POETRY.

THE CONSOLATION-A POEM.

Composed for his Step Daughter, M. B. and originally designed to be written in the corner of her Bible, but may be suited to the people of God in general, and particularly to some Parents and their Children.

"Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast."-Isa. xxvi. 20.

MAY he who brought us into being first,

And launch'd our little barks on time's rough sea;

Whose voice will soon consign us to the dust,

And this vain world with us will cease to be.

Before that solemn moment doth arrive,

May God command the beams of heavenly light,

To penetrate your soul, and bid you live,

Chasing the darkest gloom of tenfold night.

Guiding your wand'ring feet from ways of sin,

Through crowds of foes, to Calv'ry's mount, where he

An everlasting righteousness brought in,

By his blood shedding on th' accursed tree.

And read by faith your pardon in his blood,

That moves our guilt, and speaks eternal peace;

Pouring sweet consolation like a flood,

And joys, unknown before, that ne'er shall cease.

The healing virtues of that sov'reign balm,

Will give sweet peace while through this world you move;

It flows most freely from the slaughter'd Lamb,

To cheer the saint, and waft his thoughts above.

If this your happy lot, then O recount

With joy your never-ending portion o'er,

Angels can never cast the full amount,

Riches immense, and life for evermore.

Compared with this, how poor are all things here,
Kingdoms, and thrones, and crowns shall fade away;
But the pure buds of grace that look so fair,
Shall bloom and blossom in eternal day.

What! to be guided through the ills of life,

'Midst all the storms that beat time's rocky shore,
Through disappointments, envy, noise, and strife,
To mansions where the tempest blows no more.
How sweet the song, that sov'reign grace inspires!
It makes affliction's wint'ry seasons bright;
One smile from him who tunes the heavenly lyres,
Will cause the soul to sing with sweet delight.

Though earth should frown, friends fail, and troubles come,
The wheel of time its destin'd course shall move;

The fleeting hours that bear us to our home,

Shall land us soon in the bright world above.

*Your kindred friends have won th' immortal prize,
And tun'd their golden harps in yonder plains;
Their flight was sudden through the lofty skies,
And brought a long release from all their pains.

I too may soon be call'd to dwell above,

And leave you here in this sad vale of tears;
In life's mysterious winding path to rove,

Through adverse scenes, and soul-distracting cares.
Your bosom oft may heave the painful sigh,
Your couch be wet with tears when troubles come;
Afflictions press, temptation's tide run high,

Before you reached your bless'd eternal home.
But he who form'd the vast stupendous plan,
Of matchless, free, eternal, glorious grace,
And fix'd the means and end ere time began,
To save, and gather in his chosen race,

Will guide our feeble steps, and lead us on,

Through all the dang'rous snares that throng our path,
His arm shall screen us from the burning sun

Of persecution, famine, fire, and wrath.

And when we reach the goal to which we press,

And the dread messenger shall stop our breath;
Eternal love shall all our woes redress,

And give sweet triumphs in the hour of death.
That happy moment ends our mortal race,
With all its storms, temptations, pain, and woe;
In Jesus' arms, the blissful road we'll trace,

With shouts of vict'ry as to heav'n we go.
Surpris'd to enter through the pearly gate,
And join the hallelujahs of the place;
Singing with myriads in that blissful state,

To God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
No sins, nor fears to break the long repose,

No midnight hours, rough winds, nor thunders roar;
Eternal vict'ry gain'd o'er all our foes,

And war's tumultuous voice is heard no more.

The shatter'd frame lies in the silent grave,
Till time shall end, and the great Judge appear;
Then rise with him whose power alone can save,
And fly to meet his partner in the air.

The sentence pass'd, all nature dies and burns,
Hell's dismal door is clos'd, and none returns ;
On Zion's hill the wounded Lamb receives,

The purchase of his death and agonies.
Oh may we meet in these pure realms of bliss,
To part no more, but dwell in endless peace;
Beyond the wreck of worlds with him to be,
Whose presence brightens all eternity.

But the saints of the Most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever."-Dan, vii. 18.

Saint John, N. B.

A Father-and six Brothers and Sisters, who died in their infancy.

G. B.

THE

Spiritual Magazine ;

OR,

SAINTS' 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."

SEPTEMBER, 1834.

1 John v. 7.

Jude 3.

A DROP OF HONEY FROM THE ROCK; OR, CONSOLATION TO THE SOUL IN TRIBULATION.

"I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”—Heb. xiii. 5.

A VERY superficial knowledge of mankind will suffice to demonstrate, that no dependence can be placed on the stability of his friendship, or fidelity. The friendship of this world worketh death. True disinterested friendship may be compared to a plant, slow in its vegetation and growth, and but rarely found in its genuine luxuriance in this desert soil. The friendship which approximates most to that which is divine, is discoverable only in those who bear the image of Jesus. The saints on high, born from above, and arrayed in the righteousness of Jesus, evince some faint traits of a corresponding affection to those who bear the same image with themselves; but such is the deceitfulness of the heart, and the depravity intimately interwoven with their Adam-nature, that the exercise of their professed affections is not unfrequently biassed by selfish motives, and devoid of that quality which constitutes its value, true sincerity. Besides, even admitting the purity of human friendship to exist, an essential property in that blessing is the power to perform that which it proposes. The power and the will, in this respect, seldom harmonize and co-operate together. Hence, we observe the vast inferiority, the immeasurable distance and disproportion between that friendship which is human, and that which is divine.

