is weakened by the way. You have laid your head on the lap of some Delilah, and you are shorn of your locks; and now the Philistines will make sport of you. The ungodly witnessed your former zeal, and they will exult over your present languor; listen to their impious mirth; the men who sit in the seat of the scorner are pointing at you, and saying, "Aha! aha!" The Holy Spirit is grieved, and you are left without comfort.

Have you, then, these symptoms of spiritual disease? If so, do not deny it, do not try to deceive yourself; but be willing to know the worst. Pray to be searched and probed. Submit to all that is needful for your recovery. "There is balm in Gilead; there is a Physician there." And when you are healed, watch against all the causes of your former disease. Relapses are often more dangerous than the first attack. Have you fallen to the breaking of your bones, and are they set again? Oh, remember the pains you endured, and let this be your hourly, constant prayer, "Hold thou me up, and I shall be safe."

Christian reader! you will never be perfectly healed in the present world. The disease of sin, though graciously subdued, still rankles in the veins, and is latent in the heart; therefore, you will do well to "watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation." But ere long, the Saviour will take you from the hospital below, and receive you into his Father's house above, where "the inhabitants will no more say they are sick," but, body and soul reunited, will enjoy immortal vigour and unfading youth. Bury St. Edmunds.

THE POOR MAN'S COURSE AND COMFORT.

BY THE REV. JAMES SMITH.

It is no uncommon thing for a poor man to be in trouble, for man is born to trouble as the sparks fly upward. The single man has some troubles, the married often more. Want of work,-want of health,want of skill,-want of proper remuneration for his work,-all these are at times sources of trouble. Hard times,-hard masters,-hard work,hard speeches, these also add to his troubles. There is trouble at the factory, trouble at the mill, trouble in the shop, and trouble in the field. Some troubles come from God, but more are the consequence of our own folly. However, trouble is trouble, come from what cause or quarter it may; and the great thing is to know what to do with it, and how to get rid of it.

Well, we are going to look at a poor man in trouble, to point out what he did with his trouble, and how he got rid of it. He lived many years ago, his witness is in heaven, and his record is in God's book. Hear it, This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles" (Ps. xxxiv. 6). No doubt but he had temporal troubles, perhaps just such as yours. A large family and a small income. Hard work and a weak body. Little employment and many demands. Providence seemed to frown upon him, and many things to go wrong with him. Then he had spiritual troubles. A hard heart, a bad memory, a bitter enemy, many fears, distressing doubts, perplexing cogitations, and violent temptations, separate or combined, at times troubled him. God hid his face. Unbelief gained strength. Satan suggested hard thoughts. His own heart misgave him. He looked back with regret, and forward with foreboding. He looked within with alarm, and upward without confidence. A cloud covered him, he fancied all things were against him, and he drooped and hung down his head. He felt that he was a poor man.

He had no stock in hand.
could be pleased, or in which he could trust.
tried in his family and in his circumstances.
despair, he did not give way to despondency.
"He cried unto the Lord." This was the very best, the wisest thing
he could do. Had he cried to creatures, they might have been destitute
of sympathy, or unable or unwilling to help. He cried unto the Lord,
his father's God, and his own God. Unto the Lord, who is full of pity,
plenteous in mercy, and pledged to answer prayer. To the Lord, who is
accessible at all times, and in all places; who never said to the seed of
Jacob, seek ye me in vain. To the Lord, who had heard millions of poor
souls in trouble, and had never refused to deliver one. To the Lord,
who sent or permitted the trouble, to furnish him with a message, give
him an occasion, and compel him to apply at his throne. He cried unto
the Lord, he cried from his heart, he cried with his voice; his prayer was
simple, earnest, importunate, and therefore successful. He carried his
trouble to the Lord, he told his heavenly Father all about it, and he left
it at his throne. He went with all his fears, cares, and sorrows; he
opened his heart, he unburdened his soul, he relieved his mind. He
cried as one in distress. He cried to one who could help. He cried as
one who hoped to be heard and answered. He went again, and again,
and again, until he obtained relief. He cried in trouble, he cried because
of trouble, he cried to be delivered from trouble, nor did he cry in vain.
Dear reader, are you poor? Are you in trouble? Is your trouble great?
Is it spiritual or temporal, or both? Carry it to the Lord. Do as this
poor man did. He is set before you as an example.
This verse was
written on purpose to encourage, comfort, and direct you. Say not that
you know not what to do. Cry unto the Lord. Say not that you know
not what will be the end. Cry unto the Lord, and he will deliver you
from all your troubles. You have a friend at God's right hand. Jesus
is there. He knows what trouble is. He knows what are the effects of
trouble on the soul, the spirits, and the animal frame. He has been tried
like you are. He was made our High Priest, because he can have com-
passion on the ignorant, and those that are out of the way. God will
hear you for his sake. He will answer you when you plead his dear
name. Imitate this poor man, and in doing so, remember that the
Lord

