with His mind than any other, we may the more boldly claim a rich supply from His treasury of

comfort.

Often in this sorrow we are dependent solely on Christ to comfort, for it is one over which a needful veil has frequently to be drawn. Our love and our pride equally forbid our seeking consolation from human friends. To Him alone can we take this burden and then we learn, as we rever did before, what His sympathy is. When all is dark around, and thoughts from which we cannot escape throng into our minds until every nerve seems on the rack, then He reveals His love as at no other time, our storm-tossed hearts lie down and rest in it, and though in the midst of the furnace we are in green pastures, for He is there. Thus this sorrow, the bitterest of all in itself, contains with Christ in it a special element of sweetness, for it is a Fellowship of Suffering, a Bond of Union with Him: His enemy is our enemy; our yearning His yearning; our waiting, His waiting also "to be gracious" (Isa. xxx. 18).

Next to our own personal salvation, this sorrow brings us to prayer as nothing else does. We have pleaded in vain with our dear one and now nothing remains but pleading for him. We can only use the "grand old way," grand in its simplicity, in its directness, and in its power "round by Heaven." Only hearts who have thus prayed can know its calming influence, or the full meaning of the promise "He shall sustain thee" (Ps. lv. 22). It is an often-recurring burden, but again and again we may cast it on the Lord until it "lodges there."

There may sometimes be a temptation in such sorrow to feel hard and bitter toward the cause of it. But this is not Christlike. We cannot enjoy fellowship with Him while indulging in such a spirit. The great remedy is prayer, for God only can remove it. Pray for your dear one and the bitterness will not last long. Consider what his case is in the sight of God: how miserable he must be at heart, with an uneasy conscience: "There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked" (Isa. lvii. 21). Compare, in a spirit of humility and thankfulness, any spiritual blessings you have received, with what you would have been without them; above all, what would you do were there no throne of grace whereto you may continually resort, and your heart will soon be softened into love and pity. Pity is Christlike. He pitied you when He died to savę

you. He pitied all erring ones and knew how they would go astray when He paid the penalty for their sin. "Consider (also) thyself lest thou be tempted" (Gal. vi. 1). The sin which is such a trouble to you would very likely have been committed by you if placed in circumstances favourable to its developThe germ of all sin is in each human heart. Satan only chooses different temptations to suit different temperaments, and one sin is not worse in the sight of God than another.

ment.

By this very sorrow God is teaching you what He could in no other way, educating you, and drawing you nearer to Himself. He will not spare you suffering, if it is for your profit (Heb. xii. 10). This education is also a gift and a talent, for which you will have to render an account. It is a gift which will enable you to reach other hearts bowed down with the same trouble, and to pass on to them the same comfort whereby you yourselves are comforted of God (2 Cor. i. 4). It is a trust, not to keep to yourself, but thus to make use of, and perhaps be thereby the means of leading others to the God of all comfort.

see

In God's wondrous school of sorrow He may call you to an advanced class, where there are difficult problems only to be fully understood in eternity. "What I do thou knowest not now, but thou shalt know hereafter" (John xiii. 7), are our Lord's own words. So do not faint, but take the sweet rest of the thought, "Thou knowest," until "the day dawn and the shadows flee away," when, instead of "seeing through a glass darkly," we shall " face to face" (1 Cor. xiii. 12), and when we shall have the answer to every believing prayer for the sinful or sorrowing. However hopeless your grief may seem, "I know that even now whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, He will give it thee" in His own good time and way (John xi. 22). There is no case too far gone for Him who raised up the dead when he had been in the grave four days, and who healed the sick man when he had been "a long time in that case (John v. 6). Having had the Fellowship of Suffering with Christ now, you shall have the Fellowship of Joy with Him hereafter, when you shall see the answer to your prayers, and when He shall say, "Rejoice with me, for he who was dead is alive again; he who was lost is found" (Luke xv. 32).

A. M. V.

KESWICK CONVENTION.
FOR THE PROMOTION OF PRACTICAL HOLINESS.
JULY 24-29, 1882.

EIGHTH ANNUAL INVITATION.

