trust the Lord for a single shilling, yet for ever blessed be God, he saw where I was, how I was placed, what need I had of his help, but I had not confidence to trust my concerns in his hands, though I knew I had no other course to pursue than bring my case before him; and, thanks to his eternal name for giving me a desire to do so.

I walked out one morning, as my custom was, before breakfast, to a favourite spot two miles off, where I could stand and look around for many miles; there I told the Lord all about it. So dark was my mind that but a glimmer of light appeared; I said, "If thou canst do anything for me; ah, my dear reader, dost thou know what this dark devil is, that often stands to block up thy way before thy dear Lord in the performance of his great love and power to thee, in thy straights and difficulties, in order that his name may be exalted? When I got back my wife gave me a letter which contained a post office order for five pounds, sent by my brother, who had it laid upon his mind that I was in need. Truly it was so, and I blushed at my foolish ifs with which I had addressed the Lord. Some may think but little of such a circumstance, and others may laugh at a divine and special providencebut as surely as there is a God in heaven, so surely does he order all things for the good of his needy and distressed people. I had now my sailing money in hand, and the time drew near for my departure from Scotland. We prepared for the journey, and poor Peter was cast down at the thought; nor was I very joyful at the prospect of our never meeting again on this side of the Jordan.

I have often observed that the very circumstance which at the time causes sorrow, is made use of afterwards to promote pleasure. Thus when I parted with my family in London, I remember the pangs I felt, and when passing Woolwich, where my eldest son resides, I shall not easily forget my thoughts when I took the last look of that place; but now I had the pleasing hope of once again seeing them, and of my being buried in my native land. Before we left I received a sweet letter from a Christian friend living at Hull, pressing us to take a steamer from Leith to that part, and stay with them a week or two, and see if anything would appear for me there. To this invitation I turned my attention, hoping it might be a decreed mercy in the chain that bound fast all my movements. To that end I made my calculations, and proceeded accordingly. In the middle of August we travelled back to Edinburgh -on the following morning went on board the Glen Albin immediately bound for Hull. It was a rough morning, the sea rolling high, the weather not at all inviting.

I felt another trial coming on for faith-fear suggesting we should be lost, and fain would I have shifted my position again to land; but it was too late. Scarcely had we left the shore ere a wave covered the deck, and us also; this was just to begin with, and was but the "frightful parent of a thousand more." The sea assumed a grand but awful appearance, and before we passed the Back Rock, about twentyeight or thirty miles, our sickness began, and the passengers reeled to and fro like drunken men, and I and my poor dear wife were at our

wits' end. I saw here the word of the Lord literally fulfilled, "They that go down into the deep see the mighty works of the Lord." When we got opposite Berwick, a mighty hurricane arose, and one of the main bearings of the engine got red hot, by reason of oil not getting to it, and it was feared if water was applied it would snap in pieces. I expostulated with the captain, and begged him to put into Berwick, but he heeded me not. At length the heat was got under, and we made our way in great danger, expecting to go to the bottom; but the Lord preserved our sinful lives. We were for nearly twenty hours continually sick, and having taken a steerage passage had but little attention paid us, though this was in common with the rest who were in the same situation. The next day we made the Humber, and reached our desired haven about five o'clock the following day, having performed our passage of nearly two hundred and fifty miles. As soon as possible we proceeded to our friend's house, giving thanks to the Lord for so great deliverance.

How different the scene in coming back to what it was in going! Then it was like the pleasing dreams of early life when all appears gay. I was favoured to see the rising sun with all its surrounding grandeur, and to behold it at night close itself as in the bed of the ocean, with a drapery drawn around, that surpasses all that language can express; but the latter seemed like a boiling pot, foaming out its waters as if convulsed and determined to destroy all living; but even this, its lashing fury, was at the Almighty's beck and call. I knew it was only for him to say, "Peace be still," and there must have been a calm. I thought of poor Jonah, and concluded I was his brother, for I appeared to be in the "belly of hell," and wanted the faith which Paul had when he said, "Be of good cheer, for there shall be no loss of any man's life" (Acts xxvii. 22). Why, dear reader, such is the weakness at times of God's dear children, that they feel their faith less than a grain of mustard seed, and the Lord may well say to such, "O ye of little faith, wherefore did ye doubt?" But all these things are in God's order, that we may know it, and cry, "Lord, increase our faith."