He had nothing of his own with which he
Tried in body and in mind:
Yet he did not lie down in
What did he?

They

"Saved him out of all his troubles." They were numerous. were painful. Perhaps some of them had been long continued. They required an omnipotent helper, an all-wise deliverer, a present God; and prayer brought the power, wisdom, and presence of God to bear upon the poor man's circumstances, and he was saved out of all his troubles. God loves to save us from our troubles as well as our sins. He saved Israel from Egypt, David from all his foes, and Jeremiah from the dungeon; he is saving many from trouble now, and he will save us. Many are this day singing their songs of deliverance, to the praise of his glorious grace; and he is saying to us, "Call upon me in the day of trouble, I will deliver thee; and thou shalt glorify me." Let us not, then, nurse our troubles, encourage our fears, or give way to our foes; but let us go to our God by prayer, let us go in faith, and let us expect that as this poor man cried and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles, so he will hear, appear for, and deliver us. We have the same promises as he had, our claim upon God is as good as his was, and we have more to plead than he could have, for we have the dear name, precious blood, finished work, and constant intercession of Jesus, the High Priest of our profession.

Poor, tried, tempted, troubled, tempest-tossed soul, look up; yield no longer to thy fears, listen no longer to Satan, that enemy to God and man, think not of sinking under thy load, but "roll thy burden on the Lord, and he shall sustain thee;" cast "all your care upon him, for he careth for you;" cry day and night unto God, this will prove your election and secure your deliverance. Hear what your Saviour says, "Shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? I tell you that he will avenge them speedily" (Luke xviii. 7, 8). That trouble will never hurt you that leads you to the Lord, the pain it causes is salutary, and the energy it awakens does you credit. Carry all your troubles to your God, plead with him to sanctify them to you, and then remove them from you; but seek their sanctification first, and let their removal be a secondary consideration. Be jealous, lest you should lose the benefit of an affliction, for no trouble is sent but with a special object in view, and if the present trouble does not accomplish that object, another and perhaps a heavier trouble may be sent. Reader, do you know the God of Israel, who delivered this poor man? Has he ever delivered you? We know of no more pitiable object, than a sinner in trouble with no God to go to, no promise to cheer him, no blessed Spirit to soothe and comfort him. We wonder not that some fly to strong drink, and others to self-destruction. My dear friend, seek the poor man's God, look to the poor man's Saviour, read the poor man's book, pray for the poor man's comforter (the Holy Spirit), and so will you arrive safely at the poor man's home, where toil, trouble, disappointment, perplexity, sin, nor sorrow, can ever come.

New-Park-Street, London.

"GOD GIVETH THE INCREASE."

This is an obvious and a vital truth, repeatedly affirmed by the pen of inspiration, in varied phraseology, and confirmed by the uniform experience of the church of God in every age. The Almighty allowed many centuries to pass away before the promulgation of the gospel, probably to afford ample scope to the power of philosophy, science, polytheism, and other systems, to reclaim the fallen race of man to their allegiance to their Creator and Supreme Ruler; "and the times of this ignorance God winked at;" but the world "by wisdom knew not God, professing themselves to be wise they became fools, so that there was none that understood, none that sought after God."