The various dispensations of God, in his divine providence, are a spacious field, wherein the fickleness of this grace, as well as its imperfection, have been exhibited. In this day of great and general profession of godliness, this boasted day of Christian reformation, when we might naturally expect to behold that principle shining as VOL. X. No. 126.] 2 L

the sun in its meridian strength and splendour, eclipsing all former examples wherein it has manifested itself, not excepting the conduct of the disciples of old, who "sold their possessions, and had all things in common;" but, alas, where is the distinction manifest between the friendship of the world, and that of the disciples of our ever-blessed Lord! Surely it will not-it ought not to suffice to say to our brother in Christ, who is loved by him with the same everlasting affection, "be ye warmed, be ye filled, be ye clothed." What! shall we see the disciples of the cross pining in want under some humble shed or miserable abode, subjected to numerous privations, and exposed to the ridicule and scorn of their enemies, (many of whom have seen better days) destitute of the common necessaries which can make life tolerable, afflicted in mind and body, and tormented by the assaults incident to that state-shall we behold these trophies of victorious grace, these diadems of mercy, dearer to Jesus than the apple of the eye, passing through the deep waters of pennyless poverty and affliction, without holding out the hand of sympathy to soothe their sorrows, and illumine the darksome valley through which they pass with some cheering word and generous relief! Think not, ye that are blessed with the affluence of this life, or raised in that respect above the frowns of an ungodly world, that your parsimony will enrich you, or gild with peace the closing scene of your existence, while the distribution of a mere tithe of your possessions, (perhaps too ample for your use) would, with God's blessing, produce incalculable benefit and comfort to those disconsolate ones. Think not that Jesus is an unobservant spectator to the apathy you feel and manifest. Blessed, thrice blessed, and for ever blessed be his name! he himself is with them underneath their cheerless canopy; and although it be scarcely sufficient to shelter them from the bleak winds, and howling tempests, his presence cheers them throughout their gloomy passage to the kingdom; and while his saints are either beheld by you with mere pity or contempt, he gently leads them onwards, unveiling the perfection of his friendship, and in the endearing language of the text assuring them, " I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee."

Adversity is a chilling blast, and a darksome season, wherein the light of friendship, and the genuineness of its character, can only be truly seen. This truth is well illustrated in the apposite and striking parable of the good Samaritan, Luke x. 30-37. Like the priest and the Levite, the world and mere professors (and some too from whom might be hoped better things) exercise no compassion, but pass on their way, shunning the object which courts their commiseration and regard. Jesus Christ, the good Samaritan, only can be found to bind up his wounds, and administer consolation.

How important, in such a state of penury and affliction, to possess the friendship of one who sticketh closer than a brother; of one who is able and willing, in every case, under all circumstances, and at all times, to extend his powerful arm for our relief. In times of

prosperity, our friends flock around us, and are profuse in their congratulations; but when that sun has set, after it has passed its zenith, the fickleness of human friendship is rendered obvious, by their ceasing to court such society. Not unfrequently are they the sad subjects of their vituperation and calumny, rather than pity and regard. Not so with the ever-blessed Jesus. His love, like his nature, is the same to-day, yesterday, and for ever." This world is indeed a desert through which his disciples pass, subjected to the derisions of the ungodly, the scorns and temptations of infernal enemies, and boisterous tempests arising from a host of foes within. Frequently so overwhelming is the power of this combined legion, that the disciple proceeds onward heavily, under much disconsolation and dismay. Still, Jesus is with him to uphold and support him by the way. This painful discipline, he wisely appoints to wean him from the world, and to detach his ardent affections from the things of time and sense; to prove the helplessness of an arm of flesh; and the absolute and indispensable necessity for supernatural power and guidance to help him onwards. The christian is ever bent on seeking a refuge from his enemies in any other object than him, who is so fitly and admirably described, the Rock of Ages; thus, oft-times his nearest friends, in whom he has sought repose, and a mitigation of his pangs and sorrows, have inflicted poignant grief, and the dispensation has become a salutary rod to unrivet his mind from such dependences, and to teach him the true value of that Friend, who will never leave, and never forsake.

Within these blessed words of the apostle, "I will never leave," &c. is couched the state and circumstances, temporally and spiritually, of a believer in Jesus; his destitution and helplessness, and his entire and total dependence on an arm of almighty strength. With respect to the blessed persons who administer this heavenly balm of consolation in times of need, Jesus is the glorious subject; and the omnipotency of his arm, and the willingness of his heart, are alike revealed in his word, and in the individual experience of all his people, which is an epitome of his faithfulness. "Hath he said it, and shall he not do it? hath he spoken, and shall he not bring it to pass ?"

The destitute situation, in which the whole race of Adam is involved, is the inevitable result of a departure from original righteousness. Sin, being the transgression of the righteous law of a holy and Supreme Being, has met with its just retribution, death, not simply death of the body, but temporal and spiritual death. In this gulph of wretchedness and misery all are equally entombed. In this situation and abject condition, grace found the man, now a believer in Jesus, and said, live. Indicted and convicted in the courts of law and of conscience, as a guilty, ill and hell-deserving rebel, and convinced by the light of truth of his ruined state, he looks around him with extreme solicitude, to discover a way of escape from impending judgment. Various and painful are the intervening stages from conviction for sin, and a knowledge of Jesus as the sole