thee!" was an admission that he had committed the dread crime of soul-murder: and though Messiah endured the penalty of this sin also, how fine is the contrast between the Saviour guarding against, and keeping himself unspotted from evil in the case of the traitor Judas, and David writhing under the agony of this remembered sin.. It would be difficult to conceive how the pure mind of Christ could be touched with a sense or an apprehension of this crime, did we not remember the peculiarity of his position with the traitor, Judas. Christ was tempted in all things, like as we are. He was exposed to the temptation, though He had no sympathy with it. It gives great additional interest to our Saviour's experience on earth, to remember how He acted in view of the sin of blood-guiltiness. Judas lived in, apparently, the most unreserved intercourse with Christ and His apostles. He eat of Messiah's bread, and lifted up his heel against Him. He followed Him as his Lord, while treachery was in his heart. How difficult as well as painful it must have In been to be aware of this, and yet show or feel no enmity, or unkindness, or ill will. What watchfulness and caution did it require to spare the sinner, and yet not countenance the sin. What boldness and faithfulness were needed to reprove, and warn, and teach. nothing, perhaps, is the purity and perfection of Christ more clearly seen than in His dealings with the traitor Judas, characterized as they were by patience, faithfulness, earnestness, and love. Anxious effort was not wanted to second the prayer, "Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God." R. H. RYLAND. Waterford, Sept. 17, 1859. [It affords us much pleasure to insert the foregoing from the pen of our venerable and highly-esteemed friend, the Rev. RICHARD RYLAND, at the same time we cannot but express our conviction, that whilst most of the psalms may be regarded as the language of Christ, they are the language of David also and, with David, are the common property of the household of faith.-ED.] A DIALOGUE. : Mary-Have you seen the last part quite a boon in the present day, when of the Gospel Lecturer? I could not there is so much error propagated. I help thinking, when I saw what the dear think it would, through the blessing of writer says in it about his three days' the Lord, be the means of delivering sinking-fit, of what you said about your-them from that confusion which must self in the conversation I had with you only a day or two before. George. Yes, I have; and I was quite struck with the part you allude to, and also with what dear Mr. Parks says about himself in the Magazine, which I also saw just after our last conversation. It does us good to see we are not alone in the world, and gives us to feel the force of that passage in the 1st of Peter, "Knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are (now) in the world." And if those who, through grace, are established in the truth do not escape, what can "Little-faith" expect? I could I almost wish that all the dear children of God were privileged with a sight, at least, of the Gospel Magazine and the Gospel Lecturer, for I consider them necessarily be the consequence of confused and wrong teaching. I do hope many will avail themselves of the kind offer of the dear author of the Gospel Lecturer, which is, to send it gratuitously to any and as many of the "seed royal" as cannot afford to pay for them. And I do hope, also, that those who have the means will feel it a privilege to support him in so kind an offer, for sure I am the Lord will repay them; for He says, "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done unto me." Oh! what a mercy will it be to be owned by Him in that great day! Mary. Is it not most precious what the dear writer says about being rooted and grounded in love? I will just read it: ""That ye, being rooted and brought against us; and, therefore, if a friend undertakes to justify us from any charge brought against us, he must either prove that the charge is false, or he himself must make full satisfaction to justice in our stead; that being done, we should be completely cleared or justified, and should have no more reason for fear. We will now, by looking into the Scriptures, see 1st. What the charge is laid against us? 2nd. The sentence pronounced? 