No. 2.]

WEEKLY NUMBERS, D. MONTHLY PARTS, 3D.

It was extorted from him by a powerful address from the apostle. As Paul reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and replied, in substance, It is all true-I must reform-but not now-I cannot listen to such a proposal -I am too much involved in a multiplicity of cares-some time hence I shall be differently situated, and then-and then I will hear thee again.

Such, my brethren, were the circumstances under which the text was first uttered. The words themselves require no commentary. Their meaning is readily understood, and the idea they convey is perfectly familiar to your minds. There is hardly an impenitent person present who has not employed them a hundred times, nor one who is not ready to employ them again. I shall then consider them today as the reply that all such are ready to make if called to repent and obey the gospel -and proceed to a simple but serious remonstrance. Since we last assembled on this occasion, twelve months ago,

"How many precious souls have fled

To the vast regions of the dead?" Your pastor has been called to commit the remains of thirty-four persons to the tomb. If we should undertake to classify these, what a commentary would be found on the words, "All flesh is as grass." As you sat here this day twelve months, and thought of the uncertainty of life, did you not hope that with such care as you could bestow, the beautiful buds of infancy would at least be spared-yet twelve little ones, of whom "is the kingdom of heaven," have disappeared. Or did you suppose that the youthful and hopeful, having escaped from the perils incident to in

of life? But from the lips of six of these, the rosy cup was dashed just as they had raised it to their lips. Or did you flatter yourselves that the experienced and mature would be able to avoid the snares of death? Seven persons, in the midst of life, or past its meridian, have fallen asleep in death. Or was the hope fondly cherished, that those venerable parents of threescore years, would still remain to overshadow your dwelling, and delight you with the rich and ripe fruit of their wisdom? Such hope in nine cases has been fallacious. Were we to enter into an analysis of characters, a variety as great might be found as in age; and to the Christian no less than to the pagan eye, the dark and capacious urn would appear to have poured out the names of men promiscuously, and to have taught us, that in this respect one event happeneth to all. So much does it say for the past. And what does it say of the future? It seems to say,-Some score of idolatrous parents should prepare this year to resign their little idols. Some score of persons in middle or mature life, fathers, mothers, sons, or daughters, should gird up the loins of their minds, trim their lamps, and be ready to go out and meet the Bridegroom. More than one of the youths here present, now rejoicing in their strength or priding themselves on their beauty, should pause and reflect that death is no respecter of persons. The young and the old, the merry and the sad, lie down in one promiscuous throng, and repose undisturbed in their cold resting-place, the grave, alike unknowing and unknown. Is this a just reflection? Has there been one year when death exacted much less than during the last? Over six hundred and fifty mortal remains has the minister of this church been called to officiate; and if this sum is divided

February 12, 1859.] `

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with divers colours the heavenly city, with its gates of pearl, and walls of precious stones, and streets of gold; its dazzling throne, its translucent river, its shady groves and refreshing fruit. Nay, He has portrayed His Son on the cross, agonising and atoning, dying and rising, ascending and interceding for man, and saying, "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." "Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price." "Ye will not come to me that ye might have life." "Why will ye die, O house of Israel?" "Now is the accepted time, and now is the day of salvation." This, my brethren, is all that is said; but I ask now, Is not this enough? Suppose your dying hour was come; | would you wish that anything more should be said? would not that which was living and moving in your mind, would not that which was behind the veil and that which was before it be enough? would not these deep things then have great weight, and, joined with the deep and dark fears which you have long smothered, would they not impel you instantly to decide to submit to God and be saved? I ask then, Why halt ye between two opinions?" Will the time ever come when you can take a more calm and dispassionate view of this matter than at present? You do not deny that this is a convenient time, but you ask in reality for a more convenient season. Permit me to ask you whether in such a matter as this, you can with any propriety speak about convenient seasons? Is God a humble artisan, who presents himself with his account for payment? to whom you say, "Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee." You say these words, it is true, to us your fellow-men, but you say them in effect to God, knowing us to be ambassadors for God. Now, if God the Holy Spirit is saying to you, through me, "To-day if you will hear His voice, harden not your hearts"-I put it to your consciences-to your sense of what is right-is such an answer the one that should be made,-"Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee?" Hear, O heavens, when God, the God of the spirits of all flesh speaks, is it not becoming in you to listen? When He does but whisper, when He sends but a message, should you not listen with profound attention? Oh! that great veil which is dropped between heaven and earth, what contrasts within and without does it not witness! Within the veil, all is adoration and worship. Every spirit in the worlds of light or of darkness trembles or adores; angels tremble, and are rapt in praise to God. Without that veil, is blasphemy and contempt of God, despising His gospel and ridiculing His people; or where decency and propriety, and cultivation and cherishing of His great institutions are found, even there

