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Yet Peter and his companions were to learn some precious and never-tobe-forgotten lessons, even under present circumstances; and so does the great Teacher, in the daily management of His own, turn all things to account. He, in His marvellous wisdom, brings good out of that which in itself is evil; and causes all to minister to His own glory, and to the present and eternal good of His dear people.

"That night they caught nothing." There was a blank-it was seemingly a waste night-they had fished and rowed, and rowed and fished; and they had temper for their toil-coldness, irritability, ingratitude—the sure fruits of fleshly fishing. Faith would presently try her hand, and with very different results. But faith always waits the word of command, and never takes upon herself to say, as Peter did, “I go."

But, after all their toil and disappointment, "the night was far spent, the day was at hand;" and thus is the great and glorious truth expressed, "But when the morning was now come"-even the "now" implies the previous season of waiting and looking for-Jesus stood on the shore." Ah, yes; 'tis the morning that brings Jesus, and that, too, upon the welcome shore, after the tossing and the toiling upon the tempestuous ocean; when one's frail barque has encountered wave upon wave, and billow upon billow, expecting moment by moment destruction. "Jesus stood on the shore." All-lovely, most-precious, ever-to-be-adored Jesus! Placid, patient, pitying Jesus! No anger, no reproach, no frown upon His brow! Just cause has He for indignation; well may He charge His disciples with faithlessness and folly; but

no,

"He knows their frame, He remembers that they are dust." He stands on the shore, but as yet He does not make Himself known. There are times when He discovers Himself first, and, ere they are aware, makes His loved and loving ones "like the chariots of Amminadab;" at other times, and mostly, as in the present instance, He speaks first, and reveals Himself afterwards. So was it when He discovered Himself to Mary, in the previous chapter; so when He showed Himself to His disciples; and so when He drew nigh and communed with them as the two journeyed to Emmaus.

"Children (or sirs), have ye any meat?" He asks. No chiding, no reproach, but a simple, gentle question He puts. Prompt, and if we mistake not, petulant, is their reply. "They answered Him, No." Not Master, Sir, Lord, but simply No, followed, no doubt, with at least the mental addenda, "Why do you ask? What business is it of yours ?" Still no indignation—no censure? None. Reader, we must dwell upon these facts; because we want you, on the one hand, to have a clearer insight into poor, fallen, utterly helpless, and depraved humanity; and, on the other hand, into the mercy, grace, forbearance, and astounding love of Jehovah-Jesus.

"And He said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find." Without doubt they had, the night through, been casting both right and left; but, inasmuch as they had been fishing with a fleshly hand, on whichever side of the ship they fished, it proved to be wrong. When, however, Jesus gave the word, and, in spite of all fleshly hopes and expectations, Faith cast the net, then it proved to be "the right side of the ship" indeed.

Do observe, reader, the time and mode of this faith's fishing. It was upon the so to speak death of all the disciples' previous hopes and efforts. It was when they were about to relinquish all further attempts, when they viewed the night as a lost night, and all their toil as vain and fruitless, that then

prompted by Divine power, and brought under an irresistible influence," they cast therefore." Faith, though not at the time known or recognized as such, prompted by the word of its great Author, casts the net, notwithstanding all previous discouragements. She acts in total independence of, and indifference to, all difficulties; yea,

"Immortal Faith the promise sees,

And trusts to Christ alone;

Laughs at impossibilities,

And cries, It shall be done."

Reader, beware of substituting feeling for faith; and learn the great fact, that faith produces feeling, not feeling faith. Don't overlook the disciples at this important juncture. Where was their feeling? Faith lives and acts in spite of sight and sense. Their feeling of self-loathing and disgust, and a corresponding admiration and acknowledgment of their Lord, was yet in reserve; it was to follow, not precede, one of those blessed ventures which Faith delights to make, and in which her true character is to be seen and known.

Reader, do you know anything of these Divine mysteries? Have you learnt somewhat of the nature of that marvellous power, which is “the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen;" which "looks not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen ?”