Then in the fulness of time the Divine Son became incarnate, and offered up himself as the only and all-sufficient sacrifice for sin, and medium of reconciliation with God. He began to unveil the mystery of godliness, had seen Satan fall as lightning from heaven, and had triumphed over all the powers of earth and hell. He ascended on high, led captivity captive, and took his seat at the right hand of the Majesty on high. His farewell commission to his disciples was, "Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature." He qualified fishermen and publicans to execute the work thus assigned to them, by pouring out his Spirit at the day of pentecost, after many days spent in fervent and united supplication; he encouraged their faith and confidence by the abundance of the first fruits of their labour, when in one day three thousand souls were savingly converted to God. The great Head of the church has ever since been pleased to render "the foolishness of preaching" Christ and him crucified effectual to the salvation of those that

believe; during the first century multitudes of all ranks and descriptions, and in all countries, were persuaded to renounce idolatry, and at the risk of liberty and life, to declare themselves the disciples of Jesus of Nazareth.

How different is the progress of the gospel in the present age, as compared with what it was in the apostolic days. This is the age of general profession of christianity, a great shew of public services, a multiplying of societies for the diffusion of the gospel. There is a vast extent of instrumentality in constant operation in our own country professedly for this purpose, probably 25,000 men nominally devoted to the work of attending to the religious instruction of the inhabitants of England, besides the tens of thousands of occasional preachers, Sabbath school teachers, scripture readers, tract distributors, &c., who are actively engaged in promoting the same object. But with all this immensely extended agency, how comparatively few of the unconverted are pricked to the heart, and constrained to cry, "What must I do to be saved ?"

To prove the assertion, that in the present day vital religion is advancing by slow degrees (if advancing at all), we would refer to the Circular Letter published last June, by the association of churches in the county in which we write; and this we fear is but a sample of the state of our churches generally. During the preceding year fifty-five churches, containing above 6,400 members, had received only 270 persons by baptismal profession, not five to each church, or one to about twentythree members,-387 was the total addition, but 515 had been taken away, forming a clear diminution of 128 during the year. In addition to the labours of the regular pastors, there were above 2,500 Sabbath school teachers, and a great number of tract distributors and other agents employed, as well as 72 preaching stations in connexion with the churches. The result of all these efforts has been given.

In what way can this lamentable change be accounted for? The church has the same Head, who is as deeply interested in the success of the work as ever he was. His compassion for perishing sinners is as great as when he hung upon the cross. His power to save is the same as when he rescued the dying thief from the jaws of hell. His intercession at his Father's right hand is presented with as much earnestness as on the pentecostal day. He continues equally desirous to see the travail of his soul and be satisfied. His arm is not shortened that he cannot save, and he is equally ready to open the windows of heaven and again pour out his Spirit on the instrumentality employed by his people.

Many causes may be suggested as contributing to this grievous want of success, and amongst them we may name the undue dependence which many place on ministerial agency as the principal and alınost the only means of conversion. By such the pastor is regarded as the only responsible party, and to him therefore is ascribed the credit of conversions, and of course the deficiency of such results. Church members do not sufficiently realize their personal responsibility, and have been satisfied with the enjoyment of their privileges, without, individually, making efforts for the salvation of souls. We would also remind them that meetings for prayer are proverbially attended by few, and that a large proportion of members are scarcely ever found at them. Such a spirit evinces an overweening dependence on human effort, and culpable indifference to the necessity of Divine influPaul and Apollos realized the fact of their being only the ministers

ence.

*Yorkshire.

†The admirable address of Dr. Godwin at the meeting of the Union, contains some important and judicious observations worthy of serious attention.

or servants by whose instrumentality sinners were induced to believe. All the apostles felt the truth of the declaration, "Paul planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase." He giveth it in answer to the prayer of faith; but while we indulge a spirit which robs Him of his glory, we cannot anticipate his blessing.

Our churches have had this statement before them for several months; has it produced any practical result? have they manifested concern for the depressed state of religion? has it led them, as churches or as individual members, to deep humiliation before God, to fervent supplication for the quickening and reviving influence of the Spirit of God, and to more devoted efforts for the salvation of souls? The season for the Association meetings in the various parts of the country is again at hand, let the ministers and messengers of the churches seek for Divine guidance as to the adoption of measures adapted to their present position and obligations, that, under a consciousness of past shortcomings, and of the tendency to "trust in man and make flesh their arm," they may trust wholly in the Lord, and wait upon him till he has made our Zion the joy of the whole earth. May we as a denomination awake from our sleep of indifference and lukewarmness in the cause of our Divine Master, then shall "God be merciful unto us and bless us, and cause his face to shine upon us." Sheffield, April, 1850.

A DEACON.