THE SPIRITUAL MAGAZINE, AND ZION'S CASKET. "For there are Three that bear record in heaven, the FATHER, the WORD, and the HOLY GHOST: and these Three are One."-1 John v. 7. 'Earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.-Jude 3. "Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience."-1 Tim. iii. 6. AUGUST, 1842. THE LORD'S DOINGS. "This is the Lord's doing, it is marvellous in our eyes."-Ps. cxviii. 23. AMONGST the very many evil propensities that deceive the mind of man whilst in a state of nature, that of being proud of his own doings is not the least. This inherent principle, this pernicious weed, this deadly poison, discovers itself in various forms, in childhood to hoary hairs, but it appears the most awful, when it rears its haughty head with a pretence to honour that God whose omniscient eye looks upon it with the utmost detestation. "Come and see my zeal for the Lord," said Jehu. (2 Kings x. 16.) Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the honour of my majesty?" &c. said king Nebuchadnezzar. (Dan. iv. 30.) Such vain boasters, as cited above, are sure to oppose those precious souls whose delight it was, and is, when grace sets their hearts in tune, to speak of the great doings, the mighty acts of the Lord; and can feelingly exclaim with the church in ancient times, thus, "Not unto us, not unto us, but unto thy name be all the glory," Ps. CXV. 1. This truth the Holy Ghost has left August, 1842.] on record in the Psalm before us, which if my spiritual reader peruse at his leisure, and the Lord the Spirit doth shed his benign influence upon his soul, he will therein see that the Psalmist's experience was in unison with his own, that is, relative to his having tasted the bitter cup of soulaffliction. But whilst a host of adversaries compassed him about like bees to distress him, the Lord was pleased to make bare his holy arm in his defence, so much so, that his very soul could say in faith, that though his opponents thrust sore at him that he might fall, they could not succeed, because the Lord helped him. “The Lord (said he) is my strength and song, and is become my salvation. The stone (speaking of the Lord Jesus) which the builders (the selfconceited pharisees) refused, is become (to the church) the head-stone of the corner." And then with sacred pleasure he rehearsed the words cited at the head of this paper, “This is the Lord's doing, it is marvellous in our (the Lord's people) eyes." The first thing that I see it meet to notice, is, sonfe of the great doings Jehovah has done for his dear people ere time began to roll. This blessed Ꮓ subject was engraved by God the Holy Ghost upon the heart of the man of God that penned the Psalm before us. which the following language plainly shews. "This is (said he) the day the Lord hath made, we will rejoice and be glad in it." The day referred to here is the same as that the dear Lord mentioned to the Jews in the days of his humiliation : Abraham (said he) saw my day and was glad." Now as I have just hinted, that the day cited above has a decided reference to the person of our uplifted Lord in his official engagements with the Father on the behalf of his chosen seed, who is emphatically called the day-star (2 Peter i. 19), the true light (John i. 9). But what inference can be drawn from our forefathers rejoicing in an ticipation of the glory that should ultimately issue from the breaking forth of this day. It was first from a correct discovery, by the Lord the Spirit, of their lapsed condition by sin. Secondly, this paved a way for an exhibition of covenant love, to be by the agency of the Holy Ghost manifested in their soul's experience. Never would they have rejoiced in Christ as the true light, if they had not first felt the night of darkness. The great doings of Father, Son, and Holy Ghost in devising means to bring the banished elect family home to the fold, would not have been appreciated by them, if they were not assured, by the Lord's teachings, of their utter helplessness. But to illustrate this part of the subject, I will rehearse again that ever memorable portion of sacred writ (Psalm cxviii. 24), “This is the day the Lord (in the trinity of his persons) hath made (devised). we (that were afar off, but are by omnipotent power brought nigh by the blood of Christ; that are made sick of self-sufficiency, sick of striving to enter the narrow way by our own doings; that even wish to extol the great doings of the Lord) will (as grace is in holy exer cise in our souls) rejoice in it." Mark, beloved friends, the little word in it not on the bare surface, but brought into its sacred enclosure. Thy doings, O thou mighty God, They suit poor sinners well. Having made a few remarks relative to the Lord's doings ere time began to move, I proceed, secondly, to notice a few of his great achievements in time, as manifested in his dealings with all the living family. We find, by referring to the eighth Psalm, that David