Oh, how little do any of us know of the true nature of faith. Nearly all of what we call faith is only sense and reason glossed over, tinselled with the name and seeming nature of faith. Divest it of that thin coating; submit it to the fire of which Paul and Peter speak; in other words, throw it into the furnace of affliction, and how soon we discover the cheat. Alas! alas! how have we been deceived. And did our deliverance or our salvation depend upon our faith, rather than on the person and work of faith's great Author and Finisher, where would be that deliverance? where that salvation? Hence the Lord deals with His children in such a wise, peculiar, and tender way, that they dare not ascribe any deliverance—not even the least—to any foresight or strength of theirs; nay, not even to the exercise of faith, free and sovereign a gift as that faith is, but wholly and solely to Him who is "wonderful in counsel, and excellent in working.'

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Beloved reader, the Lord permitting, we shall have somewhat more to say upon this interesting subject; and, in our next paper, trace out some of the precious lessons Peter learnt by the failure of his fishing.

1, Devonshire Buildings, Bedminster,

Bristol, Nov., 1860.

THE EDITOR.

WEALTH WILL BE DEVOTED TO GOD WHEN HEARTS ARE MELTED BY LOVE.

DIODORUS SICULUS relates that the wealth for sacred uses most unwillForest of the Pyrenean mountains being ingly, but let the melting influence of set on fire, and the heat penetrating to the cross of Christ be felt, let the fire the soil, a pure stream of silver gushed of the Gospel be kindled in the church, forth from the bosom of the earth, and and its ample stores shall be seen revealed for the first time the existence flowing forth from their hidden recesses, of those rich lodes afterwards so cele- and becoming the fine gold of the brated, Covetousness yields up its sanctuary.-Mammon.

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THE EFFECT OF PARDON.

often hear of God's forgiving love without emotion; and, instead of humbly confessing their sins, and gladly embracing pardon, they treat it with neglect or contempt. What can be the reason of this? The reason is, they do not realize their criminality, or the danger to which they are exposed—they do not believe in an eternal hell, as the punishment which their sins deserve, and therefore they treat the Gospel as if it were a fable, or a subject of no importance.

Reader, have you felt that you are guilty before God? Guilty of breaking His law, which is holy, just, and good? Guilty, not of breaking the law once, but ten thousand times-not in one form, but in a multitude of ways-so that if God were to punish you according to your desert, he must sentence you to hell for ever?

IN one of our garrison towns (Woolwich), a few years ago, a soldier was about to be brought before his commanding officer for some misdemeanour. The officer, entering the soldier's name, said, "Here is so-and-so again, what can we do with him; he has gone through almost every ordeal ?" The sergeant-major apologized for intruding, and said, There is one thing which has never been done with him yet, sir." "What is that, sergeant-major ?" Well, sir, he has never yet been forgiven." "Forgiven!" said the colonel; "here is his case entered." Yes, but the man is not before you, and you can cancel it." After the colonel had reflected for a few minutes, he ordered the man to be brought in, when he asked what he had to say relative to the charges brought against him. Nothing, sir," was the reply, "only that I am sorry for what Grace teaches good works. The parI have done." After making some suit-doned soldier became a changed manable remarks, the colonel said, Well, mercy did what punishment could not, we have resolved to forgive you." The for it thoroughly reformed him. So, if soldier was struck with astonishment, we believe the love that God has to us, the tears started from his eyes, he wept. if we receive the message of His mercy, The colonel, with the adjutant, and the promise of His grace, and come to others present, felt deeply when they Him for pardon and obtain it, we shall saw the man so humbled. The soldier find that the grace of God that bringeth thanked the colonel for his kindness, and salvation to us, will teach us to deny retired. The narrator had the soldier ungodliness and worldly lusts, and to under his notice for two years and a half live soberly, righteously, and godly in after this, and never, during that time, this present evil world. Nothing softens was there a charge brought against bim, the heart like kindness, and therefore or fault found with him. Mercy tri- in the Gospel the kindness of God our umphed! Kindness conquered! The Saviour is set before us. Nothing inman was won! spires the soul with gratitude like love, nor will anything make us desire so to walk as to please God like gratitude; and therefore the Gospel minister cries, "Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and gave His Son to be the propitiation for our sins." If the grace that presents a free, full, and everlasting pardon of all sin, will not melt our hard hearts, and reform our vicious lives, nothing will. The law, with its rigid requirements and terrible threatenings, only hardens the sinner's heart, and renders him obdurate and sullen; but the Gospel, with its sweet invitations, gracious provision, and glorious promises, melts, humbles, and remodels every heart that believes and receives it; and as it melts, humbles,