Ir is our great privilege, as God's servants, in dependence on His Holy Will and guidance, which we have sought in earnest prayer, to invite God's children once more to meet with us at Keswick, in the week beginning July 24th, and to wait upon Him during the successive days of that week, for a renewal to us of the mercies which He has promised to those who trust in Him and obey Him.

From the experience now of the last seven years, no less than from the assurance of His Word, we can testify "how good" as well as "how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity" (Ps. cxxxiii. 1).

We would again thus meet, if the Lord will, and keep our Feast of Tabernacles before Him (Deut. xvi.); "teaching and admonishing one another" (Col. iii. 16); endeavouring to find out God's will more clearly in regard to our Sanctification, and desiring to surrender ourselves to that loving Will which we believe to be the one great source of Peace and Holiness to men.

These are eminently days of Revival and Reconsecration to God, and we thank Him for it. The Church seems everywhere, in portions at least of its membership, to be waking up from slumber, and putting on her beautiful garments to meet Her Coming Bridegroom. The song of triumph and the shout of praise are much more heard, thank God, in the ranks of Christ's soldiery, than in times past which any of us can remember, and we hail these signs with great joy. We desire to share more fully for ourselves, and to bring others to share in, these triumphs and these joys. But we are also not insensible to the perils which accompany a period like this, and how ready Satan is to mislead God's saints and corrupt their faith, by the introduction of error in doctrine, or novelties in practice, and we feel how much we need the spiritual knowledge and judgment necessary to "discern things that differ," and to keep us from extravagances of thought or action. We therefore earnestly ask our brethren and sisters in Christ to pray for us, that whilst above all things anxious for the fire of Divine love and power to infuse itself into our souls, and to carry us all to a higher level of spiritual life, we may also be

kept in lowly, godly fear before Him, watching for the indications of His will in all things.

The methods which we propose to adopt will be the same in principle as those which we have found to work so well in former years. We desire that there should be the fullest liberty in the mode of conducting our meetings, consistent with the Apostolic rule, "Let all things be done decently and in order" (1 Cor. xiv. 40).

Programmes will be issued as soon as possible, with the hours of meetings and the names of the speakers expected to take part.

Full information as to lodgings and accommodation for visitors will be given by Mr. J. POSTLETHWAITE, Eskin Place, Keswick, to all who apply to him by letter for this purpose.

It is recommended that early application should be made, as it is expected that there will be large demands upon the limited resources of the town. Full particulars should be given by those who apply, as the number of rooms wanted, situation, character of accommodation, &c.

T. D. HARFORD BATTERSBY,

St. John's Parsonage, Keswick. ROBERT WILSON,

June 12th, 1882.

Broughton Grange, Carlisle.

"LET MY BELOVED COME INTO HIS GARDEN, AND EAT HIS PLEASANT FRUITS."-CANT. iv. 16.

THEY do not deny that the fruits of grace in their souls are "pleasant," they do not question their worthiness to receive such a Guest; but in the intense longings of their souls after closer communion with Him, they gladly invite Him to come in-"Let My Beloved come into His garden." It is a false humility to deny the great things which God hath wrought in us. Thus we read that Paul declared particularly what things God had wrought by his ministry (Acts xxi. 19); and, in writing to Philemon. (ver. 6), he says, "That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing that is in you in Christ Jesus" (Ps. xlvi. 16; 1 Cor. xv. 10). It only becomes us most carefully to see that we call the garden "His" and the fruits "His," disclaiming anything like Let My merit or aught that is good in ourselves. Beloved come into His garden, and eat His pleasant fruits." They are His; let Him have all the glory; let Him accept and use them, and be glorified and satisfied in them (John xi. 8).—The Song of Solomon compared with other parts of Scripture.

TOUCHES OF BLESSING.

(MARK VIII. 22-26.) THIS is a case which differs from all others in the way of healing. We seldom find two persons blessed exactly alike. By this we may learn not to trust to the experience of others but to Christ alone. Many experience failure in their Christian walk because they seek to be like others; Satan would have us do so in order to keep us looking away from Christ. Notice the means used to convey a blessing to the blind man. "They bring a blind man unto Him.' Do not be afraid of hearing the testimony of others, if they have got something you have not; let them take you to Jesus, and you will be safe with Him.

