"What shall injure you,

Ye hedged about with God?"

As the Lord hath commissioned you, dear brother, and hath called you to go forth in his name, my fervent desire and prayer to God for you is, that you may be enabled to set before the lambs, nothing but wholesome and savory food, such as their souls love, even the person and fulness of the Lord Jesus Christ, His love, His suitableness, His compassion, His preciousness. You will find no savour in talking about the corruptions that dwell within, and the filthy abominations of the old man of sin, although you will perhaps feel them more than ever. Talk to a poor, distressed, condemned sinner, who feels he has no hope, or to a poor, tried, exercised, Devil-hunted believer, about these things, and you will do him no good, it will be no food for him; but talk to him about Jesus, the friend of sinners, tell him of his love, and what he has done, and what he is; why his heart will be on fire in a moment, and you will rejoice together.

You will find it precious work to testify of Jesus. A heart-warming subject to talk about Him. This is the food that the dear lambs love to their very souls. The Paschal Lamb they must have, and they do not mind a few bitter herbs, which only act as a medicine, and give them an appetite for this precious, reviving, exhilirating food.

Oh dear brother, to be a servant of Christ, and to be enabled to testify of Him, to proclaim Him, that mighty Him, to the lambs of his fold, and to tell of his love to those who are as dear to him as the apple of his eye. What an honour,—what a privilege,—what blessed work! What a glorious determination was Paul's, "To know nothing among men but Jesus Christ, aud him crucified." Paul knew well what kind of food would suit the lambs. He knew that in whatsoever state they might be found, whether babes desiring the sincere milk of the wordyoung men, or fathers,-whether rejoicing in the light of God's countenance, or going on day by day cast down by many doubts, fears, temptations, and perplexities, whether established in the full liberty of the gospel-having received the pardon of their sins-or believing that there can be no pardon for them, feeling the guilt of sin upon their conscience, the only food that could possibly do for them must be Christ Jesus only, and therefore he says, it is, "Christ all, and in all." Would to God, that all who stand up in his name, and profess his truth, were like Paul, and that we could hear nothing from those who are sent of God, but their testimony of Jesus, making Him the Alpha and Omega, -the beginning and end-the first and last-the all, and in all-the only object in, and the only subject of, all their preachings; "Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever," being the end of their conversation. They would not find they were soaring too high, nor shooting over the heads of the little ones, nor would they find the lambs ever grow tired of the subject, though it should be always the same, for there is something so sweet in the name of Jesus, that the very

mention of it is a cordial to a broken spirit, and the poor soul longs to know more about Him.

Dear brother in the Lord, may this be your testimony, may the person of Christ be the pith and marrow-the sum and substance of all that is contained in the GOSPEL MAGAZINE. May the lambs find therein the best of food, even the flesh and blood of the Lord Jesus. May its pages echo forth that name, which is as ointment poured forth; that name which is above every name, even the name of Jesus. If one may speak for all who have known something of his preciousness-every thing short of Him is nothing but rubbish, nothing but vanity. He is indeed, most precious, and the dear lambs who have tasted that he is so, can be satisfied with nothing else.

Blessed be his dear name, I have known somewhat of his love, but I am not satisfied, I want to know more. He hath so endeared himself to my soul, by so many testimonies and expressions of his love, that I do long to be with Him, to know the fulness of it. I do want to see Him face to face, to be for ever with Him; for if

"A glimpse, a single glimpse of Him,

Does more delight my soul,

Than earth with all her gilded toys
Could I possess the whole,"

what must it be to see him without a veil between ?

May the Lord be with you, dear brother, may he enable you to go on

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I know he will, and

Feeding the lambs."

Yours in Him,

J. B. D.

CRISPIN'S EPISTLE TO HIS AGED BROTHER AT NORWOOD.