This is just the method God adopts with us in the everlasting Gospel. We are guilty. The charges are brought against us. The case is entered. But the Lord delighteth in mercy. He seeks to melt us by His love. He is ready to forgive: He sends to us, saying, "Only acknowledge thine iniquities." And then presents a pardon-a pardon which cost Him the life of His only-begotten Son. A pardon, not of one sin, but of all our sins. A pardon that will bring peace to the conscience on earth, and entitle us to eternal rest in heaven. The soldier, in the case before us, gladly accepted the pardon, was melted down by the kindness of his colonel, and wept as a child would weep. But sinners too

and re-models the heart, it consequently der, O heavens! be astonished, O earth!" reforms, regulates, and consecrates the life to God's glory and praise.

God, the infinitely holy! God, the in-
flexibly righteous! God says to the
vilest out of hell," Seek ye the Lord
while he may be found, call ye upon
Him while He is near; let the wicked,"
the desperately wicked, "forsake his way,
and the unrighteous man his thoughts;'
the man of no character, the most da-
praved," and let him return unto the
Lord, and He will have mercy," yea, He
will have mercy, for He delights to do
so, He will have mercy upon him;
"and
to our God, for He will abundantly par-
don." Abundantly pardon! Yes, He
will pardon like a God. Pardon all sin,
pardon all sin completely. Pardon with
His whole heart, and with His whole
soul. Pardon so as to cover sin, so as
to annihilate the charge of sin, so as to
free from all the penal consequences of
sin, and from the consequences of sin
for ever. He will forgive all, not only
forgive but forget. Hear His own pre-
cious words, "I will be merciful to their
unrighteousness, and their sins and their
iniquities will I remember no more.
Oh, blessed assurance, that God will
not only blot our sins out of His book.
but out of His memory, so that they
shall be remembered against us no more.

Once more, reader, that Gospel speaks to you. Once more, by the Gospel, the God of all grace addresses you. After living so long in sin, after hardening yourself against Him so often, after treating Him with such criminal contempt, He says, Come now, and let us reason together: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool." That is, they shall all be blotted out, they shall be all forgiven, and you shall be white as the driven snow, and clean as the wellwashed wool. And even if my reader be a desperate sinner, one of the foulest transgressors, one of the basest of Adam's race; yea, if you are the vilest that ever breathed God's air, or blasphemed God's holy name, or injured your fellow-men, if you deserve the lowest, hottest hell, yet to you, to you at this moment, to you after all that you have done, God speaks, speaks not in a voice of thunder-speaks not in wrath, but in mercy-speaks as if he were not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. And what think you are His words: "Won--Weekly Tracts.

AN EVENING WITH HAWKER.

AUG. 4.-PSALM CXXX. 4.