Being now under the hospitable roof of my dear worthy friend Lane, we enjoyed several sweet seasons together, and talked about the everlasting blessings over and beyond this tiresome, trying life, and of the mercies daily and hourly made known to us, of all creatures the least worthy to receive them. In this little Zoar I stayed twelve days, and departed, having again to encounter the stormy and raging main. We went on board at eleven at night, purposing to reach Lynn the next morning; but this was not the Lord's will. His decreed way was that we should have Paul's portion, namely, "two nights and a day on the deep; and in the Boston deeps I expected nothing less than a watery grave; for though on board the Lord Nelson, I proved myself a coward indeed. But the Lord God of heaven saw our perilous condition, and saved us for his mercy's sake, as at last we got safe to land, but in such a weak state, we could hardly walk on shore, glad however to find ourselves spared through so dangerous a voyage. At Lynn we were glad to stay

that night, and next day set off for Wisbeach, where my brother lived, at whose house we staid nearly a week. Here the Lord taught me a lesson which led me to the throne. My brother is rich, and has much of this world's goods; but the Lord showed me I wanted something above all this for perfect happiness. I had no fault to find with the treatment I received from him, which was kind; but often did I walk into the church-yard to pour out my soul to God in thanksgivings to him who fixed my portion above this world. My brother had houses in abundance-I none; nor did I know where to lay my head from night to night. He with his lands, cattle, gold and silver at command -I not knowing where to look for a pound; but I would not have changed with him for ten thousand worlds, and I looked upon him with pity. He had prospered in this world, for all he had ever taken in hand seemed to go well, while I had travelled in very difficulty.

We stayed over Lord's-day, and endeavoured to find if any Gospel was preached there; but though I sought several places, it was at best but a yea-and-nay doctrine to us.

My brother asked me where I was bound, and what I was going to do. I told him I had no prospect, nor did I know where my next route would be. I had still a little furniture at a friend's house in Colchester, and it might be better to go there direct than wait and see further the will of God, intending to go to London to see my children, as soon as I could. To all this he made no reply, but when I left he gave me fifty shillings, and we steered our way towards Colchester, which was seventy miles, a cross country road, with uncertain days for carriers; and as my means were now very much reduced, I had to study the best way for accomplishing my journey. We reached Bury

St. Edmunds the first day, and were obliged to stop there two days for a conveyance. This I found rather inconvenient for my pocket; my wife being weak I could do no less than procure a comfortable lodging, and walking into the town by day, we lived as cheaply as we could, putting ourselves upon short allowance, yet retaining as good an outward respectability as we were able, while no one knew the exercises of our poor minds, or our circumstances-God alone was privy to that. This, indeed, was wilderness travelling, so contrary to the natural bent of my mind; and often did the old corrupt rebellious heart rise at it; yet the Lord was pleased to show me it was all right; and here conscience and judgment were sometimes brought together in the tribulated path in which I was walking.

