hunger; but they that seek the Lord ment indeed, for the Scriptures are not of any private interpretation, 2 Pet. i. 20. Whatever was Joseph's bliss as a child of God, all that is your's. Was he betrayed by his brethren, forsaken by all, sold like the meanest slave, tempted, falsely accused, cast into prison? in all these trials behold him as a type of the glorious Redeemer. Yea, more, the dear Jesus suffered: He was nailed upon the cross, crucified, underwent death, bearing the awful curse of God for your sin! See in Him a "greater than Joseph," a brother born for adversity." He now feels for you in all points, having been in all these, tried and tempted, that we should have a merciful High Priest feeling for us. He is ever with us, as the great Immanuel. He lays "underneath us the everlasting arms," the arms of everlasting love." seen to bring forth a complete piece of manufacture. So it is in the all-overruling providence of God, wars, and famines, separations, afflictions, deaths, poverty,-all, all, all in the great plan of God is to unite for your good, to lead you to eternal bliss. Jacob said, "All these things are against me ;" no, dear old pilgrim, all these work together for your good, to lead you to Egypt, providing for your family-the bereavement of your beloved Benjamin, is to bring you into the embraces of the long-lost, but beloved Joseph. So, dear fellow traveller, you and I may meet with these things and think them hard. But, O! keep in view, "God is faithful." We are poor and ignorant, but He seeth the end from the beginning, and every intervening mean is all settled-no trial but there is a blessing in it. In all things God is with you, and therefore all work together for good. Again, God is with you. Jesus dying, his disciples were all left comfortless as they thought, and was it so? no, no. See how they were supported. Were they not encouraged to meet together for prayer? to speak of Him even to a stranger whilst walking by the way? How sweetly did they experience the Presence, though unknown to them, of the ever-living High Priest. How true have God's children found the word of God, 1 Cor. x. 13, "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that you are able, but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it." You, who are sorely tried, has He not fulfilled to you that promise, "My grace is sufficient for thee ?" In poverty, what a sweet comfort, Psal. xxxiv. 10, "The young lions do lack and suffer strength." Amen. Look up, look up, my dear brethren, fear not. "Lo, I am with you," says the dear Saviour. Was the Lord not with Stephen, the first martyr of the Christian Church? Acts vii.; with the very man who told us 'God was with him" (Joseph). He is, He will be with you, though storms may roar, and Satan may rage; look forward to Christ's precious coming, 1 Thess. iv. 15, 17: "Trust ye in the Lord for ever, for in the Lord Jehoval is everlasting A FEW BRIEF REMARKS ON 1 COR. XIII. 12. "For now we see through a glass darkly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then shall I know even as I am known."-1 Cor. xiii. 12. THIS Scripture is generally, and as far as I plainly of the Father;" compare also am acquainted with commentators, inter- verses 28, 29, and see Rom. xvi. 25, 26; preted to mean the obscurity of the Gos-1 Cor. i. 30, 31; 1 Cor. ii. 7, 9; 2 Cor. iii. 12, 18; iv. 1, 6; 15, 23; ii. 1 8; v. 22, 32; 2 Tim. i. 8-10; 1 John ii. 8; iv. 9, 10; Heb. xii. 18, 24. Now, as the Gospel is a revelation of the eternal love, superabounding grace, inviolable faithfulness, almighty power, and tender mercy of our God in Christ, to all the election of grace, to say that it is darkly or obscurely revealed seems to me to leave all in doubt and uncertainty, and to open the way for the entrance of various kinds of errors; for if the love of God is darkly or obscurely revealed, then is Christ Jesus, in the glory of His Person, in His covenantengagements, finished work, and perfect righteousness, and complete redemption, darkly revealed; for the attention of God's people is called to consider the greatness and unchangeableness of God's love, by the great gift of his Son; see John iii. 16; Rom. v. 8, 9; viii. 31-39; Eph. i. 3-6; ii. 4—7; 1 John iv. 9, 10. The grace of God in the salvation of his Church is made manifest, by the same blessed gift, 2 Tim. i. 9, 10; 2 Thess. ii. 16, 17; Titus ii. 11, 12; 1 Thess. v. 4, 11; "Who is the brightness of his glory and the express image of his Person, Heb. i. 3; compare John xiv. 8, 9. Again, the Holy Ghost, who is the great Revealer of God's grace in and by Christ, the Author or Giver of spiritual life and light by the Gospel, declares plainly, unto the Lord's chosen, the things concerning the Lord Jesus, leading them into a spiritual apprehension of his love, in all its length, breadth, and height, and into the fulness of the grace that is in God-see Eph. iii. 14, 18. Hence the obscurity is not in the Gospel of the grace of God, but in ourselves; for therein is Christ Jesus revealed in all his meridian glory and splendour, as the wisdom, power, righteousness, and faithfulness of God, and the Saviour, Redeemer, Sanctifier, and Justifier of all the Father gave unto Him before the world began: all the attri butes and perfections of Jehovali are made manifest by the appearing of our Immanuel to be engaged in the great plan of the eternal salvation which God purposed in Him for his chosen, who, when in nature's darkness, blindness, and pel now, when compared with the beatific and that it was by the power and grace of the Holy Ghost that they were brought to believe in and confess the Lord Jesus (see also 1 Cor. i. 9). ignorance, like the rest of the world, are mere worshippers of idols, till the Holy Ghost brings them to the knowledge of Christ; (see 