ود THE LAST END OF A YOUNG CHRISTIAN.50 1: A DEATH-BED scene recorded in without delay, to the noble endea- der again how many attendant circumstances were calculated to allay excitement of every kind; the shattered frame, the unstrung nerves, the mortal agonies, the bursting ties of relationship, the struggling of animal life to retain its earthly lodging. Oh, let them consider how these usual accompaniments of life's latest hour,' in the majority of cases, serve to quench every spark of animation, to becloud every beam of joy, to weigh down the immortal soul beneath a burden of unutterable anxieties, and to banish far away from the struggling victim of the king of terrors, every hope and every joy that rests not on an infinitely more solid basis than a morbid excitement: and then, let them make the candid and just admission that there is in, religion, when it takes up its dwelling deeply and immoveably in the heart, a power to console, and to elevate, and to gladden which is elsewhere sought in vain; a power to bear up the mind, when every earthly prop is falling from beneath it, yea, to kindle such a pure and tranquil brightness around the dying hour, as almost to blend the Closing scenes of this life with the opening, visions of glory and of bliss, upon which the new-born spirit enters in the life to come. And having made the admission which they cannot with any shadow of reason withhold, let them rise March 21, 1828. Was much to first visit to a young woman in this parish of the name of Huntley, Her bodily frame was fast sinking under the influence of disease, but! the hope of an interest in the atoning blood of Jesus, was lively and vigorous, and her happy soul was rising on the wings of faith and love towards heaven. Never be fore has it been my privilege to witness so remarkable an instance of a dying believer rejoicing in Christ Jesus, with joy unspeakable and full of glory. All March 25. Passed some interesting moments to-day by the bed side of Harriet Huntley, who witnessed a good confession when in health, and therefore her dying testimony is the more satisfactory. She is so weak as to be scarcely able to articulate, and consequently much of what she said, I could not distinctly understand. I could hear her whisper every now and then such expressions as these is well,' I now feel that religion every thing.' The frame of her" mind seemed truly humble, grieved to think how little she had glorified that Saviour, who in her salvation was all in all; and how far she had been living beneath her Christian privileges. Christ was indeed all her hope, and all her dependence; but she felt that holiness of heart, and consistency of conduct, and deliverance from the dominion of sin, is as much the privilege of a Christian, as it is a part of his salvation. She said she now saw that the path to heaven was much more narrow than she had ever before thought it; and had she strength, how earnestly would she exhort her Christian friends to walk more humbly and closely with God. Oh, do tell me, sir,' she said when I rose to take leave, do tell me if I am in error, tell me if I am resting on the right foundation.' I think it was during this visit, she expressed herself so strongly on the value of the means of grace, and said she was so powerfully impressed and awakened under a sermon, from the words, Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her." March 26. I was early summoned this morning to attend the dying Harriet; whose dissolution her friends considered to be at hand. It seemed indeed as though the earthly tabernacle was on the very point of sinking to its kindred dust, but never surely could the heavenly guest it contained have been more vigorous. As soon as I was seated beside her she exclaimed, Oh! Jesus is giving me the victory complete victory -final victory!-Glory, glory!all is well-for ever well.'-And then she repeated the word glory again and again, till from speaking with a strength of voice which astonished us, the word died away upon her lips into a soft and gentle whisper- Oh,' she said after a pause, what a miracle of grace! what a brand plucked out of the burning! what a mercy!-Praise the Lord-Oh! do praise him' 'I shall behold his face I shall his power adore, you dinary a degree with an expression of holy peace and heavenly joy, in the evident foretaste of the glory that awaited her. She took the hand of each present, and spoke to all in turn with peculiar appropriateness. Το her distressed mother she said,- My dearest mother, oh, that you felt what I do.' I wish I did, my love,' was the mother's reply. . You may, you may: Jesus will lead in the right way.' in the right way.' My dear sister,' she said to Maria H. ‹ do give yourself wholly to the Lordseek him with all your heart.' To a young man who was present, she said, Be faithful to the light and grace which God has given you. Live near, oh, live near to him, live upon the fulness of Jesus. Be faithful-will you be faithful?' When a little recovered from so great an effort, she exclaimed, -- 6 If this is dying, it is sweet indeed to die.' Upon which I reminded her that I had said to her a few days ago, when her mind seemed rather under a cloud, that it is the privilege of a Christian to die. Yes,' she replied, what is all the world to this?'- -meaning the joy and peace she possessed. She then repeated the name of Jesus with great emphasis, adding, He is my God, my Redeemer, my Saviour....Tell the world,' she exclaimed, her countenance beaming as before,‹ I am a sinner saved by grace;' and then she repeated the expression again and again in a tone of voice, of which I should have supposed her wholly incapable..... At the close of the day she said to a friend, – To-day I have experienced as it were a heaven below, perhaps tomorrow I shall reach a heaven above. With reference to former seasons of doubting, she said,— Oh! wherefore did I ever doubt a Saviour's grace, and faithfulness, and love?' April 1. The summons reached poor Harriet this evening, which SIR,-Having been lately led to consider the practice of bowing the knee at the mention of the name of Jesus, I beg leave to offer a few remarks which have occurred to me." I would first advert to Phil. ii. 9-11. (which is the text upon which the custom is founded) "Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a is above every name; that at every knee should bow, of things in in earth, and namehe name of Jesus affirmed by dissenters to be used as symbolical of submission: their mode of argument is this; they first assert that bowing the knee was an honour done to kings and nobles in the east, as we find in Gen. xli. 43. and