BROTHER, beloved, and fellow-member in that body in which there is no schism, the members having the same care one for another; if one suffer, all suffer with it-and if one member rejoice, all rejoice together. Your kind, friendly, and affectionate epistle, reached me at a time when the latent embers required some kindred hand to draw them together, if haply there might still be heat sufficient to invigorate the frozen heart of a care-worn traveller, who has been called to endure hardships in the stormy campaign of many a winter-consumed by drought in the day, and sleep driven away by the frost of nights, the "stall "in the corner. My brother can always supply a crying-stone, and a beam out of the timber to answer it-which oft cause the desire for

the kind nurse to prepare a welcome "cradle-bed," for so peevish and fretful a child.

It is not for me to say how far your request can be complied with by an echo from the "stall," upon that all-absorbing subject you desire, "What are my views in looking forward to eternity?" True, the foible of age an aptitude for scribbling is with me, but the "onus" of reaching you is wholly with the beloved Editor, who, I apprehend at times, concludes my hired razor shaves too closely, when speaking of the awful state of our carnal and worldly-minded bishops and clergy, why should he fear more than myself? They would not allow another pair of old shoes to be mended in the "stall," if they could have their will; to mend them is past my skill, but while my arm retain its prowess, they shall oft hear "Crispin's" chime with his hammer and lapstone; yet there are times, when I conclude I will write no moreconsidering my former comrades are all outlived, and none are found now who will bear with the peculiarities of "Crispin;" for the general maxim is, to cast away old and useless articles-and what more so than a fastidious old man who, like a snarling cur, growls over every bone he meets with.

Oft the pleasure of rambling through the walks, as laid out by the never-to-be-forgotten Walter Row, we have enjoyed in the noon-day of life; and still in the winter of age, the desire is active the same favour to receive. Reached as you have, my brother, the eternity-side of three-score years and ten, you need not to be informed, the burdensome grasshopper," and "desire failing," of the man going to his long home; nor does the man that dwells in a "stall," in looking back upon gone-by days, lack the knowledge that "childhood and youth are vanity," and in advanced life who can declare the difference?

You say in some things we do not agree, but I perceive it not, nor is it material. "If speaking the truth in love, we grow upon Him." Suffer for once the garrulity of thy brother; I do decidedly abhor popery in all its parts, and cannot wink at its growth in our day, nor at the thousands of "Alma Maters;" base sons will assert it can effect no injury. It is a specious falsehood forged upon the anvil of hell, in order to effect the base purpose of deception; and ere the close of the nineteenth century shall arrive, all its mummeries will be openly performed, even in protestant England. Oh, my country! What, shall my neighbours in the vicinity of St. Paul's, come out at the sound of the iniquitous bell, to do homage to the idolatrous host? only a little space, and the scenes of Germany, as described by our beloved Editor, will be viewed nearer home. Nevertheless, cheer up, brother, the word is full of comfort to us; "He cometh into peace, and godly men rest in their chambers; and before the godly man goeth peace" (Isa. Ivii. 2). (Old Bible reading).

Eternity, what a subject for old and young to dwell upon, and how very far beyond the comprehension of mortals; yet is it not that which forms the elixir" of life, to all the death-smitten circumstances of

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that dark planet, "a lower world?" The very sound invigorates my heart, and my pen needs a Gabriel's strength to dilate upon it; yet what can the whole synod of these sinless beings know of those eternal ages, wherein shall be shown " the exceeding riches of his grace, in his kindness towards us through Jesus Christ?" Their desire to look into these things may be great, and they might learn much, both from the church militant, and triumphant, of the great mystery (without enjoyment), of God's manifestation in the flesh. But high as their election is, so as to preserve them in their first estate, it admits of no grace in that election-making them the predestinated sons and daughters of the Lord God Almighty; all eternal things, with eternity itself, being designed for time-sinners, who are afore appointed unto this glory.

