unpardonable sin? and that you had no ground to expect forgiveness?— Did he not question the willingness of Christ to receive you?-Did he not invent the idea of sinning away the day of grace, and thus tear your soul with groundless doubts and fears, until Jesus rebuked him and spake peace to your mind, revealing himself in his glorious mediatorial character, and smiling forth the willingness of his heart to receive all that come unto God by him, however guilty and vile. "The first glimpse you obtained by faith of his lovely countenance, created more encouragement in your soul than all the efforts of ministers and friends ever imparted; and with the encouragement, strength was given to cast your sin-burthened soul upon his almighty arm, convinced of the fulness of his grace and the compassion of his heart: then it was you first tasted the sweetness of his promise, "I will give you rest." The tempter fled-hope revived-love glowed with holy warmth-and faith took his standing by the cross, to gain closer intimacy with that precious Saviour whose first smile had created so much of heaven in the soul." We were much gratified in perusing these letters, and do most heartily recommend them to our young friends, with earnest prayers that the Holy Spirit may render them beneficial to their spiritual edification. RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE. The Anniversary of Union Chapel, New Road, Sloane Street, Chelsea, will be held, by Divine permission, on Thursday, July 1, 1830, when Two Sermons will be preached; that in the Morning, by the Rev. JOSEPH IRONS, of Camberwell; that in the Evening, by the Rev. R. H. CARNE, A.B. of Exeter. Services to commence in the Morning at Eleven, and in the Evening at halfpast Six o'clock. Hampstead Anniversary, Thursday, July 15, 1830, when, Providence permitting, Three Sermons will be Preached, at Bethel Chapel, Holly-bush Hill; in the Morning, by Mr. JOSEPH IRONS, of Camberwell; in the Afternoon, by Mr. JAMES CASTLEDEN, Minister of the Chapel; and in the Evening, by Mr. JOHN STEVENS, of Salem Chapel, Soho. Services to commence at Eleven, Three, and Six o'clock. In the Press, and will be Published by Mr. E. PALMER, in a few days,"British Zion's Watch Tower in the Sardian Night;" being the Substance of Four Sermons on Psalm lxxxii. 5. By the Rev. HENRY COLE, A. M. Also, just ready, Part V. of the Rev. JOHN MORISON'S Exposition of the Book of Psalms. The concluding Part will be got ready as early as possible. Just Published--" The Sinlessness of Jesus, being the Substance of some Discourses delivered at Salem Chapel, on the words" He knew no sin;" to which are annexed, Animadversions on the Rev. E. IRVING'S Doctrine of our Lord's Humanity. By the Rev. JOHN STEVENS. Just Published-An Authentic Portrait of the late Rev. ROBERT HAWKER, D. D. late Vicar of Charles, Plymouth; taken only a few months before his decease. POETRY. October, 1829. "WHAT AILETH THEE?" How strange, my soul, thy state appears, Thy vile propensities subdued, But soon did sin again intrude, And made me cry, "What aileth thee?" Thy weakness, vanity, and pride, Then griev'd and sore distress'd, I cried, And now I stand in much amaze, As on thy leanness too I gaze, I must exclaim, "What aileth thee?" Well may I cry, "What aileth thee?" The fruit of Adam's fall must be, MARY. ON THE LOVE OF CHRIST. NOT always the saints can rejoice, If nothing their pleasures could Then scarce their fond bosoms would know How sweet is the voice of thy love. By sorrow we know what is joy, By darkness we know what is light; And 'tis when first the thick shadows fly, We think it most pure and most bright. 'Tis thus with the christian awhile, He doubts and despondings must prove, To know at the end of his toil, How sweet is the voice of thy love. Though sadness encompass us round, Yet still we are safe in our God, Where he loves is his chastening found, His children must taste of his rod. 'Tis well though in darkness he hide, Our sins and transgressions t' re prove, For Oh! when he ceases to chide, How sweet is the voice of his love. THE Spiritual Magazine; OR, SAINTS9 TREASURY.. "There are Three that bear record in heaven; the FATHER, the WORD, and the HOLY GHOST: and these Three are One." Earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints." John v. 7. Jude 3. AUGUST, 1830. (For the Spiritual Magazine.) ON COMMUNION WITH GOD. THIS is one of those privileges that all the children of God are admitted to, sooner or later, after they are made new creatures in Christ; but only those who are born again can understand the mystery, or adopt the language of the apostle, and say, "Truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ." The covenant union subsisting between Jehovah and his church, is the foundation of all the fellowship enjoyed; and from the boundless, bottomless ocean of eternal love, flows the soul-refreshing stream of communion with God. Not only are the saints the chosen, the called, the faithful, but additional blessings await them; as children they shall know and have communion with God as their Father; and when enabled by grace, all sovereign, rich, and free, to realize their relationship, they seek his face and favour; they confess their follies and implore forgiveness; they feel their wants and seek supplies; and as Jacob set up a pillar in the place where God talked with him: many pillars these precious sons of Zion set up, and are glad to refer to in seasons of temptation and trial. And as the bride, the Lamb's wife, sweet fellowship she often enjoys with her Lord and Husband; he having loved her and given himself for her, will never leave nor forsake her; his smiles make his saints happy, and his absence, like the setting sun, leaves darkness behind. If he withdraws, it is an eclipse; you may see the sad perplexed situation of the spouse in the Cant. iii. her Lord had withdrawn-it is all night with her, and none could fill VOL. VII. No. 76. K the place of this pearl of great price; but his love had warmed her heart-his beauties had fired her soul-his person had captivated all the powers of her mind-his righteousness was