NOTICE.

WHEN, in October, 1877, I called a meeting, and gave up this magazine to our Societies, I made two reservations; 1, that should the Societies at any time depart from their Articles of Faith, my heirs or executors might take the magazine back; 2, that should I deem it necessary, I might myself take it back at any time during my life. All that I stated at the meeting I read from a paper; to prevent, as I said at the time, any misunderstanding or misrepresentation. The Report of the meeting which was subsequently issued, and some hundreds of which were circulated, was faithfully printed from the paper which I read; and an announcement of the power I had reserved to myself was also made in the "G. S." in November, 1877. I was, therefore, taken by surprise when I found persons, some time ago, denying that I had made any such reservation at the meeting.

However, be that as it may, I have now simply to announce that I have exercised the power I reserved to myself. This number is brought out under my own management, as the magazine was from 1870 to 1877. Not that I purpose continuing such management; for neither my sight, nor health, nor temperament would permit it. I hope next month to announce who the future editors will be; though I am decidedly of opinion that editors should be unknown, as, if known, they often subject themselves to personal abuse.

I have no wish, as I said at the meeting, to take the profits of this magazine, or indeed any other money, from the Societies; but I do desire that my feelings and convictions should be treated with common respect, even though I may be in the wrong. Is there anything unreasonable in this, seeing that I gave up to the Societies upwards of £300 a year? I have revoked the deed of gift; but I am quite prepared to execute another, providing a proper understanding can be come to.

My desire is to say no more upon the subject, though I shall be quite prepared, if called upon, to give my reasons for doing what I have done; but not in these pages. While I have power to prevent it, personal disputes shall not again appear herein.-J. G.

THE

GOSPEL STANDARD.

JULY, 1879.

MATT. v. 6; 2 TIM. 1. 9; ROM. XI. 7; ACTS VIII. 37. 38; MATT. XXVIII. 19.

THE GOOD GROUND.

(Concluded from p. 253.)

But my text tells us they bear fruit and bring forth. This is the fruit of the Spirit. 1. The first fruit I shall speak of is humility. God humbles his saints. Nothing humbles like a sense of his goodness; neither the law nor terror can do it. Paul said, "Less than the least of all saints." Before God exalted him as a preacher, he humbled him as a sinner. "Be ye clothed with humility. God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble." This is to be low in our own eyes, to loathe ourselves for our sins and our abominations.

2. Contrition of spirit. "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou will not despise." True religion begins with contrition of soul. And well it may; for God is in that man to produce it. As Hart says, "It is his Spirit's doing." "I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit." God is engaged to see this soul into endless life. "To this man will I look, who is poor and of a contrite spirit." What contrition the Lord brings when he comes by his Spirit. How his blessed quickenings and gracious visitations produce contrition and humility. Sinner, if you have ever known the sweet visits of the Spirit, you want him again. You can heartily say,

"More frequent let thy visits be,

Or let them longer last;

I can do nothing without thee,

Make haste, my God, make haste."

3. Prayer is a fruit of the Spirit. For many years before 1 was effectually stopped in my downward course I had a knowledge of God, and suffered much terror through discoveries of his holiness and justice in his law. But, alas! My wicked nature was always averse to him, I had no desire after him, I was hardened in sin, and used to say, “I believe there is no heaven, no hell," my conscience at the same time saying, "Thou liar! Thou liar!" To my shame be it spoken, and to my shame would I now name it, I could and did blaspheme that Name I now love No. 528.

- H

and desire to exalt. O the strength of sin! I know not how to speak rightly against it; and to this day have no power to hate it only as God gives the hatred. When God stopped me, I turned aside into a little kitchen, faced the silent wall with my sins before me, as guilty a wretch as ever walked the earth, and sighed out a prayer something like this: "Lord, have mercy! Have mercy!" I had to part with sins and pleasures of every kind, though with some of these things it was a lingering death. But I bless God I was helped to give them all up. I read the Word of God, and that read me. I knew not that God had a people; for I did not know a soul that feared the Lord; but when I found some, I believed they were the true people. I gave up all other companions; nor do I desire the company of any except those who fear the Lord.

The apostle Paul began with prayer. He was a terror to the church of Christ. Led by Satan, on he went in the madness of his heart, breathing out slaughter and threatenings. Well; just as Saul was breathing out his sin and emnity, Christ breathed into him his Spirit. "Who art thou, Lord ?" He was not long in learning who Jesus was. The reply was, "I am Jesus, whom thou persecutest." Think you, had not the apostle shame? He was incensed against Christ, and the Word says all that were incensed against him shall be ashamed. I do not read that he spoke a word to any one about his change, but the first secret place he could get into, where no human eye could see, nor ear hear, to his knees he went. Who can tell the feelings of his soul but those who have had to do the same? God would not have it hidden. He gave Ananias a vision: “ Arise, go into the street which is called Straight, and inquire into the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus; for, behold, he prayeth." Then Ananias answered, "Lord, I have heard by many of this man, what evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem.' "Go thy way," saith the Lord. As if he said to Ananias, I have changed his heart, and opened his eyes, and given him a new mind. Never mind his evil that he hath done; behold, he prayeth; my grace is in his heart; he is in real trouble, and sorrow, and distress. Now, Saul of Tarsus was a pattern of all that should hereafter believe on Christ to life everlasting. So all true religion is attended with secret prayer. Did you ever turn aside where none but God could see you, to seek his mercy, under a sense of your sinfulness and want of him? Secret prayer, inspired by the Spirit, has often done wonders. Go to God as often as you can. The oftener you are at his throne the oftener you may feel after him. “Call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver thee."

