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a smile of holy complacency, he said, in an emphatic and animated tone, "My Jesus!" In a few minutes after, notwithstanding the greatest difficulty of breathing, he repeated the plaudit he humbly hoped so soon to receive from his adorable' and gracious Master, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant, thou hast been faithful over a few things (these last words he twice repeated, over a few things) I will make thee ruler over many things;-enter thou into the joy of thy Lord," He very affectionately took leave of his brother, shaking him by the hand, and saying, "The Lord bless you: my love to all." This was the last conversation he had with any earthly friend. Though silent, he continued evidently in a calm frame of mind, till three o'clock on Lord's Day morning, April 12, when his spirit departed to be with Christ, and enjoy an eternal Sabbath, after a residence in the mortal tabernacle 55 years.

On Friday, April 17, he was interred in the Meeting-house at Burford, just beneath the pulpit. Six of his brethren in the ministry supported the pall. Mr. Hinton, of Oxford, preached: on the mournful occasion from Acts viii. 2; Mr. Coles, of Bourton, delivered the funeral-oration, and the strong emotions of sorrow universally apparent, evinced the high esteem in which he was held by his own church and congregation at Bur ford; as well as by many who had repaired thither from surrounding villages, to witness the last tokens of respect paid to the remains of their deceased friend and father in Christ Jesus.

Mr. Smith's family was large, and his salary, which his friends were unable to augment, was inadequate to their support. Six of his children are living, and the two youngest of them, together with their surviving parent are entirely uprovided for. Their distressed case it cannot be doubted will receive the notice which it justly demands from a generous public; who, in contributing towards their support, may expect "a prophet's reward."

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We here see another of those mysterious events which we are called so frequently to record; an event, however, pregnant with important lessons. Though such a death is to us appar ently premature, yet, as has been often observed, "God's ser vants are immortal till their work is done." Our deceased brother, therefore, ere he departed, doubtless finished the work appointed him to do.

May the speedy removal of so many faithful and successful ministers be sanctified to their surviving brethren, so as to make them increasingly diligent and zealous in the work of their Lord, and habitually ready to give an account of their stewardship at his coming! May it inspire perpetual consolation and joy, that the chief Shepherd ever lives, and hath engaged to supply his churches with pastors after his own heart, with whom he will be from generation to generation, even to the end of the world! Bourton. bub T. C.

THE JOYFUL SOUND.

Justice and judgment are the habitation of thy throne: mercif and truth shall go before thy face. Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: they shall walk, O Lord, in the light of thy countenance. In thy name shall they rejoice all the day and in thy righteousness shall they be exalted. - Psal. lxxxix. 14-16.

MAN, conscious of guilt, is afraid to draw near to God. Like Adam at the beginning, he would still flce, and hide himself from the Almighty. But flight is vain, and concealment im possible-man must appear. He trembles in expectation of meeting his doom. But when the gracious character of Jehovali is discovered to him, he draws near with deep contrition, that he may obtain mercy; and is graciously welcomed and received into favour. Sinners, of every description, may now approach, and obtain acceptance through the heavenly Saviour. The gospel discovers to us this Saviour in all his glory, and in all his fulness; and blessed is the people that know the joyful sound.

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We have the joyful sound here proclaimed to us: - it is such as may rejoice our hearts, and encourage us to put our confidence in God. Justice and judgment are the habitation of thy throne, mercy and truth shall go before thy face. God is just and righteous, and all his decisions are regulated by strict and impartial justice. His character is such as must cut off all hope from those who are living in their sins; - it shews that he cannot but hate sin, and must of necessity punish ini. quity. "He is the rock, his work is perfect, and all his ways are judgment: a God of truth, and without iniquity, just and right is he." Deut. xxxii. 4. As He is holy, and hates sin, and just to punish it, the ungodly cannot escape. In themselves they are undone: they have sinned, and must perish, unless a satisfaction sufficient to atone for their guilt can be ob tained; but this is not to be found in themselves, as their whole natures are defiled, and all they do is corrupted. The Lord warned man at the beginning of the danger of transgression, → so that, if man has ruined himself, God is free from blame; for God said of the fruit of the forbidden tree, "In the day thou eatest thereof, thou shalt surely die." If man listened to Satan's lye, he has become his own destroyer; and if he continues in this dangerous state, despising the remedy, his ruin lies at his own door. That which is opposed to God's will and character, and which flows from enmity against Him, must certainly separate the soul from Him, and render it completely miserable: yet this is what the unrenewed heart can only produce. lu Created goodness and created efforts, there is no help for man.

