THE TABLE IN THE WILDERNESS.

hanging at the door of the tabernacle" Ex. xxxix. 28, 38-An impediment to any one seeing or entering THERE. Yes, the tabernacle, or Christ's body, which is the church, the elect, his bride, was complete! No deformity could be suffered, no member added, therefore no general, but PARTICULAR redemption! In nature we occasionally hear of such things as people being born with extra toes or fingers, not so in grace; though men, alas, in these days of error, preach and talk as foolishly as though such could be, but there is no admittance to the tabernacle.

WHEN listening to a most precious dis- the winds of adversity, temptation, and course from Mr. WEST, on the 1st verse persecution, may blow hard upon a poor of 23rd Psalm, the word Table in the 5th child of God, so hard that but a spark verse arrested my attention, as he was remains, but never hard enough to blow reading the whole Psalm over in con- it quite out, for Jesus is by his side, and clusion; and the question arose in the will fan the spark into a flame, though it mind, "what is a Table for ?" To lay may be not until it seems just expiring; things down so upon, that we may not be in order to show his power as a sustainer, encumb..red. It then came to me very and his child's weakness as a believer. One sweetly, that just as I would place anything more I would notice before going thing on the Table to get rid of it from back to the Table. "And he set up the my hands, so as simply may I lay down upon Christ, my Table, all the fresh exercises of mind that had arisen from a trial of four months' standing, out of which many a precious but hard lesson had been learnt. Ere I reached my lodgings, though but a few steps from the Church, the devil tried to rob me of this soul comfort, by insinuating it was but a fanciful idea, and could not be carried out scripturally. So I got my Cruden's Concordance, and under the head of Table sought for a confirmation of Christ being typified as such, as well as being the provider for the Table; in which acceptation alone I had previously understood the word. But to my joy, and the devil's defeat, I found it so, in Exodus xl. 22, 24, where evidently Christ is thus set forth, and most blessedly so, for "the Table was put in the tent of the congregation upon the side of the tabernacle northward "* -exposed to the cold blast-"without the vail," (verse 22) therefore in the presence of our enemies (Psal. xxiii. 5,) with no impediment to the poor sinner coming in with his wants-while "the candlestick, or church, was placed on the side of the tabernacle, SOUTHWARD ?" secured from the cold, and preserved from being blown out by the winds when lit. (verse 25th.) Ah! yes,

* Calvary, too, is outside Jerusalem on the "sides of the north" of mount Zion. How precious by faith to go and stand beside that Table spread in the presence of all our enemies world, sin, death and hell, and sing

"My faith would lay her hand, On that dear head of thine; While like a penitent I stand,

And there confess my sin."

Sagacity and knowledge are then only truly useful, when joined with grace, meekness, discretion, and benevolence. The serpent's eye does best in the dove's head.-Gurnall.

A COURT IS REARED UP ROUND ABOUT IT! and a hanging even at the court gate" (33rd and 8th.) besides the hanging at the door of the tabernacle, (28th.) So if none could see even into the court of the Lord by reason of the hanging at the gate, it is not very likely they could enter his presence, much less have a share of his kingdom.

To return to our subject, Christ is our Table; what he gives, the spreading of it. It is one thing for us to place our wants before Him, and another to receive of Him. He is therefore the Table for us to lay them on, as well as the Table to receive them from; and blessed be his name for enabling me to take up the language of the Psalmist, and feelingly say, "Thou preparest a Table before me -yes at hand, that I may put down all my

needs upon it-in the presence of mine enemies. Thou anointest my head with oil-otherwise I could never have had such a blessed season as I have in contemplating this subject—“My cup runneth over.' M. L. R.

Winchelsea, Oct. 11, 1855.

Happy are they who are withheld from sin, not merely as the unregenerate are, by God's restraining power, but as the saints are, by God's restraining grace !— Miss Southgate.

"PREACH THE WORD."

DEAR EDITOR,-I have been much | convincing of sin, sprinkling the conscience, struck with the preface to a second edition of the HON. and REV. SAMUEL WALDEGRAVE'S Sermons on "The Way of Peace," and have sent it for your perusal, and insertion if you approve. The little volume itself contains a faithful statement of God's precious truths delivered before the university of Oxford, in the years 1847 and 1848.