We again set out to proceed to Sudbury in a common carrier's cart. I soon found the driver to be a careless, drinking old man. There being much heavy luggage, besides passengers-two or three females and ourselves-I felt for our safety, and had the presence of mind to take the back seat. Here I had a better opportunity for meditating and breathing out my thoughts to the Lord that he would preserve us, and something seemed to imply that nothing short of a miracle would effect this. I afterwards had cause to see the fulfilment of the Lord's word, "I will give my angels charge over you," for when we were within

three miles of our journey's end, in going down a hill a loaded waggon passed us; the hinder wheel caught our cart from the neglect of our driver; himself and the females in front were all thrown out under the horse, and the wheel going over one of them her ancle was crushed to pieces; the old man had a concussion of the brain, and the others were turned pale as death-my wife and I preserved, not sustaining the slightest injury. I helped to get the poor sufferers into a house, and sent for a surgeon. We walked out, I mourning because I could not feel softness of heart. While thus pondering we saw a poor boy carried off with his face kicked in by a colt, and in ten minutes more saw the mail cart turned over; the man had his arm sadly bruised. All these circumstances occurred within a hundred yards of each other, in less than half an hour-and all strangers. Was not this a signal deliverance, that called for our loudest praise? But we wanted the grace of Jesus to set the tune.

This is a particular point to which sometimes the tried Christian is brought. First, he beholds some impending danger near, and is, from the principle of grace within, drawn by sheer necessity to implore with strong cries the help of the Lord to protect and carry him through. The God of Jacob hears and sends deliverance in a way that convinces him it was a divine interposition; yet the mind continues stupid, the heart remains as hard as a stone, a feeling takes hold which is indescribable, the soul mourns because it cannot mourn, the thoughts are fettered, every spring of the soul seems sealed up here the Holy Ghost must do his own work, liberate the subject, and set the captive free. But, blessed for ever be the Lord's name, all this proves our weakness, while it exalts his glorious grace.

J. G.

GLEANINGS.

THE SWEARER.-A profane coachman, pointing to one of the horses he was driving, said to a traveller, "That horse, Sir, knows, when I swear at him." Yes," replied the traveller, "and so does One above." The coachman seemed to feel the reproof, and immediately became silent.

CARDS. A lady who once heard Mr. Romaine, expressed herself mightily pleased with his discourse, and told him afterwards that she thought she could comply with his doctrine, and give up everything but one. "And what is that, Madam?" "Cards, Sir." You think you could not be happy without them?" " No, Sir; I know I could not." Then, Madam, they are your god, and they must save you." This pointed and just reply is said to have issued in her conversion.

THE LAMBETH ARTICLES.

In the year 1595, Whitgift, Archbishop of Canterbury, out of his Christian love to propagate the truth and suppress Arminian errors, caused a solemn meeting of many grave and learned divines, at Lambeth palace, where were present, besides the Archbishop, Bancroft, Bishop of London; Vaughan, Bishop of Bangor; Tindal, Dean of Ely; Whitaker, Queen's Professor, Cambridge; and others were assembled. These, after a serious debate and mature deliberation, resolved at last on the following artic es :

I.-God from eternity hath predestinated certain men unto life; certain men he hath reprobated unto death.

II. The moving or efficient cause of predestination unto life is not the foresight of faith, or of perseverance, or of good works, or of anything that is in the persons predestinated; but only the goodwill and pleasure of God.

III.-There is predetermined a certain number of the predestinate, which can neither be augmented nor diminished.

IV. Those who are not predestined to salvation, shall necessarily be damned for their sins.

V. A true, living, and justifying faith, and the Spirit of God justifying, is not extinguished, falleth not away, vanisheth not away in the elect, either finally or totally.

VI.-A man truly faithful-that is, such an one who is endued with justifying faith-is certain, with the full assurance of faith, of the remission of his sins and of his everlasting salvation by Christ.

VII.-Saving grace is not given, is not communicated, is not granted to all men, by which they may be saved if they will.

VIII. No man can come unto Christ except it be given unto him, and unless the Father shall draw him: and all men are not drawn by the Father, that they may come to the Son.

IX. It is not in the will or power of every one to be saved.

THE TRIALS AND DISCIPLINE OF FAITHFUL
MINISTERS.

EVERY faithful minister of the Gospel must be truly anxious to answer the end of his high calling of God in Christ Jesus. He regards souls as his hire, and is not readily satisfied without them. He can sustain no greater mortification at the beginning of his ministry than that of