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lay hid in the mysteries of God's will-how many more sighs and weeping days are appointed for me to experience, I know not; nor do I in my sober moments desire to inquire; yet I cannot conclude from the present aspect of things that my trials are yet at an end. Oh, may every future step I take be overruled by the fatherly care of Him who never errs-so may my will be swallowed up in his, is the constant prayer of his unworthy child!

A favourite of heaven, born to inherit a portion above, should be contented in the prospect of that change which shall waft him to glory, always remembering "this light affliction is but for a moment," in comparison to what is to be realized when the journey of time is accomplished, and all our sorrows shall end.

I had not been in London many months before a most striking providence appeared to my view, and surely I must not forget to date this interposition as one of the foremost in which the kind hand of my God has been traced out and revealed to me. An elderly lady, well taught in the kingdom and patience of Christ, residing at a great distance from town, was made known to me through the "GOSPEL MAGAZINE," and we became correspondents. Never was the finger of God more discovered than in this case. She has become an inmate with me and my wife, by which the rough winds of the forest have been shielded and broken off." Praise God from whom all blessings flow." Thus looking up and waiting upon the Lord, "All things have, and shall work together for good," and let his children give glory to his sacred name.

1845.-Nor can I forget to mention the warm and tender affect on manifested to me from a beloved son, whose regard for his poor father is worthy to be imitated by all children towards their aged parents; but that tender bond is now snapped asunder; the Lord has sovereignly taken him to himself; he is now mingling his eternal praises before the throne of God and the Lamb.

It is probable that the premature and almost sudden death of this beloved son was the means of hastening the disease which was to terminate the mortal life of JAMES GROOM, as adverted to in his obituary, given in the "GOSPEL MAGAZINE," December 1845.

It would appear that he must have had inward bodily feelings of which his friends were not aware, and that for some months he had a presentiment that his earthly career was drawing to its close.

Great weakness appeared gradually and almost imperceptibly to come on, at the same time the disease was making far greater inroads than was in any way anticipated, and terminated much more rapidly than was apprehended: he had suffered all his life from the liver, this was the apparent cause which cut the thread of life, and ended his days, the number of which was appointed from all eternity. He was confined to his room three weeks, and on the 14th of November, 1845, just after the midnight hour had proclaimed the commencement of another

day, he sweetly fell asleep in Jesus, his happy spirit departing to that rest for which he longed to spend an eternal day with Him whom his soul loved, who had redeemed him from the condemnation of all sin, and exalted him to an eternal inheritance as joint heir with Himself. He had completed sixty-two years in this "vale of mingled sorrow and of joy" the preceding 4th of May. His mortal part was deposited in the burying-ground of Wycliff Chapel, Philpot Street, Commercial Road East, to rest till the joyful resurrection-day, in the sure hope of which he lived, as he believed his emancipated spirit would, on leaving its earthy tabernacle, depart, and be with Christ.

JAMES GROOM is now beyond all feelings from censure or from praise; he shared the lot of many of his brethren-greatly beloved by some, condemned by many; for he strenuously held to the last those blessed truths of free-grace which, in a day of creature-piety, will assuredly bring reproach; but he escaped the woe denounced by his Lord, and realized the blessing for being reproached for Christ's sake. The merciful dealings of the Lord with him are faithfully and simply related in the preceding narrative. His general characteristics may have been discovered by the reader; but a few remarks, now that he has entered his rest, which could not come from himself, may not be unacceptable.

It cannot be supposed that, having to struggle from his earliest years with want, with labour, and from his twentieth year with an increasing family, that he could find time for study as to the knowledge of anything beyond common-place acquirements; but he was a man of singular abilities, self-instructed in all he attained. Fom his own statement he was early most desirous of learning to write and he attained great facility and peculiar neatness. Here the purposes of God are made manifest; by it he was enabled to set forth the glorious truths of redeeming love for the comfort and instruction of the family of the Redeemer.

JAMES GROOM was a man of mind, taking in by observation and improving by reflection what came before him. His intellectual capacity was far beyond the generality of his fellow-men, and in the sphere in which he moved few could have understood him or entered into his mind and feelings. He had a sound judgment, a keen perception, and a general knowledge of passing events, so that he could give counsel and advice in the natural occurrences of life with precision and advantage to the inquirer. In disposition he was kind and affectionate, his feelings acutely sensitive, in habits most domestic; but what is far beyond all natural gifts or attainments, he was deeply taught in the school of Christ, of which he gives evidence in his memoir. Besides this, his letters to private correspondents are voluminous, testifying to the glorious truths he had been spiritually instructed in, and the depths of Christian experience into which he had been led. It is much to be desired that some of his valuable letters should be published.

He saw too much of the religious profession to be pleased with everybody who professed religion, and was too uncompromising for every such body to be pleased with him; yet are there many by whom he was highly respected, and sincerely beloved.

It is not intended to panegyrise one who during his life-time never sought the praise of man-who had more to do with God inwardly than man outwardly. He had a deep sense of the depravity of human nature, and could feelingly say, "Behold I am vile," while his consolations flowed from viewing himself in Christ, and believing the Beloved's voice," Thou art all fair, my love; there is no spot in thee." He ascribed all to grace. He gave all the glory to Christ, the Saviour of sinners. His highest privilege was that his name was written in the "Lamb's book of life," not for anything meritorious in himself, but it was his Father's good pleasure from everlasting. This was JAMES GROOM's belief. He has entered his rest-he has ceased from his labours, and we write, "Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord!"