It is well that we should see that God has yet his devoted servants even in high places; how can we consider ourselves left alone, while we have such men as ARCHDEACON LAW, and the HON. and REV. S. WALDEGRAVE?

"Everywhere the complaint of the real children of God is heard; that, while the carnally-minded are repeatedly warned to flee from the wrath to come, and while a limited number of distinctive evangelical doctrines are enforced,—sometimes controversially, sometimes not; their souls are not built up in their most holy faith.

"Their shepherds, they say, spend all their energy in recovering the lost sheep, and guarding them from the wolf, but they forget to feed the little flock, that has already by grace been made to enter in by the door into the fold. Nor are these complaints altogether groundless. It has been confessed (and that most solemnly, by men of no mean repute,) that the evangelical pulpit needs evangelizing. | "Now in what respect does it need evangelizing? Surely Christ must be preached more fully. He that would preach the Gospel of Christ, must preach the Christ of the Gospel! Now, is this generally the case? Is Christ set forth as the Scriptures set him forth? What is declared of the manifold, the matchless glories of his Person, of the grace and majesty for his offices, of the completeness and efficacy of his work? Are ministers bold in their God to make it known that he has a people, given to him in the eternal counsels of the Triune Jehovah, redeemed by his blood, and each in due time, effectually called by the Spirit of his grace? Again, is the truth manifested that this is but a little flock, that it is one of a city, and two of a family; who are brought to Zion; that there are few that enter in at the strait gate? Once more, are we earnest to exhort professing Christians to prove every man his own work? Are we fearless to warn every mau not to be content without unquestionable evidence of the mighty operation of the Spirit of God in his own soul,

* London: Charles Haseldon, Wigmore St., Cavendish Square.

uniting to Christ; bringing forth much fruit; filling with all joy and peace in believing? These truths are such as give great offence to many, even among professing Christians; but experience proves, that they are truths preeminently owned of God to the real conversion of sinnere, and the true edification of saints. May the Lord, the Spirit, be graciously pleased to make many of his ministering servants, so to taste the preciousness of a full Christ in their own souls, that they may not be able to forbear speaking of the things that they have seen and heard.

"Then will they no longer be content, either in doctrine or practice, to prove themselves unwise, measuring themselves by themselves, or comparing themselves among themselves. In practice, and very much might be said on this point, they will cease to be satisfied with that slothful mediocrity which is far too prevalent, for they will, forgetting the things which are behind, and reaching forth unto the things that are before, strive to become in very deed ensamples to the flock, patterns of good work. In doctrine, they will no longer be satisfied with deriving from superficial knowledge of Scripture, a few texts to prove opinions which they have received by tradition from their fathers, they will with earnest pleadings for the teaching of God the Holy Ghost, strive to learn the mind of God by a diligent study of his written Word, and bring it forth in all the rich, varied, and overflowing abundance of its wisdom and its glory. Then, indeed, will the sheep of Christ recognise in their doctrine, the chief Shepherd's voice, and confess that He has not forgotten his promise, to give them pastors according to his heart, who shall feed them with knowledge and understanding. And they themselves will soon prove how true the words, them that honour me I will honour. For this word shall not return void unto Him, out of whose lips it goeth forth; it shall accomplish that which He pleaseth, and prosper in the thing whereto He sent it."

If I feel inclined to add any thing, it would be that we want the ministers of God's word, not only to dwell on the everlasting love of God the Father to his chosen people, and the complete redemption of the Church, by the Lord Jesus Christ, but also, to display those hidden links, the operations of God the Holy Spirit, in the hearts of the called people of God, whereby they are united unto the Lord Jesus, and to receive, "Out of His fulness, grace for daily,

FROM THE LATE MRS. YOUNG TO THE LATE E. PARSONS, OF CHICHESTER.

The Family Recorder.

