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Hast thou, with the Bride in the Canticles, been wandering about the city, in the streets, and in the broadways, in quest of her Beloved? Surely thou canst say whether that inquiry has gone forth from thy eager heart, Saw ye Him whom my soul loveth?" It is almost impossible for thee to have these emotions, without having, at the same time, some consciousness of them. We ask not the extent of them, but our inquiry is, do they exist at all? If thou hast, thou wilt be quite ready to admit the truth set forth in 1 John iv. 19, "We love him, because he first loved us. My seeking him is the fruit-the effect-of his first seeking me. He first sought my acquaintance-not I his.

If, therefore, thou art conscious of these movements, thou wilt perhaps join with us a little, as the Lord shall enable, in considering the very gracious visit,before us-that of Jesus to Zaccheus.

First, it was sovereign. And all the Lord's visits are sovereign. It was of his own sovereign, free choice, He first came upon his one grand mission at all. He might have remained in glory, and still occupied his own eternal throne, had he pleased, but his mind was bent-intently fixed-upon his errand of mercy. Having set his love upon his bride -the Church-He could not leave her in her thraldom-her destitution —her sin, and all its consequences; but to her rescue He would and did come.

Zaccheus did not send for Jesus, but Jesus came to him. Zaccheus would have been about the last man in the world to desire a visit from the Lord. "Chief among the publicans, and rich;" his heart too full -too much set upon his gold-to make room for Jesus. A covetous man is an idolater, and Jesus never dwells with idolaters. Jesu's visits are sovereign and free-at the same time he is very determined in his mode of acting. He does in every heart of which he takes possession, just what he did in the temple of old, "overthrows the tables of the money-changers" (Matt. xxi. 12). In this respect the Lord is not satisfied with a mere partial possession of the heart; he can admit of no rival; but it must be Christ all in all, or nothing! hence much of our keen suffering! Secondly, it was timely. Zaccheus was at the place, and to the time, eternally appointed. There was no peradventure in the matter. He was to hear that Jesus was coming; was to be rightly informed of the road which he would take; and to be at the identical spot at the identical time; not in another place, not too early nor too late. The same facts are sweet to contemplate, in reference to the effectual calling of every poor sinner. It is in vain for men to say, some men are tost who might have been saved. The heavenly Builder had his eternally fixed upon every stone He should require for the spiritual temple; nor has He in the rearing of that temple, ever overlooked one, or put one in another's place. Decision in plan and execution most marvellously characterizes all his movements.

eye

Thirdly, it was by appointment. Jesus had sent for Zaccheus, but he had, as it were, disguised his hand-writing. In other

words, the Lord the Spirit had secretly moved upon the heart of Zaccheus to desire a sight of Jesus (oh what a heaven-born emotion!) and out of mere curiosity, as he thought, he set out for that purpose. Just so does the Lord in every case. He issues his letters of invitation, but they are written in obscure characters; however, they never miscarrythey always reach the right person. And the moment they are received, a certain something possesses the heart of the individual so receiving. A mixture of curiosity-desire-envy-longing-fear-anxiety-suspense, till at length venting itself in some such language as this, "Men and brethren, what shall I do to be saved?" "God, be merciful to me, a sinner.' "Who art thou, Lord ?" "Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?" "Lord, I believe, help thou my unbelief." "Say unto my soul, I am thy salvation." All these are so many certain marks or evidences that the letter was from Jesus, and that it has found its way to the heart of the person to whom it was addressed.