Verse 23. "He led him." He who would be blessed by Christ must be led by Christ. Look at the blind man's experience. He was blind, not possessed as some others had been who were brought to Christ, only simply in darkness. How frequently we meet with such persons now. They are kind, amiable, charitable, and in the eyes of the world all that could be wished; but talk to them of justification, the forgiveness of sins, entire sanctification, they are in the dark, "having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof." The first touch brought partial illumination to the blind man. "He asked him if he saw aught, and he said,

I see men as trees walking." He saw Christ partially, indistinctly; for surely his first look must have been at Jesus. There was a good deal of mental confusion. Most are like this till they get hold of a second blessing. Another touch from Jesus is needed to perfect our sight and to lead us to see still higher things. This man was startled by alarming exaggerations, "men as trees walking." His vision was imperfect. Are we content with the same imperfect sight? It was so with Elisha's servant until the Lord "opened his eyes," and then he saw "horses" and "chariots of fire" (2 Kings vi. 17). We need a second touch which will heal our unbelief and enable us to realise the will of God in everything. Have you little rest, joy, or peace? Then come to Jesus for a second touch, for you need it; and in the plenitude of the Holy Spirit, what will you see?

1. Jesus.

2. Sweet fields of promises.

4. Power-no shortening of the Divine power. 5. Wonderful revelations of the love of God. How are we to obtain a perfect illumination? Do we like that expression? Is it pleasant to be told that we do not see perfectly with our human sight This poor man is conscious of his imperfections. If you are conscious also of your imperfections this shows you need a second touch. But you can receive this second blessing only on certain conditions. You must be ready to yield yourself wholly to Him without any bias or any conditions of your own. There must not be the slightest "keeping back" of any known sin. You must be ready to be nothing, both in yourself and in the sight of others, that "God may be all in all," yea, even to be "counted a fool for Christ's sake." In short, you must be an empty vessel,

"Empty that He might fill me."

Lastly, let us notice that the blessing was received by the blind man in a most repulsive way-" He spit on his eyes." How often it is that the most despised means are afterwards prized as having been the channel of great spiritual blessing. Yield up your prejudices and your heart to be searched by Jesus, and your imperfect knowledge for more knowJ. N. BEVAN. ledge.

Tunbridge Wells.

THE PATH OF VICTORY.

O be joyful in the Lord, all ye lands; serve the Lord with gladness, and come before His presence with a song.— Ps. c. 1.

Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith.-Heb. xii. 2.

THERE is no more beautiful sight, or one that affords a more vivid picture of confiding trust, than that of a joyous child with a tender Father. Perfectly fearless, for has he not hold of that protecting hand?-perfectly happy, for can he not gaze on that loving face?-he springs along, every motion telling of joy, feeling each glad sensation of air and sunshine doubly sweet because of having at his side a Father into whose fond and listening ear he can pour all the fulness of his heart's gladness. This is the attitude of mind which the Lord calls all His believing servants to assume towards Himself; it is not His will that any one of His redeemed should ever come before His presence save with joy and

everywhere to be found who know little or nothing

of such gladness, and who, walking in semi-darkness themselves, shed no light on the path of others, no joy on their own; yet, they recognise Jesus as the Author of any faith they possess, though daily in doubt as to their interest in His atoning blood; first because of the small and transient love they feel, and secondly, because of the daily sense of recurring sin in thought, word, and deed. With such people, courage has drooped, energy has flagged, and what wonder if estrangement from God has followed!

It may be they hold the hand of Jesus, but with a feeble grasp, and, unlike the happy child, they never dare to look up confidingly into His face.