1 Cor. xii. 1-3), and even then, through unbelief, are too often seek-They were all in the same state and coning for salvation and consolation, not in dition by nature-the servants of sin the eternal acts of our covenant God, as and of Satan-so there was no room for revealed in Christ, in whom all the grace glorying one above another. Paul, then, and glory of the Lord shines forth in its dwells more at length on spiritual gifts, glorious fulness and perfection, without and the great Author of them. And any intervening cloud, but in creature here I would observe that the 12th, works, frames, and feelings, those idols 13th, and 14th chapters are immediately which men are naturally so prone to connected, and this, I believe,_proves, admire, and to be setting up in the place that the Gospel in our text, "For now of Christ, as evidences of God's love, we see through a glass darkly," is not grace, and mercy; evidences they are intended, but the various gifts of which Indeed of unbelief when regarded or the Holy Ghost is the Author, and who looked upon with approbation, for under divideth to each severally as He will; the teaching and influence of the Lord see verses 4-11. And to illustrate this the Spirit we behold every act of our's more clearly, the Apostle draws a comstained with sin, and after we have done parison between the human and the all are but unprofitable servants if not spiritual body, "For as the body is washed, sanctified, and justified by the one, and hath many members, and all the blood of Jesus; for the Holy Ghost will members of that one body, being many, not glorify the creature, but puts him are one body, so also is Christ. For by out of love with himself, makes him one Spirit are we all baptized into one willing to renounce every act of his as body, whether Jews or Gentiles, whether no better than filthy rags, and brings bond or free, and have all been made to him day by day to glory in the right- drink into one Spirit," verses 12, 13. eousness of Jesus his Lord, as all his sal- Then he proceeds to show, that as all vation and all his desire. But if his the members of the natural body have spiritual vision becomes clouded, through not the same office, yet are but one body, human wisdom, corrupt doctrines, and each having their appointed place, as it vain philosophy of men, the suggestions hath pleased God, so that if one member of Satan, and his own carnal heart, he suffer, all the members suffer with it, beholds not the Sun of Righteousness or one member rejoice, all the members clearly and distinctly, though He still rejoice with it," so likewise the memshines in undiminished lustre and glory! bers of Christ's spiritual body occupy for Jesus is "the same yesterday, to-day, their place or particular office in the and for ever" (Heb. xiii. 7, 9). He body of Christ according to the will will also pride himself in gifts, and not and appointment of God, each particular in grace, forgetful that the Lord Jesus member being as useful to the whole bestows these as He sees fit, not for his body as the various members of the napeople to glory in, as a mark of peculiar tural body are needful to each other favour shown to them, but for the edifi- (see verses 14-30). Thus being kept cation and building up of the Church in in remembrance that our position in the the truth as it is in Christ (see Eph. iv. Church is appointed in infinite wisdom 1-16; 1 Cor. xii. throughout). This, will be the means, under the however, the Church at Corinth had lost the Holy Ghost, to make us satisfied sight of; and many, priding themselves with that which we occupy in the body on account of the gifts bestowed, looked of Christ, and subdue that proneness to down upon those who did not possess envy those whose gifts are of a superior such, whilst others regarded the posses- order, as well as check any risings of sors of these gifts more worthy of their pride in those to whom they are given, love than those who were destitute of " Knowing who hath made them to them; hence arose those divisions which differ," and that they are gifts freely took place in this Church (see 1 Cor. i. bestowed, according to the will of God, 10, &c.; iii. 1--9, 18-23; iv. 1---7). for the edification of the Church, and In order, therefore, to heal these divi- not because they are better and more sions, the Apostle calls to their remem-worthy than others. Therefore, saith brance-chap. xii. 1-3-their idolatrous Paul in the last verse of this chapter, state when dead in trespasses and sins," Covet earnestly the best gifts, and power of وو yet shew I unto you a more excellent way -a way greatly excelling all other gifts-and without which all others are nothing worth. And what is this but love? as the Apostle declares in chapter 13. Not that Paul would lead them to look to their love, either to God, to Christ, or to the Church, in any way meritorious, but as they were desirous of spiritual gifts, and were so ready to pride themselves in the possession of them, he would rather they were more desirous of cultivating love, which he calls "The bond of perfectness," or per-surround the throne, fall infinitely short fection, the most perfect bond of union amongst Christians" (see Col. iii. 12-14); the blessed effects of which he sets forth in verses 4-7 (1 Cor. xiii.): and how necessary the exercise of this grace is Paul declares in our text because We see through a glass darkly, obscurely". -we are judging or esteeming men for their gifts, as these Corinthians were (see 1 Cor. iii. 3-9), and not be-, cause we believe them to be of that family which God hath named in heaven -the purchase of Jesu's blood-and" called by the Holy Ghost. and all the elect gathered in, and we are like to our risen and glorified Head, freed from all in-dwelling sin and corruption, Phil. iii. 