3rd. How Jesus, our heavenly Friend, justified or cleared those given Him by His Father? Can you tell me, Mary, what the charge is laid against us? grounded in love? What love? Our justify us, therefore, is to clear us enlove to Christ? Oh, no! if this were tirely from everything that can be the sense of Paul's prayer, then, indeed, of all men I must be most miserable; for, like many a "Little-faith," I often look into my cold heart, and if it were to save my soul, I could find no spark of love in active exercise. I know, at the worst of times, there is fire there, and one sweet drop of the precious oil of the dear anointing will instantly cause it to burst into a flame. What Paul means is, that by faith, not by feeling, we may be rooted in the love of Jehovah the Father to us in Christ Jesus; and grounded-or, as the word is more generally translated, founded and once (1 Peter, v. 10) settled in the everlasting love of Jesus to my worthless person, as the ever blessed Husband, Head, and glory of His one Church. That thus Christ the great Prince, having declared His love to His Rahab-her heart being settled upon Him, and His heart settled upon her she may, through rich mercy, be enabled to sit down and calculate, as she can, the great glory of her new relationship; that she may be able to George. The charge is, then, that we comprehend perfectly apprehend, or have sinned. And I would just say, receive with all saints, what is the what else can sinners do but sin? for it breadth, and length, and depth, and is said in that same chapter (Rom. v.), height, and to know the love of Christ," By one man's disobedience many were which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God."" George. It is, indeed, most precious. We little ones have great reason to thank the Lord for such a teacher. I Mary."The soul that sinneth it believe the Lord was training him for up-shall die" (Ezek. xviii. 4). Again: wards of twenty years for the ministry, "The wages of sin is death" (Romans and we now receive the benefit. But vi. 23). And "Cursed is every one that now we must turn to our proposed sub- continueth not in all things which are ject-Justification. written in the book of the law to do Mary." All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God" (Rom.iii. 23); and again (Rom. v. 12), "Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned." made sinners," and again (Rom. viii. 7), "The carnal mind is enmity against God." But now, can you tell me the sentence pronounced? Mary. What is the meaning of justi-them" (Gal. iii. 10). fication? I often think it would be well for our teachers to tell us the full meaning of such words, for, you know, many of us have not much learning, and therefore, very often, we do not see the full force of the truths that are brought before us, simply because we do not understand the full meaning of the words used. George.-Now, how did Jesus clear his people-those given him by His Father-from sin and its dreadful consequences ? George. Yes, I believe that is true. May the Lord give us wisdom! But, as an answer to your question, I should say justification is the act of defending or clearing us from any charge or charges which may be brought against us. To Mary. I would rather, George, for you to answer that question. George.-Jesus, by the appointment of God the Father, became their Head, their Representative, yea, their Husband; and as such, entered into a covenant with His Father on their behalf, by which He, most willingly, took all their sins upon Himself; and agreed to satisfy divine justice by His own sufferings and death, and in that manner clear them entirely. (See Heb. x. 7.) Therefore we see God the Father speaking thus of Him, By his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for He shall bear their iniquities (Isaiah liii. 11). In accordance, therefore, with the covenant, we see Him come into the world, bearing our sins and the curse due to them. Therefore we read, "He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and we hid as it were our faces from Him; He was despised, and we esteemed Him not surely He hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows; yet we did esteem Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted." The Jews, when they saw 'His visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men," thought Him to be some great sinner (and so He was by imputation-as Luther says, the greatest that ever lived), and that on that account He was "smitten of God and afflicted." But no, "He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon Him." Does the law then say, "Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them ?" It is said also, "Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us (Gal. iii. 13). Does it say, "The soul that sinneth it shall die ?" and "The wages of sin is death?" and that "Without shedding of blood is no remission ?" (Ezek. xviii. 