Pray'r makes the dark'ned cloud withdraw, COWPER. The time drew nigh that Israel must die, (Gen. xlvii. 19;) and a few months before Gabriel exchanged the throne of glory, he addressed a friend who visited him, in the follow 66 ing broken sentences. Keep nothing back from Christ; remember he has said, 'my grace is sufficient for thee.' Don't forget, that you can do nothing yourself, but all things through Christ strengthening you!" (John xv. 5; Philip. iv. 13.) He broke out repeatedly in great joy. On being asked, if he felt afraid of death? he replied, “afraid of death? O no; why should I? I am going to glory, to be ever with the Lord! I am quite willing to gowilling—he has made me willing in the day of his power.' I desire to depart and be with the Lord, which is far better. (Ps. cx. 3; Philip. i. 23.) I shall go to my Father; so I am a King's son! the Lord won't shut me outno, no; he has redeemed me, saved me, washed me in the blood of the Lamb, all glory be to his name! I like good people, those the Lord has made good: he must make them if they are so. I like those that desire to be made good, the desire is from the Lord and looks well. Let them come to Christ; he makes them come--he seeks and saves, glory be to his name! It is finished,' said my Saviour on the cross---there's a word of joy for my heart--- finished, finished quite-it is all his work, to him be all the glory! Let us hope to meet in heaven; there will be goodly company in heaven. O what joy to be there! It will not be long before I get to my Father's kingdom-joy, peace and glory for evermore. Oh! that you may all know Jesus as your Saviour, and say with Thomas, my Lord, and my God. (John xx. 28.) I am so willing to go! Blessed be God, he has made me willing. I am a sinner, a vile one, but I have pardon by the blood of Jesus, blessed be his name. The above sentences were all expressed with great animation; the countenance of the aged saint was beaming with joy, and an almost triumphant smile constantly played over his features. It may be well to remark here, that such bright and triumphant manifestations are vouchsafed comparatively to few of God's children: But in me ye shall have peace, (John xvi. 33,) is the gracious assurance to all who apply for it, and may it be our earnest, unceasing petition at "the throne of grace," that this may be our blessed experience, when "the swellings of Jordan" are in our view; that as Simeon of old, we may also be enabled to say, "Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, for mine eyes have seen thy salvation." (Luke ii. 29.) "He will swallow up death in victory! And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us; we have waited for him, we will be glad, and rejoice in his salvation.” (Isa. xxv. 8, 9.) Yes, "if hid in the cleft of the rock," we may safely leave our death and all circumstances attending it, with him who has taken away "sin, the sting of death,"-and who has the keys of it and of hell. (Ex. xxxii. 22; 1 Corinth. xv. 55; Rev. i. 18.) "Lord! when thou wilt, where thou wilt, how thou wilt!" O could a countless multitude address us from the glory in which they are enthroned, who were all their life-time subject to bondage, through fear of death, (Heb. ii. 15;) they would tell us, how a gracious God disappointed their fears, and exceeded their hopes; that dying grace was given for dying moments; that they found the dark valley all light, and an abundant entrance ministered unto them into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. (1 Pet. i. 11.) It has been said, (and it is well said,) "Let up pray daily, that when the messengers of sickness and of death are saying unto us, 'Behold I come quickly!' that we may be enabled to say, with that holy peace and serenity which faith in a crucified Saviour can alone bestow, 'Even so, come, Lord Jesus,' (Rev. xxii. 20.) My dear fellow-sinner, into whose hands this Tract may fall, have you felt what the Word of God declares of all mankind, and therefore you are among the number-" All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God: there is none that doeth good, no, not one: the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth; and the wages of sin is death?" (Romans iii. 23, 12; Gen. viii. 21; Romans vi. 23.) Perhaps you also are sitting by the way-side, (Luke xviii. 35,) in regular attendance on the public and private means of grace, but till this very moment you may have been ignorant of the danger of your spiritual state; you may know nothing of the fallen heart's vileness and depravity; of Christ's all-sufficiency and glory; that his blood and righteousness are your alone ground of hope for pardon and acceptance with God; and that the Holy Spirit only can convert the heart to him. (Jer. xxiii. 6; 1 John i. 7; Ephes. i. 6; John iii. 5.) As an eminent minister of Christ remarks, " Did salvation stop here, only to deliver us from hell, we had carried hell still with us, had not God made provision, by the grace and power of the Holy Spirit, for our restoration to the image of his Son." (Rom. viii. 29.) May you be brought in self-despair to-day to the foot of the cross. O dwell not on the dunghill of sin and unbelief when the gates of the palace are set open! "Jesus ready stands to save you," and prayer is the golden key that unlocks all the treasures of his grace, and love, and power. "If you ask any thing in my name, I will do it; open your mouth wide and I will fill it." (John xiv. 14; Ps. lxxx. 10.) My son, or my daughter, give me thine heart, is the compas |