My brother, whose furrowed cheeks indicate the number of years with the times that are gone over him, is it possible the inmate of the "stall" can give you more knowledge of this vast subject, than you already possess? Alas! I am encompassed with infirmities, and in the prospect of it, cry out, "It is high as heaven, what canst thou do?deeper than hell, what canst thou know? the measure thereof, is longer than the earth, and broader than the sea." It is no small mercy with me, to find amidst the burden of increasing years, a firm, and unshaken confidence in the work of my salvation; and God Almighty, who first appeared unto me at Luz, and there blessed me oft, vibrates through the avenues of my heart, with "Fear not to go down to the grave, for I will go with you, and bring you up again." This is the God who has fed me all my life long, even sanctifying the bread procured by the sweat of the brow, the curse's dark gem, in the redemption from all evil of my poor soul. And does it not appear the Lord has appointed special favours and grace for those of his family, whose days are extended to that stage, in which they shall say, "I have no pleasure?" Old and well stricken in years was Abraham, yet the Lord blessed him in all things (Gen. xxiv. 1). Israel's eyes were dim, that he could not see, but his communion with his God was not hindered; the Lord gave instruction to his servant Ahijah, although his eyes were set (1 Kings xiv. 6). The age of Job was to be clearer than the noon-day in its shining forth (Job xi. 17); nor shall the imbecility, or second childhood (aptly so called), of the terminus of life, prevent Him, whose care is over us from the belly and the womb, from still carrying us when the few remaining hairs are become hoary (Isa. xlvi. 4).

The hollow winds of black November do not, my brother, show more their power upon the dilapitated "stall of Amen Corner," over which so many winters have passed, than the blast of the terrible one does upon my time-worn tenement, which was seized with "the dry rot of sin," ere its existence became conscious, and the ravages of which become every day apparent, and must one day yield itself a prey to what it has so long cherished in its own nature. However appalling the thought of death, and the ice-house of the grave are, eternity, my aged brother, eternity lights up all the dark passages with

a brilliancy beyond the sun's meridian. To us old men, and there must be somewhat of a pleasure indescribable, while we groan being burdened in looking forward to what is in reserve, how we find the concomitants of advanced life to be such, as to be almost unbearable to others, as well as ourselves; and the inquiry oft goes forth, why are such living encumbrances left upon earth? but an old Barzilla once ministered to a David's necessities, and Paul the aged taught a youthful Timothy; "Lo, these are parts of his ways, how little a portion is heard of Him."

Suffice it to say, my brother, my view and prospects of, and for eternity, are built upon eternity itself—that is, upon those great transactions entered into by him, who lifts his hand, and swears that he lives for ever. Much as could be said of those things which have filled in our eventful pilgrimages, it is well to know, that above all is, that eternal love, which first moved towards us, is the same that will eventfully raise us from our low estate-setting us amongst princes, and giving us an abundant entrance, with all the redeemed of our Christ, into his kingdom. Play the man a little longer, brother,-cry out mightily throughout the whole of Achor's vale; you entered it by appointment, and you shall reach its terminus by a door of hope; as a cloud, shall time, and all connected with it, evaporate-while eternity, as a vast mountain, shall become fixed before us; nature must undress, lie down, and go to sleep-yet its sleep shall not be undisturbed, for the voice of the archangel and the trump of God shall sound, to usher in the vast eternity.

Accept the cordial breathing of a kindred soul for thy soul's welfare, and cease not with thine own petitions when at court, to mingle a few on behalf of the "man of the stall."

CRISPIN.

A HAPPY NEW YEAR.

To that portion of God's chosen, redeemed, and called ones, who read the GOSPEL MAGAZINE, grace, mercy, and peace, and every blessing be vouchsafed, to constitute the commencement of the year 1847 truly happy.

BELOVED,

When these lines meet your eye, you will be on the threshold of another of those divisions of time, which mark, by their speedy revolution, the short career of man upon the earth; for " we bring our years to an end as a tale that is told." What a length in prospect, and how