Christ, is our just desert, but thanks, eternal thanks, be unto God for His precious blood, whereby we are saved from so awful a condition; but, while here, we can never know what we are really saved from-the depth of misery and woe—or what we are saved to know and enjoy.

Again, this precious blood purges our consciences from dead works (Heb. ix. 14), and by it we obtain forgiveness of sins (Eph. i. 7), and remission (Matt. xxvi. 28). It is also cleansing blood (1 John i. 7); it "cleanseth us from all sín" every day and every hour.

In a little book, entitled, " Companion to the Revised Version," the author says, in reference to John xiii. 13, "He that is bathed, needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit" (Revised. Version),* that, as a person just bathed would only need to wash his feet, from the defilement he had contracted since leaving the bath, so the believer in Christ, who was cleansed from his guilt by faith, only needed to be washed, day by day, from the fresh guilt contracted while passing through the world. This seems quite to agree with other parts of the sacred Word, and would imply that Christ's precious blood is of that divine and cleansing nature that, when once washed in it, those sins never appear before God again. In Isaiah xliii. 25, we read that God blots out our transgressions, and will not remember our sins -those sins that have been washed away in the blood of Jesus Christ; and again, in Jeremiah xxxi. 34, and 1. 20, we read that, when "the iniquity of Israel shall be sought for, there shall be none; and the sins of Judah, and they shall not be found;" for when the precious blood of the Lord Jesus Christ has been applied, it completely hides them from view, and we feel the truth of Psalm xxxii. 1.

It is, indeed, a happy and never to be forgotten time with every child of God, when he has long been mourning over his felt sins and corruptions-the sins of his whole life, and the sins of his nature-to have the blood of Jesus Christ applied, and to realize, by faith, the sweetness and substance of the words (if not the very words themselves), "Thy sins, which are many, are ali forgiven;" and, if forgiven then, forgiven for ever. God has cast them behind His back, and, if sought for, they shall not be found. But so far from such an one not needing the blood of Christ, he will feel to need it more than ever. He will discover sin to be sin where, perhaps, before he passed it over. He will need constant washing, and feel, at times, most thankful that the fountain for sin and uncleanness is ever open. His feet, or daily

We give this in the same way as we mention a marginal reading, not as approving the New Version as a whole.

walk, will need continually the blood to wash them; and, too, he will feel the need of inward washing. His every-day thoughts and desires will not be pure in his sight, but will need the cleansing blood of Jesus Christ, for Jesus said to Peter, "If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with Me;" and surely it is to be feared that one who professes to be pardoned from all his sins, and yet never after feels sin to be a burden, or the need of daily washing, has no part with a sin-hating God, or, at least, gives but little evidence of it; but, on the other hand, “ he that is bathed, needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit." Past sins, passing through the Saviour's blood, are forgiven and forgotten by God, and we read that, “if we confess our sins" (our present every-day sins), "He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins," for "the blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth" (not only hath cleansed) "us from all sin."

"Lord, sprinkle all our consciences

Each day-nay, every hour

With this sin-cleansing precious blood,

This blood of saving power."

66

We have also liberty or boldness to come before God through the blood of Jesus (Heb. x. 9). Yes, a vile, polluted sinner, sprinkled with the blood of Jesus, may actually come boldly to the throne of grace, to the exalted Majesty of heaven, and speak out all his mind, laying his desires, infirmities, and wants before the Lord, and then believe he will be heard and answered, so far as for his good. Surely we ought more and more to love and value this precious blood, which obtains for us so great a privilege, bringing vile sinners nigh unto the mighty God (Eph. ii. 13), and justifying them in His sight (Rom. v. 9).

Oh, what inestimable blessings are procured to the people of God through the blood of Jesus! Every drop of His blood is valuable. But, though we receive so much through this blood, we would never forget what it cost our dear Lord and Saviour when He gave Himself for our sins. May the Holy Spirit often lead us by faith to the sacred garden of Gethsemane and to the cross at Calvary; for, "though grief may o'er us steal" while contemplating the scenes once witnessed there, yet we would hold those places most dear, and often desire to creep to the foot of the cross, and feel the cleansing efficacy of the Saviour's blood. Oh, precious, precious blood! It is indeed dear, exceedingly dear, to every feelingly polluted sinner; and the remembrance from whence it flowed; and the agony of the dying Sufferer, all tend to make it increasingly valuable. But is not the thought very comforting, and does it not, at times, cause heartfelt gratitude to God, that our great High Priest has not, like those gone before,

to offer Himself often? (Heb. ix. 25) for then must He often have suffered; but, being the true and mighty God, His one offering of Himself for ever put away sin, so that He is now exempt from all Personal suffering; for, though "He feels each tempted member's pains," yet we would rejoice that His own dear sacred Person is no longer on earth, subject to all the ignominy and scorn of sinful men, or to the many privations He once endured, when a "Man of Sorrows and acquainted with grief," but is now exalted at the right hand of God in heaven, where every tongue confesses He is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

66

Lord, make us value more and more,
This precious, precious blood,

Which throughly cleanses from all sin,
Because the blood of God!"