"GRACE BE WITH ALL THEM WHO LOVE OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST IN SINCERITY."

will not turn away from them to do them good. How does this cause the fire of divine love to be rekindled in their bosom !

whether we know the time when it was first breathed into her soul or not." From the time of her leaving our house, she was the And here, I know the dear Editor of the subject of our prayers, and intercourse by GOSPEL COTTAGE LECTURER will allow me letters. In one of her letters, dated the 5th to give a short extract from Part vir., Lec- of April, she said, "What a poor body is mine! ture "It is by the repetition of these it is my constant prayer to my Jesus, that special visits, and in the precious openings of He will fit me to live with Him in his kingthe mind of Christ which arise out of them, dom; I trust I do not murmur at what He by the after-ministry and teaching of the thinks fit to lay on me, as He suffered much Holy Comforter, that the timid child of God more for me; I know it is for some good learns by degrees to put in his claim. It is purpose, and I trust whether I may live or by these mauifestations of favour in com die I may be eternally his." Knowing how munion, the Lord turns to his people a pure much is contained in "my Jesus," and knowlanguage; and as faith apprehends, or lays ing also how easy it is for some people to hold of the blessedness, even little-faith ven- say, "My Jesus," "My Saviour," while tures to call a precious Christ, My Be-many of the Lord's people find it very diffiloved."" cult at times to say, My Jesus," I wrote, Yes, nothing short of " My Beloved," and said, "Dear Sister, you say, My conMy Jesus," will satisfy a living child; this stant prayer to my Jesus is, that He will fit will make him "boast in the Lord, and tri-me to live with Him in his kingdom.' Now umph in the God of salvation; and at such can you really say, 'My Jesus ? Can you times he will be ready to exclaim, with really say it at all times, or only sometines ? "tears of joy," " "Who can shew forth all his and how long have you been able to say, praise ?" My Jesus ?'" Her answer was this, "Dear But how do these words express the feel- George, I feel sometimes I can say, My ings of our souls, when the Lord, of his Jesus,' and I feel Him more precious than abundant goodness, enables a poor worm, anything else, at other times I feel afraid whom we loved, and with whom we have had I am deceiving myself: I have always felt sweet intercourse, aud for whom we have religion and the soul to be of more value than pleaded with the Lord, to testify to the pre- anything else, but I cannot say the exact time ciousness of Christ, when "Jordan's stream" the Lord, pardoned my sins, but it is my is in full view; and though the conflict may constant prayer to him, that whether I live be sharp, and the Lord may for wise reasons or die, I may be truly his. I am always permit Satan to becloud and distress the soul, thankful, for any instruction you can give yet to witness that it is all measured, and at me, I trust, if I am not right.' From what the appointed time He again appears, and I could gather from her letters, afterward, "the distressed countenance, the groan, the hopes and fears seemed to have succeeded lamentation, and the tear, are exchanged for each other. smiles, and praises, and joy."

It is with feelings of mingled joy and sorsow, that I once more "make known to the sons of men," another of the Lord's "mighty acts;" which, I believe, He has wrought on behalf of a dear Sister-in-law; by which she also was enabled to bear testimony to the love, power, and preciousness of our precious Christ.

In the Providence of God her steps were directed to our house in January last. She stopped with us a few weeks, and then returned to her native home, in Devonshire. It was very plain to us, while here, that the pins of her frail tabernacle were loosened, and in all probability it would soon be dissolved; she also thought the same. I cannot state the time when Divine light and life were first breathed into her soul, yet from the humble view she had of herself, and the manner in which she expressed herself to her sister (my dear wife), in leaving our house, we had good reason to hope that the Lord had begun that good work in her soul, which He would not leave unfinished; and from what follows, I think you, dear sir, will say, Life, eternal life, was indeed given her,

On the 27th of July we received a letter to say, she wished to see her sister, if it were possible, once more before she died. My dear wife went off the same day, and arrived the next Saturday the 28th. She found her very ill, but quite cheerful; after a few moments my dear wife said, "My dear sister, what state of mind are you in ?" She replied with a smile, "All is right," she then said, "How long have you felt it to be so ?" She replied, yesterday morning I felt the burden removed; I had been praying to the Lord, to give me peace for some time, and then it seemed as if Jesus was looking down upon me, smiling-the burden was removed, and I have not had a doubt since." She did indeed at that time call up her Uncle and Aunt to her, and clasping her hands, with joy, told them, that now the burden was gone, and she was happy. She said to her Sister, "What a mercy that He looked upon me, while he passed by so many others; Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners, not all-bnt to save his own dear people; I feel such a love to Christ, and his people, and every one." The change seemed to fill her with wonder.