a long time at the very threshold of heaven; looking in and calmly awaiting my summons to enter; one morning, as I was putting on my clothes, felt the world come on my back with them. With my clothes I seemed to be putting on the armour to fight again with the world, the flesh, and the devil; and I was cast down for a moment at the burden and the conflict. When I was down stairs, a large Bible was open on the side table; and I looked, the first time for months, and my eyes rested on these words, which, were at that moment written on my heart, and are there in deep characters unto this day, "I shall not die, but live and declare the works of the Lord. The Lord hath chastened me sore; but he hath not given me over unto death." Psalm cxviii. 17, 18.

The doctor's words that morning could not shake the hold that God's words had taken. "The learned Leech" attentive, and to me, kind, came to me as usual, at ten o'clock. I arose as he came in, and though he saw I was recovering now, neither my looks, my frame, nor his knowledge warranted him in saying more than he did say, "Poor lad! he will never be fit for any thing as long as he lives. His nerves are like the leaves in Autumn. The first wind that sweeps over them, they are gone!" But from that day, I recovered fast. And those friends who had seen me in my weakness compared me to Lazarus raised, as I began to walk about. Nor was their kindness confined to words, but dinners and wine, as I could eat and drink came in, and I dined two or three times a day, until I obtained a greater bulk than before my illness. And so raised up, and blessed and commissioned, I returned to London in the Spring of 1829, A MONUMENT OF MERCY, and

THE CARPENTER'S SON.

Love seems to be that property remaining in fallen human nature, which, in its operations, especially claims a resemblance to the leadings of the Spirit, in bringing the Bride of Jesus to himself; with this distinction, however, always existing: that in all natural attachments, there is a certain degree of equality between the parties; but in the heavenly attachment, there is all that is great and glorious on the one side, while all that is degraded, and little, and mean are to be found on the other.-Geo. Doudney.

CHEERING WORDS PULPIT,

A SERMON BY THE LATE MR. RUDMAN, OF PLYMOUTH.

"And he said unto me, it is done."-Rev. xxi. 6.

AGAINST the beast which setteth upon many waters, and her base idolatries the hand of God is uplifted, and his sword is made quite naked, and solemn will be his judgments in this respect. To this, the words of our text, the counterpart of the words of Christ upon the cross, and of some which were uttered previously, we indeed apply. It is done that is to say, not only has he finished transgression; made an end of sin; made reconciliation for iniquity, and brought in everlasting righteousness; but he, when he so did, laid the foundations for, and gave the rich earnest of, his eternal joy. And hence, he is set forth as riding upon a horse, and in, and by name, called the Faithful and True, on his head being many crowns. And it is an unspeakeable mercy, that as set forth in this character, he is to, and for his people, the Captain of their salvation, who makes war in righteousness, and who rules in judgment, lovingkindness, and truth. And in very deed, the whole is so, as that nothing can supersede it, until the summing up of all things.

But that which does more particularly refer to the words of our text, is, the new heavens and the new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. And, first of all, this city is called a holy city, and as it regards its manifestative glory, it is a new city, coming down from God in revelation, and power, and glory: a prepared city, and a city possessing every requisite and high endowment. And that which is done, therefore, is a work of clearness, for it was of jasper, and it was precious, because of its gold, like unto clear glass. "It is done," that is, the foundations are laid, the walls are built, and the gates are open, and the Lord says he will make all things new. And "it is done," for man is creared anew in Christ Jesus, and he is renewed by the renewings of his mind, under the Spirit of God: and those who walk in newness of life, they enter in by the gates into the city; and here is a clear "river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the midst of the throne of God and of the Lamb." There was to be no more curse, and God himself was to be their God. "Cheering Words" indeed.

Packets containing FIFTY copies of CHEERING WORDS (assorted) for Sixpence, The packet is entitled "CHERING WORDS TRACT DISTRIBUTOR,' and may be had of any bookseller; tell him it is published by Partridge & Co., 34, Paternoster Row.

Real Religion in a Kastic Dress.

THOMAS WARD was one of those men whom nature formed for many years of hard and heavy servitude in this world; but death in one of its terrible forms, very suddenly gathered him home to a haven of rest prepared for him; he being, by grace, prepared for it. His passage homeward, however, was across a stormy sea, and the black gusts of wind from the hollow regions beneath, beat so heavy on his soul, that, as far as sense was concerned," all his hope of being saved, was taken away."