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Fourthly, it was peremptory. "Where the word of a King is, there is power." "Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power." There is an outward or common call, or proclamation to all. Men, as the Ministers of the Lord, go forth and sound an alarm, blow the Gospel trumpet; draw the Gospel bow at a venture; but all their proclaiming, and sounding, and shouting, is vain, until the Lord infuses life into the dead sinner-awakens and arouses him, and causes the arrow of conviction to stick fast in his heart. "Zaccheus, make haste and come down." Did he parley?-was there any hesitation ?-the least disposition to refuse? It would be robbing God of his glory (if such a thing were possible) to say so. Zaccheus, come down ;' ;""Lazarus, come forth;" Son, daughter, be of good cheer, thy sins are forgiven thee." All, all are effectual in a moment. "He speaks, and it is done; He commands and the thing stands fast." How delightful is it, thus to contemplate the dignity-the majesty the Almighty power of Jehovah-Jesus; and how (we had nearly said by instinct, but we would rather say), by the secret, yet effectual operations of the Holy Ghost, are the heart and eye drawn to look up to Jesus for health and cure. Oh, blessed, sure position! A poor, needy sinner, looking up to an all-sufficient Saviour, who is more glorified in giving out of that super-abundant fulness of grace which is treasured up in Himself, than the sinner is blessed in receiving! Marvellous grace! wonderful mystery! How well might the Apostle exclaim, "Oh the depths of the riches, both of the wisdom and knowledge of God."

Fifthly. The visit itself! Jesus come to pay a visit, and that to bring salvation. What blessed society-what heavenly intercourse! How sacred! And what an errand too! "This day is salvation come to thy house." Why, in point of fact, Jesus never goes on an errand of love-never pays a visit-without bringing salvation, because He himself personally is that salvation. Do we want wherewith to satisfy the claims of a broken law? "Christ is the end of the law for

of a yea-and-nay gospel are numerous, active, and zealous, the more are we bound in fidelity to Christ and his word, to labour diligently in unfurling the banner of the true gospel, to preach Christ as the beginning and the ending of salvation (Rev. i. 8). It becomes us, as many as the Lord has called, to leave our nets, receipts of customs, fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, wives, and children, yea, all, to follow Him. I feel humbled, confounded for myself and for you, my brethren. We have not yet sufficiently taken this matter to heart. We have not sufficiently or rightly understood the service, or ministry, which God has committed unto us. We are, I know, the little flock, the weak, the despised things of the earth. Not many mighty (in the wisdom or eloquence of this world), not many noble, not many rich, are found amongst our ranks; but our very fewness of numbers, our very weakness and despised condition, are reasons why we, who are amongst the chosen and called, should be the more active and the more zealous for the truth. Our labour cannot be in vain in the Lord (1 Cor. xv. 58), and our sufficiency is of God (2 Cor. iii. 5). Is not our calling to show forth the praises of him who hath called us out of darkness into his marvellous light? (1 Pet. ii. 9). Are we not called to the praise of the glory of his grace? (Eph. i. 6). Are we not to earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered to the saints? (Jude 3), striving TOGETHER in one mind for the faith of the gospel, in nothing terrified by our adversaries (Phil. i. 27). Brethren, this is the question I solemnly ask you, who have been led into the knowledge of the secret of the Lord, Have we been faithful in this matter? I ask more, have we not, as a body, been greatly neglectful of this high honour and blessed privilege? Have we not allowed the Gospel to be mispreached, misrepresented, and that without using corresponding efforts to preach it in his truth? Have we not, as a body, been guilty of much indifference? It may be asked, perhaps, where is the body of which you speak? I know its members are dispersed abroad, still they are one in Christ and are of one mind. It may be said, they are for the most part unknown to each other. This is just what I complain of and grieve over. There is too much selfishness amongst us. None careth for his brother; and yet it is said, none of us liveth to himself (Rom. xiv. 7). I most gladly acknowledge, there are some who shine forth as lights in dark places; I rejoice in their labours, but they labour apart from their brethren. Where is our striving together? (Phil. i. 27). Have our adversaries terrified us? Have they fascinated us, that we allow them all the land? In preventing our striving together, Satan has so far succeeded in his hellish plans. He cares not by what means he silences us; he wants the night (the time when the true doctrines are put under a bushel) to sow his tares, and I fear he has been too successful in giving us a sleeping draught. I anticipate many objections to this call to gather ourselves together in the name of the Lord God of Hosts, and many excuses for not joining together in an attack on the enemy's

