lay, were already deliberating whether they should not go forth to meet him. 66 May the peace of the Lord be with you all, my dear and respect ed friends," said he, as he stretched forth his hands to these faithful disciples." May his blessing rest upon my labours amongst you, and may he enable me to walk in the path which your dear and pious pastor, my thrice happy brother, followed."" Amen!" repeated many voices." Amen. May the Lord grant us this blessing!"-"Let us then earnestly implore it," added he, falling on his knees: "since he is our God and we are his people, let us commit ourselves unto him as our Shepherd." cess the " The pastor then dedicated himself to the service of the Lord in the presence of his parishioners. He supplicated the divine mercy on his own behalf; and prayed that he might declare with joyful sucmystery of Christ." He gave glory to the Saviour, and humbly had recourse to his merits in behalf of those to whom he was sent. Then, having taken his place in the midst of the elders, he thus addressed them: "Friends and brethren, for many years the counsel of God has been declared to you by his faithful ministers, and the word of salvation has been in a remarkable manner blessed among you. Already many children of God have quitted this village for a happy eternity: you number your fathers or your children amongst the glorified saints, and your own earnest desires anticipate the blessed moment when you shall also take, in the house of your Father, the place which our elder brother, and our God,' has prepared for you from before the foundation of the world. Blessed be the Lord for so striking a manifestation of his grace; and may he preserve this faith even to the end! This, my friends, he will do. The work that in his mercy he has be gun, his long suffering and his faithfulness will not fail to complete; and none shall pluck your souls out of his hand to whom the Father, who is greater than all, has given them." 66 The old men bowed with respectful attention, exclaiming, in a low voice, Amen! amen!"-" It is not, therefore, on your account, my honoured friends," he added, "that my soul is disquieted; but 'all have not faith' and though the good seed has been abundantly sown and blessed in this village, tares have also been scattered by the enemy. More than once have I seen the tears of my honoured predecessor flow down at the thought of the condemnation ready to burst upon the heads of those unhappy men who have hardened themselves in unbelief, and trodden under foot the merciful invitations of the Lord. 'The Lord,' said he, 'chastens me; he sends me a very grievous affliction, but it is for my good-to make me feel that I am nothing-that to him alone it belongs to soften the heart - to convince me of my own weakness and unworthiness; for, how small is the zeal with which I have laboured! I have not, however, concealed from them the truth. Often have I reproved them, both in private and in the pulpit, denouncing the judgments of the Lord! Unhappy men! nothing affects them, nothing excites their fears. They witnessed one of their unbelieving companions perish in despair. They heard him curse the day of his birth, and cry ont with horror at the approach of eternity! Another they have seen smitten in his children and in his property, and himself the victim of a dreadful derangement; and yet they rushrush like madmen to destruction!' O my friends, what a cup of bitterness are the servants of Jesus often called to drink! And yet what heart was ever more chari table or more patient than that of your worthy pastor?" "Ah, it is indeed true, Sir," said one of the elders; "none ever was more gentle or more full of forbearance than our dear departed pastor. But, alas! it is pride that leads these poor rebels astray. I have observed one in particular, the son of an old friend whom I saw depart to the glory of God. He received some little instruction, and in consequence imagined himself a philosopher; and now the poor young man talks of nothing but reason, and the enlightened views of the present age. Is it urged upon him that he is a sinner he admits it; but it is in a general sense, and he spurns at the acknowledgment of that depravity of the heart of man which makes him the enemy of God *. For myself, I feel assured, that pride is the source of all this evil.” "I agree with you, my honour ed brother," said the pastor: long as a man has failed to descend into his own heart, and to see there that deep and desperate wickedness of which the Scriptures speak -so long as he is satisfied with merely acknowledging with his lips that he is not holy and perfect, and refuses to seek diligently wherein his holiness is deficient, and what is meant by the names 'wicked, unrighteous,' enemy of God,' which the Word of truth applies to him, so long he remains in spiritual death. He is angry with and opposes every one that attempts to disclose to him his sins; in short, he hates the Bible, because he cannot read it without feeling himself condemned." 