Man has destroyed himself; but in God is his help. His

throne is founded on, established by, and regulated according to eternal and perfect righteousness. "God sitteth upon the throne of his holiness." Psal. lxvii. 8. That plan of salvation had been materially defective, and exceedingly suspicious, which had made it necessary for God to encroach upon the demands of his justice, in order to its accomplishment. But the gospel discovers a way by which the justice of God is fully satisfied, and by which his mercy freely reaches the children of men. Jesus, the Son of God, has endured the penalty which the law denounced against transgression, and paid the ransom for us. Justice is now satisfied, and man, by Jesus' blood, is justified and reconciled unto God. Through his death, therefore, salvation is afforded to all that believe, and that in strict conformity to the demands of justice, and in perfect harmony with them. God is now the just God and the Saviour; for God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing unto them their trespasses, and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Justice and judgment are the habitation of his throne, when he manifests mercy and bestows salvation on those who believe on his Son. The ransom having been paid, justice is every way satisfied; and therefore, while strict justice regulates all his procedure, mercy and truth go before his face.

Justice had extensive demands upon the sinner; but Mercy affords that which answers the whole. The Lord hath laid help on One that is mighty. The blessed Saviour, by laying down his life, hatb laid a foundation on which man may securely rest, and hath removed every obstacle out of the way of his acceptance with God. Mercy, then, shall be built up for ever. Mercy and truth have met together, righteousness and peace have kissed each other. Thus, man is encouraged to turn unto God and live. Mercy and truth go before his face, shewing the amiableness of his character, and his readiness to be reconciled, and to receive us into favour. He is true to perform all those gracious invitations and promises of mercy, by which he encourages sinners to believe in his Son and be saved.

Consider then your state, what it is. Have you fled to Jesus, as a Saviour, from iniquity? Believe in Him without delay. He is a Saviour, who will rescue you from all your evils," and from every enemy. Why then hesitate about trusting in Him? You may safely entrust Him with your all. Nay, you are undone, if you do not trust in Him, for the demands of divine justice against you can never otherwise be satisfied, so that it may acquiesce in your release; but otherwise it must assuredly inflict upon you threatened vengeance.

We have also the blessedness described of those who know the joyful sound. The joyful sound, in this passage, seems to have a reference to the jubilee-trumpet, which was a joyful sound to the distressed Israelites. After seven weeks of years,

or every fiftieth year, on the day of atonement, the trumpet was to sound. The inheritance that had been mortgaged, was to be restored freely at the Jubilee; and the man who, by reason of the pressure of his circumstances, had been constrained to sell himself, should go out free at the Jubilee. The trumpet which thus proclaimed deliverence to those who were impoverished and enslaved, was indeed a joyful one. So blessed is the people that know the joyful sound, ever the gospel of salvation, through Jesus' blood! When sinners hear this sound, and be take themselves to Jesus Christ, and understand his characters, and believe the report respecting Him, they are truly blessed!