4; Roman vi. 23; Heb. ix. 22). It is said also, "Christ died for our sins." And again, "Who his own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree." And again, "He appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself." And also, "Ye are redeemed with the precious blood of Christ" (Cor. xv. 3; 1 Peter ii. 24; Heb. ix. 26; 1 Peter i. 18, 19). And it is evident also from Daniel ix. 24, that He hath made "an end of sin." Well, then, my dear friend, since Jesus, "Who is the brightness of His Father's glory, and the express image of His person," hath, by the appointment of His Father, taken our sins upon Himself, borne the curse, shed His blood, died for those whom He, in the cove. nant, betrothed to Himself; yea, actually put away sin-made an end of it; are they not completely cleared or justified? What a wonderful truth is that, "He hath put away sin, by the sacrifice of Himself." The law is indeed dead, as it respects any power to condemn God's people, for there is no sin left. Then what have they to fear? Sin, "the sting of death," put away: the law, "the strength of sin," killed. Oh, may we have grace, through knowing these blessed truths for ourselves, to rise triumphantly above what we are in the flesh, and join our beloved brother Paul," and say, "O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory ?" "Thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory, through our Lord Jesus Christ." Mary.-The Lord grant it quickly; for the one desire of my soul is, to know that I am His. I can assure you I have no trouble in comparison with this: "Do I love the Lord or no? Am I His, or am I not ?" George.-Ah! and that is my trouble cast down for days about that same very often. It is not long since I was thing; but these words, "fled for refuge," "fled for refuge," were often rolling over my mind, for what reason thing within seemed to say, "Where do I could hardly tell; but at last someCould I say that I had not fled in you flee for refuge when fears rise high? desires, in groanings, in cries, to Jesus, the refuge? To whom else do we flee? To whom else can we flee? Do not our souls pant after Him? I know they do. Let us join, then, in singing : "Jesus, refuge of my soul, To thy shelt'ring arms I fly, Till the storm of life is past; Oh, receive my soul at last! Hangs my helpless soul on thee; With the shadow of thy wing!". "IT WAS ALL PEACE." A GENEROUS and most unsolicited contribution towards an object which lay near my heart, brought before me an old and long-familiar name. Years had passed since I had seen the friend in question: and, in this world of changes, I knew not what might have taken place in that time. Suffice it, however, that the incident above-mentioned brought my old friend vividly to mind. "I am going to such-a-place to-morrow," said I, whilst acknowledging the contribution abovenamed; "and should like to shake you by the hand." At the given time, there stood the friend at the station. We were unknown to each other personally before; but I have long thought that there is a kind of spiritual freemasonry between the people of God, that speedily affords them a personal recognition. There is a sobriety, and commonly a certain cheerfulness of countenance, that distinguishes a man of God from a worldling. Intercourse with Jesus is imprinted oftentimes upon his very brow. We had but a minute or two to speak with each other whilst the train stopped. "How is your father ?" said I. He is no more," was the reply, or words to that effect. "I was with him during the last three weeks of his life. IT WAS ALL PEACE. Often, during his last illness, he would request me to read the 17th of John." The signal was given; we shook hands; the train again started. Our interview was short, but it touched a chord, and supplied much matter for reflection. He and the Lord by that, as well as, doubtless, by other dispensations, had taught him that 'this was not his rest." was not to look on earth for peace and satisfaction. He had said to him, as well as to His disciples of old, "In the world ye shall have tribulation; but be of good comfort, I have overcome the world." In the world ye shall have trouble, but in me peace. During the many years that I knew him, his whole deportment was such as would seem to say that he had "bread to eat that the world knew not of." He "dwelt on high." He had risen with Christ;" and, as the blessed fruit and effect thereof, "his affections were set on things above, and not on things on the earth." Though engaged in the world, I believe he had learned that sweet secret of living as though not of the world. He knew he was not his own, that he had been "bought with a price;" and I believe that he desired to "glorify God with his body and with his spirit, which were His." In his case, therefore, it might most truly and appropriately be said, “Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright, for the end of that man is peace.' think I seldom, if ever, met a man of more gentleness and meekness. He was not over-elated nor depressed, but he seemed to evidence an even, calm, stayedness of mind. As far as I could judge, I think I never met one in whom was more strikingly illustrated the truth of that Scripture, "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee, because he trusteth in thee." I 'It was all peace," rested like dew, soft and refreshing, upon the heart. With these personal recollections, 'It was all peace," and that, too, in a therefore, of my departed friend, the