fortress, but if you think it right to give this letter a place in your Magazine, I will try at some future time, God willing, to examine such objections and excuses. For the present, I take my standing on this ground. We believe that an immense number of preachers are darkening counsel by words without knowledge, are mingling error with truth, and bringing up a false report of the land. Into this work they are throwing all their energies. We have been taught better things, and therefore we dare not leave the field undisputed in the hands of this legion. No, we dare not. Let us take our "victuals and trumpets in our hands" (Judges vii. 8), (the Lord our righteousness, the bread of life and the glorious doctrines of grace he has taught us), and " go down unto the host." It is night, but let our cry be, "The sword of the Lord and Gideon." "To the law and to the testimony." In ourselves we are but earthen vessels, empty pitchers; but we believe that the Lord the Holy Spirit has put lamps within our pitchers; the true knowledge of His dearly beloved Son. Let us go forth, with the faith of Gideon, and our labour will not be in vain in the Lord. "The Lord will set every man's sword againt his fellow, even throughout all the host" of Romanism, Puseyism, and every other ism that is against our God and

his Christ.

Pardon me my repetitions, but I wish to impress on your minds, dear brethren, that the fact of the Lord's giving us clearer views of Divine truth, makes it the more obligatory on us to zealously proclai them. The more we are convinced that we are right, the more we are bound to oppose what we know to be wrong. The Lord has put us in trust, may He in his great goodness stir up his gift within us.

It appears to me that we should aim at some plan which would accomplish the three following objects :

ZINE;

1.-A seeking out and bringing into acquaintance with one another, those who hold the doctrinal views advocated in the GOSPEL MAGAand that for the purpose of having more communion with each other, and of being brought more into visible union. Union is strength. 2. The furnishing to the body, more regular and comprehensive information, of all that is being done for the "preaching of the Gospel," whether the real or a yea-and-nay Gospel.

3. More united, zealous, and extensive efforts, to preach the truth at home and abroad.

The length of the present communication forbids me, this month, entering into the consideration of the three points here mentioned, but I will try by God's help and blessing, to send you some remarks on the subject for a following number.

In the mean time, earnestly recommending you to the grace of God, and praying that you, and all the redeemed family, may be abundantly satisfied with the sweet enjoyment of the fulness of covenant blessings, I am, yours in gospel bonds,

21st November, 1846.

GERSHOM.

"FEED MY LAMBS."

To the Editor of the Gospel Magazine.

DEARLY BELOVED IN OUR PRECIOUS LORD JESUS,

I cannot forbear to greet you in the name of the Lord, and to congratulate you, with the whole Church of the living God, that we have been brought, by the good hand of the Lord, to the close of another year of our eventful pilgrimage, and that that year, with all its vicissitudes, trials, and exercises, is gone for ever, and has brought us so much nearer the end of our journey through the wilderness, towards our heavenly Canaan. Blessed be the name of the Lord.

My mind was particularly arrested a short time since, with our Lord's command to Peter, "Feed my lambs ;" and I began to reflect how few there are in the present awful day of outward profession, in which man-made ministers are being sent forth from colleges by thousands, who know anything about Peter's commission, or ever had the command given to them. The province of such men appears to be, to worry and distress the lambs of Christ's fold, rather than to feed them; but these we must leave, and, "Wo be to the shepherds that feed themselves and not the flock."

To every servant of the living God, however, who is sent forth to proclaim the glorious Gospel of Christ, the command is given, and his commission is, "Feed my lambs ;" and in thinking of the highly privileged few who are thus favoured, I could not help including our beloved brother, for I believe, and am sure, that since the commencement of his labours in the GOSPEL MAGAZINE, his only object, and his anxious desire, has been to set forth in all his glory, preciousness, and suitability, the person of our most glorious Christ, the only food for poor perishing sinners. Go on, dearly beloved, in the name of the Lord, in the strength of the mighty God of Jacob. You are now called on to proclaim Him through another medium, and the Lord will surely go with you, and with your mouth; and your mouth and pen shall both declare and proclaim the joyful tidings of a full and free salvation, by the work and righteousness of our precious Lord Jesus. Your position is indeed, a highly favoured one. Painful and trying it may be to flesh and blood, and great will be the difficulties you will have to meet, and the enemies you will have to contend with, but the Lord is your defence, the God of Israel is your reward, and he will go before you. What have you to fear, though a host of foes should compass you about? the Lord hath said, "I will be unto her a wall of fire round about her, and the glory in the midst of her." What a defence! What a position!