They who thus know the sound of mercy, may be said to be blessed, in opposition to Heathens who never heard it, and in contradiction to formalists and hypocrites, who never have expe rienced its power and influence. They only who know the joyful sound, by being taught of God, and thus enabled to understand it, are really benefitted by it, because they feel its hea venly and cheering influence. What What a deplorable condition must theirs be, who never heard of this salvation? The joyful sound never reached their ears, nor gladdened their hearts: --they have been following after lying vanities, and groping in the dark, and perhaps knew it not. How sad also is their state, who are satisfied with, names and forms, and remain destitute of the power of godliness! They grasp a shadow, but they lose the substance! But the peculiar and distinguished blessedness of genuine believers, is here largely described: let us consider it a little more attentively.

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Their pleasing course is one part of their blessedness. "They shall walk, O Lord, in the light of thy countenance." God, who at the first commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined into their hearts, to give them the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ Thus they know and feel the truth of the joyful sound: they enjoy the light of God's countenance in their journey Heavenward they prize this, and ardently desire it; and it comforts and animates them in all their distresses and difficulties. The righteous Lord loveth righteousness; his countenance doth be hold the upright. Others, who have never experienced the sweets of the divine favour, may say, Who will show us any good thing?-but the saints will say, "Lord, lift thou upon us the light of thy countenance!" Careless walking, carnality of mind, and conformity to the world, will obscure or intercept these animating rays; but this is only to bring them to themselves, and lead them to God: and sensible of their loss, and humbled on account of their iniquity, they go to Him sup plicating forgiveness, and seeking renewed manifestations of his reconciled countenance. This leads them to (6 cry, Turn us again, O Lord God of hosts, cause thy face to shine, and we shall be saved!" Psal. lxxx. 19. While they enjoy this (and

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they shall never be totally deprived of it) they are truly blessed ; and their lot and their journey are rendered truly delightful. It may be mingled with intervals of obscurity or darkness;-but at last, they shall bask beneath an unclouded sky, and an un-{ setting sun for ever. They who never heard the joyful sound, never heard of that remedy which gives case to the conscience and safety to the soul: they go on trembling under the appre-hensions of the frowns of their cruel deities they remain in the dark, and never had their minds cheered with the smiles of Jehovah's favour. Those too, who rest in a mere profession, are strangers to this felicity, and are very well satisfied, if they can pacify their consciences, and please men. Vain refuge!

me."

Another ingredient of their blessedness is their daily enjoyment, and continual satisfaction in God. "In thy name shall they rejoice all the day." The saints have daily cause of rejoicing in God. The Lord watches over them every moment, and daily loads them with his benefits. The name, or the perfections of God, are theirs; - God is their portion and friend, his perfections are all on their side, united for their advantage, and displayed for their comfort. In all their ways they are under the protection and care of the Almighty. When they are involved in distresses, engaged in duties, or contending with dif ficulties, they always recollect that they are under the inspection of the Most Iligh. They say, therefore, "Thou God scast In the midst of all their wants and weaknesses, it is the Lord who affords them what they need. They answer every unbelieving apprehension, by saying, "The Lord will provide. Jehovah Sebaoth being always with them, their habitation may be called Jehovah Shammah, the Lord is there. Here their joys may be mingled with sighs and with tears; but, at last, they shall obtain joy and gladness; and sorrow and sighing shall flee away. "God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes." Those who never heard this joyful sound, never knew what real joy is. They quake for fear of unseen evils and unseen enemies, their life hangs in doubt from day to day, and they have no assurance of salvation. Those who have heard, but understand not, --seek joy in themselves, or the creature, but not in God; and seek gratification by recommending themselves, or by stigmatizing others.

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The final advancement of the saints forms the crowning ingredicat in their blessedness. "In thy righteousness shall they be exalted." The joyful sound brought to their view Immanuel finishing transgression, making an end of sin, making reconci liation for iniquity, and bringing in everlasting righteousness. They fled to this atonement, and, being arrayed in this righteousness, they are justified and accepted. To the Lord they are indebted for their advancement they are complete, and therefore none can cast them down. This robe introduces them into Heaven, fits them for appearing there, and exalts them to 3 F

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