I depart, I will send the Comforter to you." receive of mine, and show it unto you."

"He shall

And there

To many, these promises are daily fulfilled. lives not that disciple of Jesus, who may not, each and every day, hold far more intimate and blessed communion with the Redeemer, than the ancient believers did, or perhaps could. We have now a more full and ample revelation. They enjoyed light, which shone dimly through types, shadows, cloudy pillars; but we see the Sun of Righteousness, shining in full gospel-splendor. They had the promise of good things; we the fulfillment. They the shadow; we the substance. Were some children of God to tell of their interviews with Jesus; of their communion with him; of the wonderful effects it has upon their souls; raising, expanding, warming, blessing them, and filling them with such raptures, as that they scarcely know whether they are in the body, or out of it—and this, day after day, and month after month; and this, too, while, perhaps, a cold and chilling apathy is prevailing all around—would there be any question whether the advantage lies with the ancient or modern believer? Doubtless the "ministration of the Spirit" is far more glorious.

While, therefore, I feel that such interviews as Manoah, and others, in still more distant periods, enjoyed with the Messiah, were very desirable, I prefer my own interviews with him, by means of his Word and Spirit; and, especially, when engaged in prayer, led on and influenced by this blessed agent. When may I not retire, and hold such communion with him? feel, and, indeed, know that he is present with my soul? And, in the ardor of my love to him, while he whispers that I am his, say to him, in return, "Whom have I in heaven but thee; and there is none on the earth that I desire besides thee?"

There are some, at the present day, who are looking for the personal appearance and reign of Jesus on earth. There is something startling, and. at times, delightful, in such a

thought. But I cannot say that it would enhance my views of the blessedness of the Church. Rather let the "ministrations of the Spirit" proceed; let the communion of the saints with Jesus be spiritual, till such times as the earth is filled with the knowledge and love of God. Then, let him come, to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe." Meanwhile, let us, who now live, and those who shall live till that glorious day dawn, sing in hope:

O may we reach that happy place,
Where he unvails his lovely face!
Where all his beauties you behold,
And sing his name to harps of gold!

JUDGES.

PRAYER OF SAMSON.

And Samson called unto the Lord, and said, O Lord God, remember me, I pray thee, · and strengthen me, I pray thee, only this once, O God, that I may be at once avenged of the Philistines for my two eyes. And Samson took hold of the two middle pillars upon which the house stood, and on which it was borne up, of the one with his right hand, and of the other with his left. And Samson said, Let me die with the Philistines. And he bowed himself with all his might; and the house fell upon the lords, and upon all the people that were therein.-Judges xvi. 28-30.

THE story of Samson is too familiar to require even an outline of the incidents of his strange and eventful life. He early gave indications of great strength; and, at length, began that series of exploits, which has given him notoriety, in every succeeding age, where his history has been known

He was raised up to judge Israel; and, in that capacity, to defend them against their most implacable foes, the Philistines. And, on several occasions, he proved himself a formidable champion. He destroyed their crops; he slaughtered them by thousands.

But with all his giant-strength, and astonishing courage; in other respects, he was weak, and easily overcome by temptation. At length, he falls under the power of a woman, in the pay of the Philistines; who, by the practice of her facinations upon him, obtains an important secret; that he was a Nazarite unto God; and that "the preservation of his head unshorn is the mark, or sign of his Nazariteship, and a pledge, on the part of God, of the continuance of his miraculous physical powers." That sign lost, his vow would be broken, and his strength depart, and in that respect, he would be

come as a common man.

Not with greater delight does the sea-bird scream, as she discovers some hidden wreck, than the harlot of Sorek exults when, at length, she discovers the secret, which would bring not Samson only, but the lords of the Philistines at her feet. He soon sleeps in her lap. The locks of his strength are removed. He wakes; but God has departed from him.