21) face to face (plainly or openly); . now I know in part, then shall I know even as I am known." This last clause confirms, Ithink, clearly, that Paul in our text has no reference to the obscurity of the Gospel in the passage under consideration; for how could it ever be said with truth, that a finite creature, however perfect, could ever know God, even as God knew him. The angels in heaven, who 66 of this knowledge, for "He chargeth his angels with folly," Job iv. 18; but the glorified saints will know each other, and delight in and love each other perfectly, by intuition, and not by deduction of reasoning as we now do, and are often led to form wrong conclusions and impute false motives to each other-but in that perfect state, freed from indwelling sin, all will be love; strifes, divisions, and contentions will cease for ever; and all will unite with one voice in ascribing the 'honour, power, and glory to Him who sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever," Rev. v. 13. And again. In the Church of God there are various tempers and dispositions, Again, the beginning of chapter xiv. 1, some of the Lord's people being natu- "Follow after love," shows that the rally more amiable than others, and more apostle had reference in our text to the to be liked as men, than some of their obscurity in which the conduct of Chrisbrethren, whose manners and words may tians towards each other was often veiled, not be very pleasing, and unintentionally and not to the Gospel of the grace of God, give offence where none was, perhaps, in- which is a revelation of God's eternal love tended-yet love, under the renewings to the Church, or chosen people of God, of the Holy Ghost, will cover a multi- who were equally blessed with all spirittude of sins; see 1 Pet. iv. 8; Eph. iv. ual blessings in Christ, before the foun31, 32; v. 1, 2; putting the best con- dation of the world, are called in the struction on their actions, however doubt-appointed time by the power of the Holy ful they may appear to us and liable to misconstruction. Seeing then, that through the infirmities of the flesh, or whilst in a body of sin, divisions and contentions will arise, how necessary to the peace of the Church is the exercise of this grace, and what so efficacious in calling it forth, or stirring it up, as the method pursued by the apostles, in putting the Churches in mind that they were all equally interested in the love of God, and in the redemption which is in and by Christ, and that their position in the Church was ordered and appointed by the Lord, and every gift bestowed according to His own will. 'But then (when the perfection is come, Ghost out of darkness into God's mar- 3 GLEANINGS FROM THE LIFE OF WEITBRECHT. "THEY may not yet have strong faith to snap asunder those ties which have grown with their growth from infancy. But, the seed is sown. The present number of converts in no degree indicates the work done. The seed is germinating. The Lord of the harvest will take care that the harvest time shall come. "The prospect of our Saviour's advent is a bright one for his suffering Church; and did I not often dwell upon it, I think I could scarcely stand against the trials of my arduous work. He leads His people on, and that safely, and sustains and guides them by his powerful arm. This, dear brother, we have both experienced, and can joyfully testify. It is the same kind arm on which His dear people have leaned from the beginning, and it encompasses us in our severest trials. Mine have been many, but our dross must be consumed, and our tin thoroughly purged away, that we may become partakers of His holiness. While enduring the process, our tears will often flow, and our hearts will sometimes nearly burst. We see so little but misery around us, and feel so little but sin within us, and sometimes it would seem as if all must be delivered over to the burning; but it is not so. An eye bedimmed with the waters of sorrow cannot distinguish clearly, but when we wipe them away, behold the Lord is near us in the flame, watching the refining process, and purifying the sons of Levi. He is a faithful, tender friend-a Brother born for adversity; and He has experienced it Himself. He heats the furnace as we can bear it, but He does not suffer it to cool till He sees it has done its work. Truly, says the Psalmist, Thou art a God that hidest Thyself,' yet He is the God of Israel and the Saviour. The suffering Church is the most lovely object we can contemplate. It is composed of loving and loved believers-united in one conflict, having to pass through the same valley of tears, and preparing together for joining the one conquering host that forms the Church triumphant. What grand and glorious scenes will open to us then, when the last battle has been fought, the last victory won! Thither shall we repair, The glorious bliss to share; THE POOR AGED WARWICKSHIRE WIDOW AGAIN. "And Nathan said unto David, Do all that is in thine heart, for God is with thee." WHAT a precious spring of action is here, how sweet to feel its influence, and are we not ofttimes taught, beloved, not to neglect the most trivial things likely to be useful? If we look abroad at the history of the world, innumerable instances might be named to show how great events have sprung from apparent trifles; we are reminded of how the falling of an apple from a tree, especially noticed by Sir Isaac Newton, is said to have occasioned the discovery of the laws of gravitation; and Lafitte, the French millionaire, dates his success from the circumstance of, when a poor peasant boy, he stopped to pick up a pin and carefully stick it in the cuff of his coat; this action being watched by a rich banker, who, thinking it betokened carefulness of disposition, took him into his employ; after which he became a |