her adorning dress-his salvation had set her soul on high-his Spirit had created her anew in Christ Jesus, and much communion she had enjoyed. She had seen him as the rose of Sharon, as the lily of the valley, as the stately, fruitful, shade-affording apple-tree; into his banqueting-house he had brought her, unfurled his love banner over her. But now a most distressing change had occurred-a winter had succeeded all this summer; it is now sorrow, affliction, and darkness. But there is a love to her husband still burning in her bosom; seek him she must; lie any longer in bed she could not; she shakes herself from the dust, she puts on her beautiful garments again, and says, “I will seek him whom my soul loveth." But she seeks, and like many, cannot find him at first; she does not give over the pursuit, but goes into the city, into the streets and broad places; makes use of every means, walks in all the commands of her God, and at last succeeds in finding him. And no rest, or ease, or satisfaction could she find, until her Lord returned; like one who has lost a rich and precious jewel, will use every means for its recovery. But we will here remark, that no communion can be enjoyed with God, unless there is an experimental, spiritual, and scriptural knowledge of him; and that in a Mediator, in the atonement, righteousness, and salvation of Jesus, we see the infinite wisdom and superabounding grace of God; and in the great and perfect work of God the Holy Ghost, performed and produced in every vessel of mercy, such are made meet to hold converse with the King of kings. He came down from heaven's high abode, and was clothed with his bride's feeble flesh, that he might not only redeem them from the rigorous curse of a holy broken law, but hold sweet communion with them. Fellowship with God is not only an evidence of interest in all the great work of salvation, but it is essential to the happiness of those who are the sincere followers of the Lamb, who meet with many thorns and briers thickly growing in the pilgrim's path; but the company and smiles of their best beloved friend smooths the rough and rugged road; the heavy burden is cheerfully borne, when the great burden-bearer is present to bear its heaviest part. And here may writer and reader stop and gaze, worship, and wonder, at the great Strength of Israel, the bearer of sin, of curse, of vindictive wrath, of hell, that once appeared like an awful threatening storm, which would have dealt destruction and damnation on all; but God, the Saviour and the shield, came between his chosen church and the ready to burst cloud, and wafted it away, and sin, the cause of the curse, he effectually removed; so that the cause and the consequence, Christ was made, he bore both away-was buried, never more to rise. O come then, and see the place where the Lord lay: and this stronger one than all bears up all his brethren, and suffers them not to sink when oppressed. Communion with the Lord is a mark of special distinction. Many obtain a clear creed from a catechism, and pride themselves in privileges enjoyed, and that they have been reared in from early life; can rehearse many sermons preached by sound and solid men, and boast of blessings often begged from fathers in the faith: but this one thing needful, the soul wafted by the gales of God the Holy Ghost from earth to heaven, and a faith in exercise fixed on him who is the image of the invisible God, these persons are strangers too. It is but here and there traveller is to be found, who has parted with all his great possessions for Christ and him crucified. 66 In the bible we meet with many who have this special mark of distinction upon them. A Moses prayed, "I beseech thee, shew me thy glory." (Exodus xxxiii. 18.) An aspiring Asaph exclaimed, "Whom have I in heaven but thee, and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee." (Psalm lxxiii.) My meditation of him shall be sweet; I will be glad in the Lord," says the royal psalmist. Many more might be brought forward, to shew the reality of the sentiment, that the children of Zion do rejoice in their King, or that they have communion with God; but we have witnesses in this world, who are a wonder to many and to themselves, who love and prize the power of religion, who love and live the truth, whose hearts burn within them, while they walk and talk with Jesus; the savour of his name is like ointment poured forth to them; sin, once loved, has now ceased to charm; it is watched, fought and prayed against-the pardon of it occasionally enjoyed. The pilgrim's panoply put on, and often fearlessly fights, and faints and falls; but again and again raised up, and restored to his rank. His Captain is a physician of no ordinary skill; he extracts every deadly dart, heals every wound, and covers every scar. This is the life he will lead; his own weakness and wickedness often feel, but believing everlasting arms to be under him, he cannot finally fall, although he fears he shall, and instead of overcoming at last, he is fearful he shall be overcome; thus a conflict is continually maintained. But the Holy Comforter often comes with his cordials, which makes the weak say, I am strong-puts life and energy into our petitions, makes the dead to live, the sorrowful to sing, the scales to fall from the eyes; and then the beauties of Jesus are seen, the blessings of his righteousness desired, an interest in his intercession invoked. This holy unction helps him on his way, he gets upon the borders of a better world, and almost forgets he is in a wilderness still. His sun now in splendour shines, and his working, vigorous faith travels into worlds unseen, looks at the Lamb upon the throne, the only centre of his hopes and joys, his song, and all his salvation; looks upon the blessed breast-plate upon the heart of him who is God over all, and reads his worthless name and wonders; turns to the book of life and finds it again written among the countless millions upon the precious page. But here he tarries not long; these glories are too great to live in, until our bodies are made like the glorious body of our exalted Head. |