This is the prelude to a series of degradations, most humiliating and painful. The Philistines have accomplished their long-cherished purpose. They take him; deprive him of sight; bind him in fetters of brass, and he becomes grinder-general in the prison-house of Gaza.

Ask for the great deliv'rer now; and find him
Eyeless at Gaza, at the mill with slaves.

We attempt no lengthened explanation of these dark and mysterious matters. The character of Samson, in some of its features, is inexplicable. "By none of the judges, did God work so many miracles, and yet by none were so many faults committed. He is enrolled by Paul in the list of ancient worthies, in the eleventh of Hebrews, which affords a strong presumption, that, notwithstanding his errors, he was a pious man. It must be recollected, however, that his history is short, and that the peculiar dispensation, under which he lived, may account for some things, which, if done at this

day, and without the special appointment of God, would be highly criminal. Besides, there may have been in him many exercises of true piety, which, if recorded, would have reflected a different light upon his character." Good men, in all ages, have been imperfect; and some of them, upon the whole eminent for their piety, have evinced great failings. Good men may sin; we know not precisely the limit; but this we do know, that they must, and do repent.

Samson was now in the hands of his bitterest foes. Was he there to correct him for his transgressions? Will God give him a cup of bitterness for trifling with a sacred vow?

In the prison-house of Gaza, he had time for deep and solemn reflections; and it is probable that they came. Indeed, it is to be inferred that there he repented, since, as his hair grew, his strength returned. Not as a natural consequence, but because he repented; and therefore God, being once more reconciled to him, reinvests him with his lost powers. In the language of Bp. Hall, "his hair grew, together with his repentance, and his strength with his hair."

God had still an important work for Samson to do. He shall avenge himself upon his enemies; he shall give relief to the people of Israel; he shall vindicate the honor of God. An opportunity for the accomplishment of these objects, not long after, occurs. A sacrifice to Dagon is proposed by the Philistines, in honor of his having delivered the champion of Israel into their hands; though they well knew that his captivity was owing to the arts of the sorceress of Sorek. The plan is adopted. The Philistines assemble by thousands at Gaza. They give themselves up to mirth and revelry. In the midst of their insane and idolatrous joy, it is proposed to bring Samson out; no longer an object of fear; but blind, weak, and defenseless; that they might make him the butt of their scoffs and insults.

The proposal is acceptable to the multitude, and Samson is led into the idol temple; within which the mighty lords of

Gaza, Gath, Ascalon, and other cities, are assembled. Thousands of others gather upon the roof, so arranged that they, too, can look down upon the object of their insulting triumph.

At length, Samson finds himself near two pillars, supporting the roof. He hears the shouts of thousands. What exultations! What taunts are heaped upon him! What insults are poured out against the God of Israel! Let us not impute vindictive feelings to the penitent, humbled judge of Israel. In the prison of Gaza, he had gone through a purifying process. He had humbled himself before God. What he now hears, fills him with sorrow and grief. May he not vindicate the divine honor? May he not prove, by one single and one signal effort—his last, if that be the divine pleasure that the God of Israel is still his friend, and the Savior of his people.

At this critical juncture, he seems suddenly impelled by some influence from on high. The spirit of God is evidently moving with mighty power upon his heart. Under the inspiration of that Spirit, he lifts his soul to Him that sitteth on the throne; his prayer is holy, devout, intense.

He ceases. The might of God is upon him. He grasps the pillars, on which rests the idol temple of Gaza, and bows himself with the superhuman strength with which God invests him. Those pillars, strong and massive, tremble, rock, fall; and with them, as they fall, are mingled the broken fragments of the temple, and the thousands, which had gathered upon the roof, or were within its walls.

How soon does the eye, which was gazing in fiendish delight upon Samson, roll wildly in its socket! How soon is the boisterous laugh turned into the shriek of death! Samson himself dies; such is the will of God; but he triumphs in his fall; and he becomes more terrible to the Philistines in his death, than he had ever been during his life!