A READER.

"THE SECRET PLACE OF THE MOST HIGH."

(PSALM Xci.)

[The following excellent hymn was found some years since in the Parish Church hymn-book, Islington, and was inserted by the late Mr. Abrahams in his Appendix to Hart's Hymns.]

THERE is a safe and secret place,
Beneath the wings divine,
Reserved for all the heirs of grace;
Oh, be that refuge mine!

The feeblest saint may there abide
Uninjured and unawed;

While thousands fall on every side,
He rests secure in God.

The angels watch him on his way,
And aid with friendly arm;
And Satan, roaring for his prey,
May hate, but cannot harm.

He feeds in pastures, large and fair,
Of love and truth divine;
Oh, child of God! oh, glory's heir!
How rich a lot is thine!

A hand almighty to defend,

An ear for every call;

An honoured life, a peaceful end,

And heaven to crown it all!

-Author Unknown.

A LITTLE regard for others' burdens often tends to lighten our

own.

MEMOIR OF THE LATE MR. ROBERT COLLINS, OF

BATH.

How sovereignly the Lord works among the fallen sons and daughters of Adam! Whole families, from generation to generation, may seem to pass away without any being called by grace; while in others, grace may seem to descend from father to son, or from mother to daughter, as if it were a family heirloom. Now, we know that grace is not hereditary (John i. 13). Every heaven-bound soul must be born again (John iii. 5), be brought to repentance (2 Peter iii. 9), have the inward witness of the Spirit (1 John v. 10), and know the Lord for himself (Heb. viii. 11). Yet we cannot but admire the loving-kindness of the Lord in taking several out of one family, and making them the subjects of divine grace, while others are left to reap the just reward of their own sin.

Robert Collins, the subject of this memoir, was one of a gracious chain. His father appears to have been a good man, and Eliza Hopkins was his daughter, as noticed on page 73 of our last month's issue. From a few notes written by himself we gather the following facts concerning his life. He was born October 19th, 1807, and, at the age of thirteen or fourteen, he was apprenticed to his father's business, and then he went to a respectable hairdresser in Bath for improvement, and afterwards to London. When he arrived in the Metropolis, his thirst for pleasure induced him to visit various places of amusement, and led him to the theatre, to see the renowned Kean. On entering, a pressure was made by some evil-disposed persons for the sake of pocket-picking, which nearly suffocated him; but a companion managed to lift him above the crowd, so that he regained his breath. He paid no regard at that time to the Lord's day, but would often profane it by going out boating. Once, when he was returning from a trip with his companions, and they were about to land at London Bridge, the boat was nearly capsized, and, but for the protecting care of the "Preserver of men,' they had been plunged into the water. But he went on, regardless of the voice which spake by these providences, until, as he says, the Lord convinced him of his sin. Then all came before him in vivid colours, and he could see how near he had been to the very gates of destruction, and yet had been spared. Upon this he often reflected, and felt grateful to God that he was not cut down in the midst of his sins.

In October, 1831, he married, and commenced business on his own account, and used to have worldly company to visit him on the Lord's day. But, on one occasion, nearly all the party were taken unwell, and though not seriously, yet sufficiently so as to mar

heir pleasure; and during the time they were there, these words were on Mr. Collins' mind

"No music's like Thy charming name,

Nor half so sweet can be."

After this he seems to have resolved to give no more invitations on Sundays.

He also mentions going to hear a celebrated singer, and was much shocked by hearing these solemn words profaned

"Did I not own Jehovah's power,

How vain were all I knew!"

This, it appears, was at the time when conviction for sin was taking hold of him, for, being fond of music, he thought he would be present at a performance of instrumental music, for, as no words were uttered, it was suggested it would be less sinful than listening to oratorios. But having duly weighed it in his mind, as in the light of eternity, he decided against attending, on the ground that he would not like to die there.

After this, he says, he began to have more serious thoughts about religion, and a desire was manifested after the pure truth of God. He went at this time to Queen Square Chapel to hear the late Mr. Wallinger, but after the removal of the latter from Bath, he felt he had not for a time any spiritual home, and so wandered about, sometimes hearing legal preachers, who spoke of the terrors of the law, which filled him with dread alarm, but yielded no comfort. Occasionally he would go, in company with his father, to visit a good old Christian friend on a Sunday evening. Eventually he was led to a little chapel in Bath, which the people used before Providence Chapel was finished, where the late Mr. Beard, of Wiltshire, was supplying. His text was Psalm xxxiv. 6, and he felt, under that discourse, that he was delivered from all his trouble. He went home to his wife rejoicing in what he had found. She could hardly believe it, but he felt he had the inward witness and the precious love of God which casts out fear.

After the new chapel, "Providence," was built, it was opened by Mr. Warburton and Mr. Beard, but the ministry of the stated pastor was not profitable to many of the tried and exercised family of God, so they hired a large room and met together for some years, where, amongst many others, they were favoured to hear the late Mr. Philpot, Mr. Isbell, Mr. Hiscox, and Mr. Beard.

At length, through a sad circumstance, "Providence" became free to men of known experimental truth, so that the room was