15

hear we such words as these "Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee." But we ask again, "Why halt ye between two opinions?" Are the pleasures of sin so sweet, that to enjoy them a little longer, you are willing to endure whatever is to be endured in the world of woe? But we are addressing men who have little to do with the pleasures of sin so called-men of belief, men of domestic responsibilities, men of purity, men of thought, men of learning, and we must inquire of such, Why do ye halt between life and death? Are riches so enticing, is business so delightful, are children so lovely, companions so dear, that you should shut your eyes upon the glorious illustrations of God's love on this side the veil, and harden your hearts against the awful consequences of God's wrath on the other? If God were not God, yet if heaven were what it is, and hell were what it is, would you, could you, as rational beings, when the one offers itself to you, opening its glorious gates and spreading its costly banquets and tuning its golden harps; and the other uttering its muttering thunders, sending up its murky smoke, or through the thick darkness opening its gloomy gates and allowing to escape some sounds of wailings-could you repeat slowly and intelligently and voluntarily these words, to heaven-"Go thy way, shut up thy golden gates, dismiss thy bright attendants of mercy, hang up thy golden harps, and let God, the God of mercy, wait until it is convenient to me to come?" Or could you stand and look down into that dark abyss, and see the smoke of torment rising up, and hear the groans of the dying, but never dead, and the clanking of the chains that are never to be loosed, and the gnawing of the worm that is never to die, and venture to postpone for a day or an hour the effort, the desperate, convulsive effort to escape? I ask, then, why halt ye between two opinions? I am not speaking to men who have no opinions, no belief; but to men who have opinions, and correct opinions, and who mean to follow on to a right and happy end, but who do not mean to do this to-day-at this season-this year;-at this convenient season-at this proper season-but who want only a more convenient one! one a LITTLE more convenient, with not quite so many hindrances to impede, with not quite so many earthly pleasures to engross, with not quite so much business to attend to. hearers, it was said by one of the martyrs on going to the stake, "Life is sweet, and death is bitter; but eternal life is more sweet, and eternal death is more bitter." How long then halt ye? how long have you halted before high heaven, and stood and listened and looked and heard and seen, and yet remained in the same position, in the same undecided mind, and uttering the same words to us, and to Him that sent us! You plead for a more convenient season. But is not this season, above all others,

Ah! my

proper to think of such things-to call your ways to remembrance-to cast off the works of darkness, and to put on the armour of light? Why not say heaven is too great a good, and eternal death too great an evil, to admit of any halting, any deliberation, any delay. A God of justice! A life of religion! A day of judgment! If these are reasoned out to my satisfaction, so that at times my flesh trembles on my bones, a spirit comes over me in the dead of night, and I start affrighted from my pillow! Oh! if I have such terrors as these now,

"When rising from the bed of death,
O'erwhelm'd with guilt and fear,
I see my Maker face to face,
O how shall I appear!"

