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"The

Himself? Have you ever heard His voice? hour cometh, and now is, when the dead shall HEAR THE VOICE of the Son of God, and they that hear shall live." Have you ever heard His voice speaking to you personally in and by His word, as the jailor heard it, bringing you under conviction as a sinner confessed before God, and then leading you to the only refuge, the only" name under heaven given amongst men whereby we must be saved?" If not, if you cannot even understand what it means, what it is to have to do with God, to hear HIS VOICE, to know HIMSELF, I beseech you to rest not until you do; for until then you are in nature's darkness, "having no hope," no well-founded hope, and "WITHOUT GOD IN THE WORLD.”

J. L. K.

66

"IF NEED BE."

1 Peter i. 6.

"If need be," Lord! the spirit trembling cries,
In answer to Thy word.

Yet we would count upon the rich supplies
Thy grace will still afford.

'Tis only for a "little season"-then

All trial will be o'er;

The rolling waves will be forgotten-when
We reach the heavenly shore.

"If need be," Yes! the wayward heart would cling,
To fleeting scenes of time;

Instead of soaring upward on the wing

Of faith to yonder clime,

Where winds and storms of earth can never come,
Or clouds o'ercast the skies;

Where Thou wilt take us to Thy Father's home.
And wipe our weeping eyes.

Lord! what the need?-O, make us fully know
Thy purposes of love;

Lowly beneath the chastening rod to bow,
Thy faithfulness to prove.

A loving Father's hand would never strike
His child a needless blow.
Surely the goodness and the rod alike
His love and wisdom show.

Lord, let Thy precious name be glorified
In every sorrow here,

And let Thy words of comfort be applied
To dry up every tear.

There is a bright inheritance on high,
For those who, bought by blood,
Would ever on Thy gracious care rely-
"Kept by the power of God."

When troubles press, and all things dark appear.
In this sad scene of strife;

We look above, where we shall joyful wear
The glorious "Crown of Life,"

Promised to those who love Thee, and endure
According to Thy will.

Truly-such hope, so blest, and yet so sure,
Our waiting souls must fill!

"If need be," Lord! Again we trembling cry—
And yet with trustful gaze,

We ask that Thou wouldst guide us with Thine eye,
Wouldst lead us in Thy ways.

And, though the raging fire around us play,
Let it but burn the dross.

Our strength, by Thee, proportioned to our day,
We shall not suffer loss.

The "need be" past-the "little season" o'er-
And we shall see Thy face.

Thy weary ones will wander here no more,
But rest in Thine embrace.

We wait for Thee, Lord Jesus!-haste that day,
When Thou wilt meet Thy bride;

Wilt bear her on the glorious cloud away,
And seat her by Thy side.

165

CORRESPONDENCE.

41. "B. S.," Stockton-on-Tees. There is much truth in your remarks. Let us be more thoroughly in earnest in waiting upon our God, that He may deepen His work in all our souls, and lead us to a closer walk with Himself. We long for more reality, more wholeheartedness, more deep-toned devotedness. May all who really mourn over the lack of these things get together on their faces before God, and persevere in prayer till He sends a full wave of blessing into their midst. We have great confidence in united, hearty, believing prayer.

42. “J. E.,” Adelaide. Accept, dear friend, our warmest thanks for your truly kind and encouraging letter. We bless the Lord, with an overflowing heart, for what you can tell us of help and blessing received through our pages. We cannot tell you what joy it is to be allowed to minister to the beloved flock of Christ, in distant regions of the earth where it is not likely we shall ever be in person. May the Lord's richest blessings rest upon you and the beloved friends with whom you are associated. Most gladly would we send you a direct reply; but we trust you will kindly take into your consideration the immense amount of writing which falls to our lot; and that you will take this as an acknowledgment of your most interesting communication.

43. "M. A. L.," Harrogate. Thanks for the sweet lines. We like them much, and shall be happy to insert them.

44. "D. W.," London. It would be a very grave mistake indeed to say "that all the trials and sufferings of Christians are punishments for some particular sin." Very often these things are sent as a preventive, and to draw the heart nearer to Christ. Who would presume to say that the sickness of Epaphroditus, in Philippians ii. was a punishment for some particular

sin? The apostle expressly tells us that, "for the work of Christ, he was nigh unto death." Were Timothy's frequent infirmities sent as a punishment for some particular sin?

We do not like the term "punishment" as applied to the dealings of our loving Father. There is nothing penal, in the strict sense of the word, even in His wise and faithful correction. Christ our blessed Substitute exhausted, on our behalf, all that was penal. God chastens His children, in order to make them partakers of His holiness, as we learn in Hebrews xii. Moreover, the Father judges His house, as we read in 1 Peter iv. 17. So, in 1 Corinthians xi. we are told that

many of the Corinthians were visited with bodily sickness and death, because of their disorderly conduct at the Lord's table. But this we are told was in order that they might "not be condemned with the world."

In James v. we read, "Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; and the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him." The "if" shews that the sickness might not have been sent on account of any particular sin.

In 1 John v. we read, "If any man see his brother sin a sin not unto death, he shall ask and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death, I do not say that he shall pray for it." For example, "Ananias and Sapphira," and the Corinthians. There may, in any given case, be certain flagrant features attaching to some sin committed causing those who look at things in the light of God's presence to feel instinctively that they could not possibly pray for restoration. We have to do with the government of God which is a very serious matter indeed; and it is one of the enactments of that government that, whatsoever a man"-no matter who-" soweth, that shall he also reap." But it is the Christian's happy

privilege to view the actings of divine government through the atmosphere of divine grace.

With regard to 2 Timothy i. 10. You are, perhaps, not aware that the word is 'incorruptibility," and refers to the body. The immortality of the soul rests on the authority of Genesis ii. 7, and many other scriptures.

45. "R. J. P."-" W. B."-" C. S. L.". "J. A. J."—" O. J. P."- "F. M."- " W. M. W.," Boston, Mass. We desire to tender you all our warmest thanks for your truly kind letters. We feel that this is but a very inadequate acknowledgment of such expressions of brotherly love; but we trust you will accept it, under the circumstances. We bless God for the precious link which His own hand has formed between us-a link

which can never be snapped. It may be His holy will to permit us to strengthen this link by personal intercourse; but if not, we shall meet in His presence on high, never to be separated. To His most tender love and faithful shepherd care, we earnestly commend each one of you and all those with whom you are associated. We can assure you we feel deeply touched by your most loving invitation; and we beg you will accept our true and most hearty brotherly love. May the Lord bless and keep you all!

46. "R. B. W.," Portsmouth. It is entirely a question for individual conscience. We dare not attempt to legislate for another in such a case. The Lord will guide, if the eye be single; but nothing should be done with a doubtful mind.

47. "M. H. R.," Oswestry. It seems to us there is a little confusion in the lines of our dear departed friend, between our Lord's coming for and coming with His people. Surely, it is not as "the midnight thief," "He will come to call for his church." 66 Ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief." In Revelation iii. the professing church-having sunk to the level of the world, with a name to live, while dead-is threatened with the com

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