ON LOOKING AT HEZEKIAH'S GRAVE-STONE
YESTERDAY, JUNE 23, 1845.

FAREWELL, dear boy, thy conflict now is o'er,
Before the throne thou dost the Lamb adore.
Oh, blessed state! I long the notes to join,
Where ransom'd spirits sing in strains divine.

When in this vale long time thy faith was small,
Works mixed with grace oft did thy soul enthral;
But as thou neared to quit thy native clay,
Thou saw that Jesus was the only way.

All-conquering victory through a Saviour's blood,
In faith by thee was sweetly understood;

Clasped in thine arms-the only hope for heaven-
Was Christ, who showed thee all thy sins forgiven.

What wouldst thou say if now thou talked with me?
Would works of piety the subject be?

No; thy freed spirit would such trash disdain;
Enough while here to wear that bondage chain.

But now unfettered-happy spirit thou-
Before the Lamb with perfect praises bow;
Thy note to raise in love's mysterious theme,
Inspired afresh to bless Immanuel's name.

Farewell, dear boy! but not a long farewell;
I soon shall meet thee with my Lord to dwell.
Thy harp in hand, now on the highest key,
Mine yet in prospect-in reserve for me.

J.G.

GLEANINGS FROM A DISCOURSE HEARD AT WINCHELSEA, AUGUST 10, 1845.

(From a Correspondent.)

"And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins.”—John iii. 5. RELIGION is a religion of feeling. The Christian must have his melting seasons-seasons of sorrow, and seasons of joy. The blessed experience of the 51st Psalm I have selected-a crumb from God's word-half a verse, but it contains a whole Bible, and in this how different is the Bible from all other histories; they are read and done with-but this blessed book when accompanied with the Spirit's teaching, has indeed inexhaustible stores.

1st, the person spoken of. He was manifested Christ Jesus.

2nd, the person spoken to. And ye know (ye believers) to take away our sins—a double manifestation-as the incarnate God, and as the adorable Son manifested in the hearts of his people. Is not this a mine of gold, more breaks in than can now (as for time) be spoken of, what a history; yet only half a verse addressed to the elect of God; a family Scripture, the mystery of the incarnation, read from Luke i. 30 to 36. Great indeed is the mystery of godliness, "God manifest in the flesh," the Great Jehovah, and infant of days. This doctrine is plain, it is written and we believe it, and in the services of this morning you have confessed your belief of it. We will leave the doctrinal and come to the practical part, as the adorable Son manifested in the hearts of his people, and it is manifestations we want, and they must be personal. What a manifestation of Jesus did Saul have-Saul the murderer. Did Stephen, when Saul was consenting to his death, have a view think you, this persecutor would one day be a brother beloved?

"To sovereign grace how great a debtor.

A revelation," Born again," convicted of sin; yes, the chief of sinners. It pleased God to reveal his Son in me; he no longer conferred with flesh and blood, no forms, no ceremonies, no priest can do (Saul had tried them all) it must be given from above. As a boy at school, as a young man at college; I read and believed these things in my head, but there must be the still small voice, there must be a personal revelation of Christ to the soul, before the heart experiences the power of these momentous truths. Take notice, dear friends, of the pronouns, they are of great value in the Bible-" ye know," take away our sins, the sins of the redeemed world. "Now ye," were elected in in eternity before the fall of man in the covenant of the Triune Jehovah, Christ manifested in time to those saved in eternity, manifested when oppressed of the devil, under the plague of their hearts, under burden, the Husband of his church, who lets the oppressed free. The spotless

Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world (the Church), the remnant of the people, cloudy chariots. "He maketh the clouds his chariot," and know you, dear people, nothing of this? Why if he turns away his face he must have turned it to you, and he will turn again. 85th Psalm, "He will speak peace unto his people." Let them not turn again to folly; after the storm sunshine, he is close to them, yes, close to them. "Mercy and truth have met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other." In Jesus, he is the scape-goat of his family; but, dear friends, what is the use of my telling you of these manifestations; you may say I know it, but I must have them for myself; yes, and so must I, longing for them, panting after them; I have had some, but I want more; such is the spiritual appetite. I must read you a hymn (not got up before) but just brought to my mind; may God bless it to you. It is the 468th; Zech. xii. 10.

In evil long I took delight,

Unaw'd by shame or fear,

Till a new object struck my sight,
And stopped my wild career.

I saw one hanging on a tree,
In agonies and blood,

Who fix'd his languid eyes on me,
As near his cross I stood.

Sure never till my latest breath,
Can I forget that look;

It seemed to charge me with his death,
Though not a word he spoke.

My conscience felt and own'd the guilt,
And plung'd me in despair;

I saw my sins his blood had spilt,
And helped to nail him there.

Not Jew or Gentile only but the elect of both; yes, believers, when Jesus is thus manifested to you (53 Isaiah), you with the guilty man in the pulpit, and you in the pews, will see you murdered your Saviour for your sins; he died that you might live; Abel's blood cried for vengeance-Jesus' blood for pardon; Jesus is the best gift of God, but when to me the blood's applied 'tis then I know, he died for me. What a God and Saviour, all! all! we can tell our incarnate brother, yes, thoughts, temptations, we could not disclose to our nearest or dearest friends; from which we start ourselves, we can tell out to him, he knows them all.

W. A. M

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