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A GOLDEN Psalm indeed, and, as dear aroused-when under those deep heartHAWKER observes, "more ponderous searchings which none but the Holy in value than the choicest gold of Ghost can stir up-pleading before the Ophir." Oh, what a stream of comfort throne, under a deep consciousness of flows from the thought expressed by sin, the precious words, "But there is the dear old saint, and which must forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest have been dictated by God the Holy be feared." There is Jesus with thee! Ghost. Consider it, beloved reader, the Son of thy love, the Man of thy and refer again and again to it-pon- right hand; there is before thee ever der it afresh-look up for Divine teach- this same Jesus! He is the propitiator, ing, and mark the preciousness, mark He is the propitiation, He is the mercyhow God the Holy Spirit taught the seat in whom and for whom thou hast dear Doctor; and mark also the sub- promised; and thy promises, dear Lord, lime thought, and the sublimity and are eternal verities, yea and amen, imgrandeur of the idea, which in itself is mutable and unchangeable as thyself, so grand as to make it evident when we sure as thy throne; and from Him thou read the words, that they were indited hast promised to speak; thou hast by the Holy Ghost himself. And when promised to commune with thy people we can bring the mind to imagine the in and through Him. Oh, read the sin-smitten soul, after much doubting, dear Doctor's observations, poor, castmany anxious fears, much unbelief, all down soul, again and again, and take but giving way in despair, suddenly comfort.

SCRIPTURE AND SCIENCE.

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"THE works of the Lord," says the Psalmist, 66 are great, sought out of all them that have pleasure therein (Ps. cxi. 2). And conversely, it is the just reproach of the wicked, that "they regard not the works of the Lord, nor the operation of His hands" (Ps. xxviii. 5; compare Rom. i. 20). Of these works of the Lord three great departments may be enumerated :-(1.) His works of creation; (2.) His works of providence; and (3.) His works of grace and judgment: and in the contemplation of each of these the devout mind is constrained continually to exclaim, "Marvellous are Thy works, and that my soul knoweth right well" (Ps. cxxxix. 14). It is, however, upon the first of these departments of the divine operation alone, that I purpose making a few remarks—namely, upon God's works of creation. And the light in which I intend to view these works is that cast by the discoveries of modern science upon the inspired testimony of holy Scripture concerning

them.

The Bible proclaims to us the fact that "the works of the Lord are great;" but science, as I shall endea vour to show, enables us to comprehend the true extent of that greatness, in a manner and to an extent otherwise impossible.

1. "The works of the Lord are great" in magnitude. We are told in the Mosaic account of the Creation, with the sublime brevity which characterizes the narrative, that ELOHIM "made the stars also" (Gen. i. 16). And in point of fact the magnificent array of the nocturnal heavens has in all ages caused mankind to regard them as a most impressive manifestation of the Almighty's power; so that David could as truly as beautifully say, "When I consider Thy heavens, the work of Thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which Thou hast ordained; what is man, that Thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that Thou visitest him?" (Ps. viii. 3). But what conception of the celestial mechanics had even the royal psalmist, compared with that afforded us by the discoveries of

modern science? To him, doubtless, this earth of ours was the principal body in the universe; nor had he any satisfactory idea either of the firmament itself or of the orbs that gemmed it. Could he have been taught the truths which the modern science of astronomy and the calculations of modern analysis have been instrumental in establishing, how immeasurably must his conceptions of the greatness of the Creator's works have been enhanced! Had he been made to understand that this earth was only an inferior member of one small system of stars;-had there been unfolded to him the plan of that system, of which, viewing it from this earth, he saw but a section;-had there been discovered to him that larger system in which our whole solar system is but a speck, and had his thoughts been carried still further to systems situated at such a distance, that the multitudinous worlds which compose them are undistinguishable by us save as a faint spot of nebulous light, and that the rays of light travelling with a velocity which baffles the powers of imagination, though not of calculation, must have left those bodies thousands of years ere they reached this earth;-had these facts of modern science been made known to David, I repeat, would he not have been enabled to see in his own beautiful words, a new depth and comprehensiveness of meaning? And should not we, knowing these facts, find in the pregnant announcement that God "made the stars also," a revelation of the greatness of His works such as they could not have conveyed to their earlier Jewish readers?

2. Again, "The works of the Lord are great, if I may so speak, in minuteness. The consideration of the amazing disparity between the material greatness of the universe and the material insignificance of man, suggested by the reflection of David: "When I consider Thy heavens, the work of Thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which Thou hast ordained; what is man, that Thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that Thou visitest him?" is sus

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