was blessedly led to contemplate upon the magnificent structure of the starry heavens: but whilst his mind was absorbed in meditation upon the formation of those splendid bodies, which defy the art of any human intelligent fully to comprehend, his musing thoughts were directed to a most sublime subject, that has annexed to it the great doings of a wonder-working God, in the effectual calling of his strayed sheep home to his fold. "When I consider (said he) thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon, and the stars, which thou hast ordained : Lord, what is man, that thou art mindful of him, and the son of man, that thou visitest him?” Ps. viii. 3, 4. Blessings on his sacred name, all his visits to his people are in pure affection, though it appears otherwise sometimes, according to their childlike capacity. This was true with reference to Manoah. When the Lord paid him a visit, "We," said he to his wife, shall surely die, because we have seen God," Judges xiii. 22. And the Holy Ghost declares that it is by is by "terrible (doings or) things in righteousness " he visits and answers his people (Psalm lxv. 5). His terribleness is discovered by the Spirit to the elect sinner in the inflexibility of his justice; this storm sweeps away his refuges of lies (Isaiah xxviii. 17). These strange doings, this terrible shaking (Haggai ii. 6, 7) dethrones Satan, dislocates the old man of sin, and lays the poor soul in the dust before the Lord, with the cry, "What wilt thou have me to do?" Acts ix. 6, ---" What shall I do to be saved?" Acts xvi. 30. These, beloved friends, are some of the Lord's doings amongst and with his people. But, thirdly, I purpose to notice a few more of the Lord's doings which excite great admiration in the soul born from above; so much so, that they can say in the language of our text, " This is the Lord's doing, it is marvellous in our eyes," or to our enlightened understandings: which doings is the revelation of pardon felt and sweetly enjoyed in the soul, by the application of the word of promise, brought or conveyed to the heart by the Holy Ghost, when this blessed Teacher brings near the imputed righteousness of Christ to the naked yet liberated captive from the prison-house, raiseth up the poor out of the dust (1 Sam. i. 8), and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill; fills the hungry with good things, imparts unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness: I say when these, or the like things, are by the faith of God's elect realized, then the posses sors of those unequalled treasures can join in the sweet anthem of praises recorded in Rev. xv. 3, saying, "Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints." Or, with the Psalmist, "Thou (said he) hast delivered my soul from death, my feet from falling; I will walk before the Lord in the land of the living," Ps. axvi. 8, 9. Or, with the spouse in the Canticles, He (the Lord) brought me to his banquetinghouse, and his banner over me was love." Or, with Ruth, "Why have I found grace in thy sight, that thou shouldest take knowledge of me, seeingam a stranger?" Ruth ii. LO. Also, a My dear brother desires a letter as token of unfading affection. I must tell thee this is the third attempt; two have already been committed to the flames as unworthy of perusal, and if this were to share the same fate, shall I say I should do right? I must leave you to judge: however, you may do it. I can please myself in nothing. My heart is so abominably base and deceitful, that to write or speak of God and salvation matters appears presumption. Stay my mind upon any subject, nay less, I cannot think of one, much less stay my poor scattered thoughts. Every one I hear speak, and every good man's writings, together with God's most holy word. loudly proclaims my ignorance; shut up in prayer in private, and wandering in public. One friend hinted to me, that I in prayer seemed to speak as if things belonged to God's people, but not as if I was interested in them. Oh methinks I should like to thrash him with a good cudgel, However if his soul was in my soul's stead, and exercised with similar things, I should like to get him at it in public. We might perhaps compare notes. Well-ordered, readymade prayers, I do not deal in; nor can I please self or Satan do what I will. To tempt and accuse seems to be his daily employ: bear it I must ،، of the forest creep forth in the dark, I must say a few words upon a passage that has just occurred to my mind : Until the day break, and the shadows flee away, I will get me to the mountains of myrrh and to the hills of frankincense," Sol. Song iv. 6. This is the voice of the Bridegroom to the bride. He would wait until the fulness of time came, for all shadowy ceremonies to be done away, and he would then appear as the end of these things, and redeem his church from the ruins of the fall. Surely for the Lord himself to rest in his eternal purposes of dying, redeeming