In the narrative just given us of Thomas Ward's eventful life, you may clearly see how dark and dreadful DEATH is, where there is no Sun of Righteousness to light up the valley; or even when that SUN is hidden behind a cloud. In Thomas Ward's last hours you may see, as clearly, how certain it is, that where the soul of a sinner has once believed into Christ for salvation, and really fled unto HIM for forgiveness,-that soul is sure to come off more than conqueror through Him that loved him. I think that some things in Thomas Ward's Christian life, shew wherefore it was that the fire was so hot in the end of his journey; but I will not enter upon that Price One Halfpenny; or 10 copies for 4d. VOL. VIII.-No. 89.

here. I will simply notice the man, and the manner of his movement homeward.

That most excellent of all Christian ladies, "The Author of English Hearts and English Hands" has given the world another little book, published by Nisbett and Co., Bernersstreet, (price 6d.) entitled, "A LIGHT FOR THE LINE!" This lady knew Thomas Ward in life, and watched him as closely through the tunnel of death as she could, and she has treasured up his every word. From her precious little book we take the following:

IN the spring of the year 1831, an English labourer, in search of work in the county of Kent, took a lodging in a cottage within two miles of the village of Beckenham, for his young wife and himself, there to welcome their first-born child. Shortly afterwards they left the neighbourhood, and returned to their native village in Berkshire, where Thomas Ward grew up, in health and strength and beauty,— a boy cf remarkable promise.

Bold and spirited in boyish sports, he was quiet and gentle at home, and unusually reflective. "He did not speak so often as his brothers," said his mother; "but when he did, it was best worth hearing. Never but once did he say a saucy word to me," she added; 'nor look unkindly through his blue eyes, blue as the sky on a summer afternoon."

66

When he was nineteen years old he left his home for rail-way work, and never returned. But he kept up a diligent correspondence with his mother, and was in the constant habit of sending her ten shillings at a time for a new gown, or bonnet, or towards a sister's equipment when she was going away for her first service.

The formation of the railway from Beckenham to Lewisham, in 1856, brought Thomas Ward again into his native county. Here he met with Christian friends. Here the Lord met with him in holy and saving convictions and teachings. Here his character as a believer in, and a follower of, Christ, was fully developed. Here the noble Captain Anstruther, and Thomas became strongly attached. These little incidents, with many others, in Ward's life, our talented authoress has drawn out in a style at once affecting and useful, interspersed with ver

ses of an antiquarian and richly spiritual character. Here is one, as a specimen :

"Here is my heart! in Christ its longings end,

Near to His cross it draws;

It says, 'Thou art my portion, O my Friend,
Thy blood my ransom was.'

And in the Saviour it has found,

What blessedness and peace abound."

We pass over all details of Thomas Ward's experience now, and come to his dying bed. A railway accident wrenched off his left arm; this terminated fatally. The three last chapters in this little book, are sufficient to ravish a spiritual mind, and to excite one to a high degree. From the fifth, entitled, "The Battle and the Victory," we quote a few paragraphs. Poor Thomas grew worse and worse. Tidings reached his devoted Christian benefactress, that his end was drawing near. says:

She

Without another moment's delay I went off to the cottage. When I had taken off my bonnet and shawl, and had quietly resumed my office of bathing his forhead, Thomas understood that I had returned to remain as long as he needed me; and a grateful look of comfort and pleasure shone in his languid eye. About eleven o'clock he suddenly said to his nurse, "Look sharp! blood is flowing." The artery had burst again. He grew cold and white. Mr. Carless said the pulse had nearly ceased to beat; and he believed he was then past hearing. "Two railway men, who loved him, had crept quietly into see him. They, and a kind neighbour, Mrs. King, with the two nurses, and Mr. Carless, then knelt with me by his bedside, to commend him to his Saviour.

"Just as I ceased, he slowly opened his eyes, and strove for utter⚫ance. At last it came; and in a low voice of agony he said, "Do not give thanks for me, I am not saved. I am not safe in Jesus."

"Oh, dear Thomas," I said, "you are not going to doubt your Saviour now, after all He has shewn you of His love in this illness ?" "But I do doubt Him,"-with increasing fervour of anguish. "But you do not doubt that He is the Son of God and the Saviour of sinners ?"