THE other day, I was requested by a brother minster, who was unwell, to go and visit a dying child. He told me some remarkable things of this boy, eleven years of age, who, during three years' sickness, had manifested the most patient submission to the will of God, with a singular enlightenment of the spirit. I went to visit him. The child had suffered excruciating pain; for years he had not known one day's rest. I gazed with wonder at the boy. After drawing near to him, and speaking some words of sympathy, he looked at me with his blue eyes-he could not move, it was the night before he died and breathed into my ear these few words: "I am strong in Him." The words were few, and uttered feebly; they were the words of a feeble child, in a poor home, where the only ornament was that of a meek, and quiet, and affectionate mother; and these words seemed to make the world more beautiful than it ever was before; they brought home to my heart a great and blessed truth. May you and I, and every one else, be "strong in Him!"

It is now almost five years since the sufferings of this dear boy ended-since he entered that painless world where the inhabitant shall no more say, "I am sick," but where all are "strong in Him." Many times, in the interval, has a vision of that death-scene passed before us; many times has it brought to painful consciousness the weakness of our own faith, in contrast with the strength of that patient little sufferer; but many times has it made us "strong in Him" whose strength was thus made perfect in weakness, and who enabled that dying child to breathe forth, though but in whispers, those last strong words of faith and hope. Those words have been wafted to these western shores; they have been repeated on the islands of the sea; they have doubtless been spoken in languages of which that dear boy had never heard. We would not detain them from their blessed mission of strength to the weak, of patience to the suf

fering, and of hope to the dying. Nay! rather will we again intrust them to the winds of heaven, and speed them on in their errand of peace and joy to visit yet other shores, to speak in yet other tongues, and to enable yet many departing souls to feel, if not to whisper, "I am strong in Him!"

The scene changes from an obscure chamber in Glasgow, to the still more secluded wigwam on our Western border. Again the minister of Jesus is present to cheer a dying boy, as he looks down into the dark valley, and timidly reaches forth his hand to grasp the staff of the Good Shepherd. The little Testament, which his kind teacher had taught him both to read and to love, lies by his side. With an earnestness which cannot be denied, but with a reach of purpose which his teacher cannot fathom, the meek child of the forest makes one last request: "When you lay me in my coffin, I want you to place my little Testament at the side of my head, and bury it with me." When asked why he desired this, he replied: "In the resurrection, when so many shall appear before the Saviour, I am afraid He will not notice me. I will take my little Testament in my hand, and hold it up, and when He sees that, I am sure He will receive me."

We love to think of this meek and lowly child. We love to follow him through the river of death, and along the farther shore, until he stands before the gates of the celestial city. He bears in his hand a passport, on which the watchful sentinel at the pearly gate needs not to write his name, for it hath already on it a name which is above every other. It is the same passport which was sealed by John at Patmos, and which alone has admitted to the New Jerusalem every one of its blood-bought and ransomed inhabitants. He moves forward towards the burning throne, all unconscious of inferiority of age, or race, or present rank; all unmindful of former doubts, and fears, and conflicts; wrapt in the vision of glory which surrounds him; filled with a fulness of joy which his tender thoughts had never conceived; and joining already, without waiting to be taught the strain, and with a sweetness which no practised cherub can surpass, in the new song which is sung in heaven. Standing, at length, before Him who sitteth on the throne, and laying his passport at His feet, he feels a gentler than a mother's hand laid upon his head, and hears a voice, sweeter than that of his earthly teacher, saying to him, "Of such is the kingdom of heaven!"

Dear boy! You, too, are now safe in the tender Shepherd's arms. We would take up the passport which you have laid down. We would bear it with us through all the wanderings of our earthly pilgrimage, until we, too, are guided safely home to the loved fold, where there shall be one flock and one Shep herd.-Rev. N. M'Leod.

February 12, 1859.]

17

HAGAR.

A FEW WORDS TO YOUNG WOMEN.