love, and good will to poor sinners, might, if nature would speak of any figures more expressive than mountains of myrrh and hills of frank- And is not this sufficient to make the incense, be compared to it. But misery complete? No, my brother, nature fails in figures to give a just it is not. That old foe of your's and resemblance of infinite love, wisdom, mine, I do not think I need mention and power. Oh what a long night his name nor his actions; you are had passed, and what a glorious day not ignorant of his devices, if you shone, when Jesus the Lord of life are worthy of credit; probably you and glory rose triumphant, and gave may be in this, but I know you are to his disciples that commission, guilty of lying against your right "Go ye into all the world, and preach sometimes, as well as your name'sthe gospel," &c. sake. But again, Jesus now rests or retires to these mountains of myrrh and hills of sweet spices, until the set time comes to replenish, refresh, and sweetly solace, sun burnt, devil tormented, and wearied sin-sick sinners. Ah! the shades of night. How dark, how liable to take wrong steps. Nay, who can see in the dark? I cannot. And how the beasts . "We seldom see the snare, Before the smart is felt." But brother will begin to ask, my what has all this to do with the mountains of myrrh and hills of frankincense ? I will tell thee if I can. When, after we have been robbed, and plundered, and sorely wounded, our dear Lord Jesus leads us to his divine purposes of love, his unshaken kindness; when he binds up the wounds, when he administers the good old wine of the kingdom, and sets before us the fatted calf, and says, Eat, O friends; yea, drink abundantly, O my beloved." I am sure this makes amends for all, and like poor David when he pursued the Amalekites, and recovered all, so do we. Alas, alas, those four hundred young and strong men, that fled upon camels, remain still, of the Amalekites, as the poet says, to harass, perplex, and to teaze. Well, be it so. here is our point of rest, "Though hard the battle seem; Our Captain stood the fiery test, And we shall stand through him." You asked for a letter, and I send one. Pray do not call me a hypocrite, that I say one thing at the beginning, and tell a different tale at the ending. Remember David, he often begins with bitter complaints, and ends "Bless the Lord, O my soul." Oh, my dear brother, if mine is the experience of a real child of God, sure I am the christian's path is one of intricacy indeed. And was it not, I must confess that our God is of one mind, and loves yesterday, today, and for ever. I must droop and die; but here I am to this day, some times saying "I cry and shout, but he shutteth out my prayer:" again, wrestling and pleading the promises, and feel a springing up of comfort, and those gracious words have done me good, "I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice." My poor body is better again, contrary to the expectations of friends and physicians. I still am weak, and have now and then a fresh attack. Whilst ill, found much exercise of faith, in being able to rest upon God as a faithful God to his gracious promise; now and then sweet comfort, and at other times harassed by Satan. But a little longer it seems I am to abide here. The good Lord revive his good work in my soul. But I assure you I am much perplexed very often with the thieves named above; and a heart as dead as a stone. I sincerely thank thee, my brother, for thy honest affection; the Lord grant our communications by letter may be profitable. Tender my sincerest love for Christ's sake to your spouse, and accept this acknowledgment of it yourself; also to Mr. Fowler, and the few known to me through you. I should not lie were I to tell you that I much miss your company. My brother and sister, the Lord bless you in basket and store, and if it at any time seems scanty to flesh, consider Him that endured greater, and all for such as you and me. My sister, though unknown, desires to be remembered, feeling herself to be just such a poor creature as you confess yourself to be, and looking out for the same blessings. I Well, there is bread enough in our Father's house, and to spare. There shall be no lack, not one of God's dear children shall starve for want of this bread. Bless his holy name. have done your errand to Mr. Cant; he with his wife are well as usual; was grieved yet glad of the tidings, hoping from what you said she finished well. Hope Mr. C. is better. Give my love to him. Mr. Hardy will be in London in two or three weeks. My paper is full. Adieu, and when it is well with thee, remember me, and believe me to remain, yours in the best of bonds, W. H. P. S.-Let me hear as often as you can. MINISTERIAL ACCOMPANIMENTS, The daughter of Zion to the King's Ambassador sendeth greeting. Grace, mercy, and peace from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ, be with you and your's, now, henceforth, and for evermore, Amen. |