66 The elder replied; "I feel your observation to be peculiarly just, having had experience of its truth in my own case. On returning to this village, after being ten years * Jer. xvii. 9; Eph. ii. 1-3; Rom. viii. 7; Titus, iii. 3. See also note, p. 34. Eph. ii. 1-5. in the French service, I brought back with me that spirit of independence in matters of religion sa common amongst soldiers. I had been brought up under our worthy and departed pastor; but notwithstanding, when I heard him, on my return, declare the merits of Jesus Christ to be the only source of salvation, and that this is independent of what the sinner can do*; when he unfolded the state of spiritual death and condemnation into which all men are plunged by sin, whatever may be their character here below-the most upright in the estimation of the world, as well as the most abandoned +-I was so disgusted with this old-fashioned doctrine, as I foolishly called it, that I left the church, and openly expressed my dissatisfaction; calling him a dotard, who confounded good and evil, and who in his zeal to prove that our virtue did not procure our salvation, would in the end destroy our love of virtue altogether." "And yet," said the pastor, "the Holy Scriptures are clear enough upon this truth, that man is not saved by his works, but that salvation is entirely of free gracea gift of the mercy of God §; who, not willing the death of the sinner, gives him the righteousness which he needs, by clothing him with that of his only and well beloved Son ||. It seems to me, that if you allowed the authority of the Bible, you only to open it either in the Prophets or in the Gospel to be convinced that man, born a child of wrath,' is under the curse until Rom..iv. 5. had he is, born again by the Holy Spirit*. But, perhaps, at that time you did not read the Bible?" "I read it," replied the elder, "and I have always read it, even when I was in the army; but I interpreted it in my own way. For instance, that curse which the Scripture says rests upon the sinner, I understood to mean a sort of disapprobation on the part of God, something of the same kind with that which I showed towards my child when he disobeyed me, and which blew over in the same way as mine had so often done. In regard of my own righteousness, I had no objection to admit that I was not without sin, and that more than once I had broken God's commandments; but I said to myself, If I have done some harm, I have also done some good, and God will not overlook the good which he has commanded us to do. I was not aware at that time, that a man cannot do what is good, I mean what really deserves that name, before his heart loves the law which requires him to do it; and that he cannot love that law till his heart of stone has been exchanged for a heart of flesh,' by the mighty power of the Lord Jesus Christ, who only can reveal to us the knowledge of the Father, and shed abroad his love in our souls t. I should still have continued in this ignorance and hardness of heart but for the grace of a merciful Saviour." believers amongst our fellow men*; and when God shall have shown mercy to them, they will unite with us in giving him the glory. This blessing, which my soul so ardently desires for them, is his alone to bestow, and he only knows the time at which he will grant our requests. But our prayers must ascend up to him-we must make intercession in the name of Jesus for these poor wanderers by whom we are surrounded; and we know that our supplications offered according to the will of the Lord +,' 'who desireth not the death of a sinner, but rather that he should turn and live,' will be heard." As he said these words, the pastor again knelt down with the old men, before HIM who is present "wherever two or three are gathered together in his name.” He blessed him for the infinite favours which he had manifested towards them, entreating him with all the fervour of a soul inflamed with the sacred fire of charity, to bless the seed which he was going to sow,and by his Holy Spirit to dispose every heart to receive.it. He implored, in the last place, his patience in behalf of the ungodly, and supplicated him, through the blood of the Lamb that was slain, to open their eyes that they might see and know their Redeemer. 66 But, tomorrow," added he, in taking the hands of the old men, "to-morrow we shall solemnly present ourselves, with our brethren and sisters, before Him who has redeemed us, to implore in the church his eternal blessings both for ourselves and ours. Go, therefore, now; go to your families; prepare your children and your servants to sanctify the sabbath of the Lord, and invite them on the behalf of their God, to consecrate themselves in sincerity to his service." The old men bowed with respect before the man of God, and returned homewards conversing on the love of Him that liveth for ever and ever, and who was soon about to receive them into his bosom. It was thus that the new village pastor entered upon his sweet and solemn office; and laid from the WILSON'S SERMONS ON To the Editor of the Christian Guardian. SIR, IN a late review of the Rev. Daniel Wilson's Sermons on the Death of the Rev. Thomas Scott, a remark of this kind is made; that Mr. Wilson tells us much of what Mr. Scott did for God, and but very little of what God had done for Mr. Scott. Now, Sir, this remark, among other reflections suggested to me the following: that wherever we see a man who, in a spirit of humility, faith, and prayer, devotes himself to disinterested, unwearied, and laborious exertions for the promotion of the cause of God upon earth, we there see a man for whom God has done great things. In this point of view St. Paul appears to have regarded his own exemplary activity and patient sufferings in the propagation of the Gospel of Christ. He laboured more abundantly than all, and yet he regarded this fact not at all as a subject for self-applause; but he produces it plainly