Are there twelve persons here this morning who have been praying that God would be here to bless his Word from my lips? "I say unto you, that if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven."

The children of God gene

4. Faith is a fruit of the Spirit. rally are much exercised about faith. They know there is a dead faith and a living faith; a faith which stands in the wisdom of men and a faith which stands in the power of God; a temporary faith, such as those have who fall away; a faith like that which is in those who bring no fruit to perfection; for we are not to suppose they had no faith; nor were they hypocrites, or deceivers; but they were deceived. This was the case with the foolish virgins. Their lamps went out at last. Children without faith. True faith is a living, enlightening grace in the heart, by which a man is made to see his sin and feel spiritual want of holiness and happiness. It is a grace by which the holiness of God in his law is discerned, but never draws or receives the least comfort or life or peace from that law. "For the law is not of faith." That is, there is nothing in it to feed the life of faith. Not a drop of living water to quench your thirst, nor a gleam of hope that you will be saved comes from thence. True faith is the gift of God, by which Christ is revealed as the Son of God, as the Saviour of sinners. To him the soul comes assured of his Deity; and by faith in his power to save, calls upon him for help and salvation, for life and peace.

To explain this, take a view of the dying thief. He felt himself in condemnation. God wrought faith and prayer in his soul, and these graces went immediately out of his soul into the Deity of Christ: 66 Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom." The comfort of that faith was when Christ, in love and pity, said, "This day shalt thou be with me in paradise." This was the best day the thief ever spent on earth; his brightest day was his dying day.

There is such a vast difference between the life of faith in the soul and the joy and comfort of faith, which many who possess living faith do not discern. The woman who came to Christ with the bloody issue had strong and precious faith in him before she was healed; yea, before she touched the hem of his garment; for she said within herself, "If I may but touch the hem of his garment I shall be whole." Her faith never had greater reality nor strength in it than then. The healing was not the faith, but the comfort of it. To her the Lord said, "Daughter, thy faith hath saved thee."

The woman of Canaan came to Christ big with faith, believing that Jesus was such a God who could cast out devils at his pleasure. And surely devils tremble at none, nor do they obey any, but God. See what a way Christ takes with her, how he tries her faith: "He answered her not a word." The disciples tried her, and made a false accusation against her. "Send her away,"

said they; "she crieth after us.' Whereas, she only cried to the Lord her God. "I am not sent but to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." These words made her cleave closer, and brought her humbly to his blessed feet. "Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me!" See how prayer and

faith wrought in her soul. Jesus looked on her and increased her faith, and she looked unto Jesus: " Looking unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of faith." Still the Lord tried her: "It is not meet to take the children's bread and cast it to dogs." As if the Lord had said, "Thou knowest thou art not an Israelite; thou art only a Caananite." This made her faith shine brighter and brighter: "Truth, Lord; yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their master's table." As if she had said, “Well, Lord, if thou art not my Lord, be a good master to me." Here the dear Lord's bowels were moved. He first tells her of the greatness of her faith, and then tells her the devil is gone out of her daughter. Now her comings and pleadings show the life and power of faith; but the comfort and joy of her faith was when the devil was cast out of her daughter.

So with the leper, with his exhausting disease, who probably listened to the sermon of Christ on the mount, and was perhaps one of his best hearers. He came with faith in the omnipotence of Christ: "Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean." I have thought the Saviour might have said within himself, "Dost thou believe in me thus ?" Hast thou such a faith to believe that thy direful, incurable disease can be taken away by the word of my power? I will indeed honour thy faith. "And Jesus put forth his hand and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean."

These cases show that faith is in exercise in the children of God long before they receive assurance of their interest in Christ. To faith Christ is made precious. By it the sinner looks to him and lives upon him. It is called precious faith, it thinks highly of Christ's precious blood. By it the soul is made joyful in him. O the many times I have said feelingly, "Bless the Lord, O my soul!"

This faith is a soul-emptying grace; the more any one has of it the humbler he is; and the more he discerns his unworthiness and helplessness, the stronger does he believe that salvation is of God. It is a principle that honours God in the dark, in adversities. It knows no refuge but Christ. "Though he slay me," saith the soul, "yet will I trust in him." "It lives under pressure and load." The life and feeling of faith, at times, seems gone. The soul is left in darkness and deadness; and we live to prove that we have not the least power to create or work faith in our souls. I have just as much faith as God gives me. It works only when God draws it forth. If faith lay in your power you would be always happy, always assured of your election; but you know it is not. When you would believe, you cannot. is the trial of faith, that you cannot see that you possess real faith. Better be so tried than have a deceptive faith, which stands in the wisdom of man.

This

The faith of some professors often tries God's dear people. They say, "Once believe in Christ, and then you can always believe." They have no doubts nor fears. They are sure of heaven. Of a feeble hope they know nothing; for they have got far beyond