THE history and character of many of the women mentioned in the Scriptures furnish most instructive matter for meditation, together with many hints for warning, encouragement, and consolation. One of the women whose history is given most in detail in the holy volume, is Hagar, a poor slave. The first angelic visit recorded in God's Word was paid to her. Surely these facts teach us Divine condescension, and should lead to simple trust in an ever-wakeful Providence. Let no saint of God say after this, "I am overlooked; my way is hid from the Lord." We do not purpose dwelling upon the history and character of Hagar generally, but would contemplate her on the occasion of her flight from the tent of Abraham: consider the dealings of God with her, and the way she acted after this wonderful manifestation. The part of her history to which we refer is contained in Gen. xvi., to which we direct the reader; and taking it for granted that the touching incidents therein recorded are before the mind, observe that Hagar is there presented as doing one very foolish thing, and. four wise ones.

The foolish thing was, to leave a good home because there were some troubles in it, and going forth to wander she knew not whither. But we are reminded that her mistress was unkind and unjust. Perhaps so; but had not Hagar first shewn herself to be proud, and acted in a very unbecoming way? No one can deny this. Frequently the troubles which we find hardest to bear are those we bring on ourselves by our misconduct. Then we have the reproaches of our own consciences to trouble us, in addition to the affliction or trial.

The home which Hagar left was a house of prayer; a home visited by God himself, and one upon which His special blessing rested. How many young people have left such homes because something has chafed or offended them, instead of staying and using such trials as a means of discipline, as part of their education for future life! We are all too ready, in the presence of one thing that annoys, to forget or overlook the many things which are valuable and useful. Perhaps a change of place may relieve us of the one troublesome thing; but in the next situation there may not only be the absence of the fancied evil, but also of many advantages before possessed, and the presence of several things much more trying than that which we ran away from. Hagar's situation certainly was not very comfortable in Sarah's tent, but if she had been left to spend a few lonely nights in the desolate wilderness, no doubt she would soon have wished herself back again.

But we will not stay any longer to blame Hagar, but proceed to notice the wise things

which she did. And here observe that before she did anything right, God appeared to her. "The angel of the Lord found her by a fountain of water in the wilderness." She was as desolate and miserable as a human being could be. Sad were her reflections on the past, and mournful her musings as regards the future. God, who knew her sorrows, visited her just at the needed time. We must not stay to make inquiries respecting this heavenly visitant, who speaks as one having authority, and who is referred to afterwards by Hagar with feelings of deep reverence, but will confine our attention to the person addressed, and the effects produced upon her.

I. She listened to what was said to her. How many are now spoken to by God who give no heed to His words! They will attend to the advice of parents and friends, but what God says goes for nothing with them. "Having ears, they hear not." God counsels all, and the young especially, respecting "the life that now is, as well as that which is to come;" and how much happiness would there be in this life, and what peace in its various relations, as well as a good hope of a better life, if His words were listened to and heeded! Some one may be ready to say, "If an angel spoke to me I would attend!" Has not this, and more than this, been done? Oh, think of the Divine sanctions appended to that book by which God addresses you! Listen to His words who speaketh to you from heaven, and "attend to know understanding."

II. Hagar told the simple truth. The angel said, "Hagar, Sarai's maid, whence comest thou, and whither wilt thou go?" To this plain question she replies with equal plainness, "I flee from the face of my mistress, Sarai." What a recommendation it is to a young person to be simply truthful! How much better at once to confess a fault, than to hide it, and afterwards have the truth reluctantly drawn out a little at a time! If you would not acquire the habit and curse of a lying tongue, beware of equivocation. How many young people have ruined their prospects for life by telling what appeared small untruths, and thus destroying all confidence in their word.

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III. Hagar did as she was told. (said the angel) to thy mistress, and submit thyself under her hands." A hard thing to do, but she knew there was Divine authority for it, and so she went back. We may conceive in some measure what were the feelings and remarks of her fellow-servants, and how great was the exultation of her mistress, as Hagar went back humbled to the tent-toor, requesting admittance and forgiveness, and yielding submission to her mistress. But Hagar knew what she had seen and heard, she knew that Jehovah cared even for her, and this cheered her in her lonely toil and unenviable situation. Those who have held converse