with this impression upon his mind, that the disposition and the ability thus to labour was a special favour, a peculiar instance of undeserved grace conferred upon him. And surely correct views of the change which must take place in the heart and affections of a fallen man before he can thus willingly consecrate all his powers to the service of his God, will compel us to entertain this view of the subject. For what is man by nature? A first, the only foundation which can be laid, which is Christ Jesus, and him crucified *. Happy the souls who feed beneath the crook of this faithful Shepherd. Happy every pastor who, like him, lives only to Jesus. Φιλαλήθης. * 1 Cor. iii. 11; Acts, iv, 12. THE DEATH OF SCOTT. corrupt and unholy being, disposed to live according to the dictates of a debased and depraved heart, without any regard for the glory of God, or for the spiritual good of man. Nay, we may go further, and say, that his inborn alienation from his Maker will tend to call forth all his powers in opposition to the cause of God upon earth. Such is the representation which both Scripture and experience give us of the natural propensities of man. If, then, we behold one who is thus naturally corrupt rising above all human principles, and with persevering assiduity, amidst the scorn and opposition of the world, devoting himself to laborious exertion in order to the promotion of the same ends for which the Saviour of men suffered and died; must we not acknowledge that a change has taken place? must we not own that such a man is a new creature? And to what must we ascribe that change? To mere human agency? To the unassisted efforts of human reasoning? No; we cannot, without a virtual denial of one of the grand doctrines of God's holy word, fail to trace the finger of God, and to own that such a change can be effected only by the operation of that holy Spirit,who is the Author of all spiritual illumination, holiness, and love. We cannot fail to confess, that for such a man, much has been done by that God from whom all holy desires, all good counsels, and all just works, do proceed. H. M. ESSAYS ON THE FIFTY-THIRD CHAPTER OF ISAIAH. ESSAY I.-UNBELIEF FORETOLD AND LAMENTED. Isaiah, liii. 1.- Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed? THESE words are both a prophecy and a complaint. They are a prophecy how the Gospel would be received, even as its blessed Author: "He was despised and rejected of men;" and so for the most part is his Gospel. They are also a complaint. When the Prophet considered what a faithful report, what glad tidings the Gospel of Christ brings to men, he cried out with amazement, "Who hath believed our report?" So Jesus himself" marvelled because of their unbelief." (Mark, vi. 6.) The prophecy was fulfilled in the case of the unbelieving Jews, as we learn, John, xii. 37, 38. But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him; that the saying of Esaias the prophet might be fulfilled which he spake, Lord, who hath believed our report? and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed?" And again, Rom. x. 16:"But they have not all obeyed the Gospel; for Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?" The prophecy is still fulfilled in all ages and places where the Gospel comes and is not embraced; but woe to that person who believes not the report, for "he that believeth not shall be damned." (Mark, xvi. 16.) Better would it have been for such an one never to have heard the report, than, having heard it, to have rejected it. 66 The report to which the Prophet alludes is that which the Gospel makes known concerning the Lord Jesus Christ and his great salvation. In this chapter, the Prophet foretels many interesting particulars concerning Jesus, which will come regularly under our consider ation as we proceed; and the sum and substance of the whole is Christ crucified. It is a faithful report. For, as the Apostle says, 1 Tim. i. 15, "This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners." It is a true report, as the Queen of Sheba said to King Solomon, 2 Chron. ix. 5, 6; "It was a true report which I heard in mine own land of thine acts and of thy wisdom: howbeit I believed not their words until I came, and mine eyes had seen it; and behold, the one half of the greatness of thy wisdom was not told me." So the believer may say concerning Jesus, for " a greater than Solomon is here." It is "glad tidings of good things."Rom. x. 15. But it may be asked, What is it to believe this report? It is not a naked belief of the facts recorded in the Gospel; not a bare conviction that they are true; not a mere assent of the understanding. A man may have all this, and yet be an unbeliever; he may have the soundest creed in his head, and yet be destitute of saving faith in Christ Jesus. Believing the report is well explained, Rom. x. 16, by obeying the Gospel; for true faith leads to obedience, and that which leads not to obedience is not the faith of the Gospel, but an empty counterfeit whereby Satan cheats and deceives many to their everlasting ruin. If we really believe the Gospel report, we shall listen to it with deep attention; we shall consider that we are hearing not a common report, not an idle tale of things in which we have little or no concern, but that we are hearing a faithful and true report of things which are to us of the last importance. We shall feel the truth and power of it in our hearts. When the Gospel report is really believed, the heart |