several other parts, and from these passages they assume the figurative meaning of the text. But we must recollect that Christ, the King of kings, and Lord of lords, and who is one with the Almighty Father, stands in a much higher situation with respect to heaven, and things hings under ththand that their sea than in 901 (941 every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." This is And the bowing the knee has not been proved to have been done at "the mention of the name of these kings, and therefore it cannot be shown to be a parallel case to it. 1 Let us now proceed to examine the context, for a text of scripture should never be singled out without looking into the connection. In the former verses then, we find most beautifully set forth the chumiliation of our Saviour in visiting this world, taking upon himself the form of a servant, and suffering a most cruel and ignominious death on the cross for the salvation of sinners; and immediately afterwards we have as it were a reward given to him for the execution of his work of mercy in the words of the text, Wherefore God also," &c. Surely none who have tasted of the blessings obtained by this glorious Redeemer, can refuse to assign that glory and honour which the Father here promises him. 66 I would here remark, in support of this text being taken literally, the peculiarity of its being at the mention of Jesus. This word signifies in the Hebrew, Saviour, and the mention of this name, perhaps is more calculated than that of any other, to call forth the principles of gratitude from true Christians; and possibly the inspired apostle selected it from the other titles of our Lord on this account; for upon turning to Rev, v. 13, we find that the angelic host ascribed blessing and honour to the Lamb for ever and ever, which word does not so readily suggest the idea of a Saviour as the other; nor is it required, as the one is to be at the mention of the name, and the other was at the presence of Jesus. The principal objections urged against this practice are, that it is superstitious and popish; the former of these, can be of no weight, when the custom is shown to be founded on Scripture as it has been. Let us, however, see what mea our church attaches to this ing ceremony: testifying by these outward ceremonies and gestures their due acknowledgment, that the Lord Jesus Christ, the true eternal Son of God, is the only Saviour of the world, in whom alone all the mercies, graces, and promises of God to mankind, for this life and the life to come, are fully and wholly comprised.' (Canon 18th.) I would appeal to any candid person, whether these are superstitious sentiments, or whether such expressions are tainted with false devotion. As to its being a popish ceremony, I will not deny it; but are we to endeavour so far to shake off all similitude to the professors of a false religion, as to neglect a duty because they perform it? No one can be more inimical to the Romish religion than myself; yet, though I should regret to see any of their superstitious ceremonies introduced into the Church of England, I would on no account neglect what is so plainly stated, through any apprehension of being charged with being in alliance with that church. Is there anything then revolting in the idea of bowing the knee upon the mention of the name of one who is co-equal and co-eternal with the living God; of one who visited this world upon the errand of mercy, and obtained redemption for man at the cost of his own precious blood? No, there certainly is not, and no just reason can be adduced for objecting to conform to this ceremony. It ought not then to be branded with the words, superstition,' or 'popery,' when we see it founded upon so firm a basis as the holy word of God. Other objections may be urged against this ceremony, but I can never be con vinced that it is wrong, unless a direct contrary injunction can be found in the inspired volume. 1979 siqingyo ng pi tubuon zid 20 1991. SERMON OF THE LATE SIR, Permit me to send for insertion in your useful publication, the substance of a sermon preached by the late Rev. W. Richardson, of York. It will doubtless be read with peculiar pleasure by that part of his flock who survive him, and it will prove, I am persuaded, edifying to the spiritual reader of the Christian Guardian. The ser mon was taken down in short hand, when it was preached, Oct. 27, 1799, in York Minster, by the late John Russell, Esq. R. A. the personal friend of Mr. Richardson, and one of the many admirers of his ministry. I send you a faith REV. W. RICHARDSON. SERMON. A 2 CHRON. XXviii. 22.-" This is that king Ahaz." WHATSOEVER was written afore time, was written for our learning;" we are therefore to read every part of the Scripture, in order to gain instruction. We find in this king Ahaz, that all the chastisements of God were rendered useless to him ; for in the time of his affliction did he trespass yet more against the Lord; this is that king Ahaz. Great benefits to men flow from their afflictions, but this end cannot be accomplished, except in the way of repentance, faith, and holiness. We cannot honour God but by seeing our own evil, and his goodness, and in being delighted in his ways so as to follow after this holiness. All the means of grace are therefore to beget the life of God in the soul of man. Affliction is one of these means. If the heart were good, there would be no need of such unpleasant remedies, but the more our God would pour down his benefits upon us, the more thankful and devoted we should be. But since man is fallen from God, and he seeks his happiness in earthly things, continual prosperity would ruin us. In king Ahaz we see an example, that the more men abound in, and are partakers of the good things of this life, the more they forget God. Hence it was, that when God of his infinite goodness first promised the Saviour to fallen man, he did not permit him any longer to remain in paradise, but took him from that pleasing situation, in order to dispose him to seek his salvation. And accordingly, this memorable sentence against Adam and his posterity was pronounced: "Cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; in the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground: for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust-shalt thou return." This sentence has been fulfilled in all ages. Every man hath his share, and there is as much mercy as judgment in this; they who are called to the knowledge of God in Christ Jesus, may be called to have more stings in their earthly comforts than others, in order to tear away their idols, to alarm their consciences with 1 |