dying hour; when heart and flesh were testimony of his son, with regard to his failing; when all earthly ties were break-removal, was the more striking and coning, all human resources vain, all worldly firming. "It was all peace.' connexions breaking up. Then, even then, "it was all peace." It had not been "all peace" in a human point of view; for my friend had been tenderly and sensitively touched by the Lord. One near and dear to him had been long and seriously afflicted; Reader, have you the scriptural, wellgrounded hope, that when your summons shall come, you will be able cheerfully to exclaim, "Now, Lord, lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word, for mine eyes have seen thy salvation ?" WAYSIDE NOTES. "Virtue out of Jesus."-Mark v. 30. WHEN our dear Redeemer was walking | twelve years." Of course, then, she was upon one occasion along the sea coast, unclean. And the strength of the figure with much people thronging about Him, is displayed when we consider that "a certain woman, which had an issue of upon the supply and purity of the blood blood twelve years, and had suffered depends the health and vigour of the many things of many physicians, and had person; for blood, as we know, is conpent all that she had, and was nothing veyed and distributed over all parts of better, but rather grew worse; when she the frame, imparting at every pulsation had heard of Jesus, came in the press of the heart, from which it issues, new behind, and touched His garment; for life and nourishment: so that if this she said, If I may but touch His clothes vital fluid is wrong, everything is wrong. I shall be whole; and straightway the Hence, then, beloved, in the disorder of fountain of her blood was dried up, and this poor woman we have an explication she felt in her body that she was healed of the plague of sin, which, flowing forth of that plague. And Jesus immediately, in tainted streams, taints life, conduct, knowing in Himself that virtue had gone actions, and all; so that the poor sinner out of Him, turned about in the press, under its effect is wrong from the crown and said, Who touched my clothes? And of the head to the sole of the foot. Oh, His disciples said unto Him, Thou seest is it possible that such is a portrait of the multitude thronging thee, and sayest her who is to become the Lamb's bride! thou, Who touched me? And He looked Is it possible that one so pure and so round about to see her that had done spotless as a precious Christ, the Lord this thing. But the woman fearing and of creation, should ever take into His trembling, knowing what was done in embrace such a worthless, polluted creaher, came and fell down before Him, and ture? Surely it is mercy unparalleled. told Him all the truth. And He said But a step further, beloved, in this imunto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made portant figure of "an issue of blood thee whole; go in peace, and be whole twelve years." See we not also connected of thy plague." Think, beloved, of the therewith, 1st. Shame. 2ndly. Barrencondition of this poor thing; afflictedness. 3rd. Separation. 4th. Exhaustion. "twelve years"-twelve long years. Oh, what restless nights and torturing days! what seasons of racking pain and months of anguish, without any relief. Year after year rolling away, and finding her at the end of each still a sufferer. Surely mercies abound with us, and in a comparison of trials we must come to the conclusion that the Lord deals very gently and tenderly with us, after all. But it is impressed upon our mind, beloved, to show you, in this month's Notes, that this poor afflicted woman, who suffered with an issue of blood twelve years, but touching the hem of Jesus' garment was immediately healed, is a lively type of the church of Christ collectively, and of every poor, vile sinner, who by grace divine is made a living member of Christ's body. And in order to bring this fact before you, think first, beloved, of the nature of this poor creature's affliction-" an issue of blood Shame. Yes, the church, from the very nature of her wilderness condition, like this poor woman, is in a position of shame; her life-blood is polluted and unduly spent. Hence, when she for the first time beholds with open eyes her spotless Lord and Master, and discovers in His sight the shame of her own fallen nature, her language is, "Woe is me, I am undone!" Let me lie down in the dust, and let confusion cover me; for I have sinned against the Lord my God. And she is right, she has sinned; but oh, the mercy and grace which is veiled in those familiar words, which we can only leave for your reflection. "When thou tookest upon thee to deliver man, thou didst not abhor the virgin's womb." If He had, as well He might, then would there have been no salvation for the church, and no heaven for you and for me, dear reader. But, drawn by the cords of covenant love, she has touched L |