Now to revive such feeble believers, and, if it may be, bring them into happy and confiding relationship to their Heavenly Father, is the object of these pages, which are sent forth with humble prayer that their mission may not be fruitless. It seems to the writer that a misapprehension of God's plan with regard to the existence of sin lies at the bottom of the subject we are now considering. It is therefore of the utmost importance to recognise as a fact, at once and definitely, that God has nowhere promised to His people deliverance from the presence of sin until they lose it for ever in His own immediate presence. For want of recognising this fact, many souls are made sad whom God hath not made sad (Ezekiel xiii. 22), and Satan, like a false prophet, represents Him to such as a tyrannous master, requiring holiness from hearts whose nature and property is sinful, without making any provision for it. If Satan gets man to believe this falsehood, what wonder that man, finding in himself a corrupt nature, one utterly incapable of the smallest leaning towards God, becomes aghast and paralysed at the hopelessness of his situation! But what a travesty is this on the character of our glorious Redeemer; the perfection of whose work of restoration towards our fallen race does not end with His being the Author of any faith we possess, but equally, and as entirely, the Finisher of it; and mightily as He has worked in the first capacity by delivering from the penalty of sin through His death, He is not less mighty in dealing with the remaining power of it in every soul that receives Him, not now as the Author (that is understood), but as the Finisher of their faith, teaching every soul that will listen, how He is even now within them (2 Cor. xiii. 5), an abiding inhabitant of their body; dwelling there for the sole purpose of keeping Satan a conquered foe. Oh what a glorious

finish to His marvellous work of redemption! Take it in every halting believer: you have Him as the Author of your faith, now let Him be the Finisher of it: Fear Satan no longer. He is now a vanquished enemy, and a thrust from the sword of the Spirit, even the word of God, must always keep him so practically His power is over; and sin (though present) may not have dominion over you. Herein lies the great secret of a believer's rest. Sin must ever grieve him, in any form or shape, as a failure in love to the great Sin-bearer; but never again need it make him hopeless, and never again need he have to meet it helpless. Do I hear someone say, "Oh, that I had such an experience! but it seems far from me ; my mind fails it grasp it"? My friend, hear the inspired words of St. Paul on this matter: "Know ye not that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates" (2 Cor. xiii. 5). This is no mystical announcement, neither does it depend on feelings in any way. It is simply a question of "Do you," or "Do ye not," believe it? If you do, ever so faintly, imitate the example of David (Ps. lv. 17), and cry unto God evening, and morning, and at noon, ceasing not to implore Him to drive away every lurking unbelief that may be hindering the Holy Spirit in His blessed action within your soul, and preventing Him from guiding you into the especial truth about this wondrous indwelling. Tell Him that you are ignorant of Christ as the power over remaining sin, but long for Him to reign in your soul. Wait not until you understand what you are asking for. Do it as a bare act of obedience; and be content to wait patiently, should the answer be delayed. Rest assured that God will honour

such waiting. Doth He not say of him that believeth, "He shall not make haste" (Isa. xxviii. 16); not from want of earnestness in the petition, but that believing Christ to be the Author, he depends on Him to be also in His own time and way, and by the power of His indwelling Spirit, the Finisher of his faith. Obedience to God commands success. Hear what His word says about this (Acts v. 32): "The Holy Ghost whom God hath given." But to whom? "To them that obey Him." To a soul brought thus far, what may not such calm waiting trust reveal of the long-suffering of Jesus— gleams of His love silently floating in may also penetrate it with a deep sense of its own unworthiness; thus producing a responsive love, which alone can make service a happy thing; for it is a truth

too much overlooked, that there can be no true and joyful service without love as its great underlying principle; and with but scant knowledge of its object, how can love flow spontaneously forth? If this be true in the relations between man and man, how much more true of that service which the creature yields to the Creator? Mark this well, therefore, that anything which mars love must equally spoil service, converting its gladness into a dry task, and making the heart that performs it sad in proportion. Yet the Lord's call is "Oh, be joyful;" and St. Paul speaks of a power of rejoicing even when the heart is sorrowful (2 Cor. vi. 10). A complex experience, indeed, (hidden unto all mere human understanding); nevertheless, well comprehended by those who have the risen Christ within them.

And how is this? Because such people, in their daily battle with sin, know Him as its conquerorone, who, as He goes forth on their behalf to meet Satan, can smile back comfort and hope to lighten their depression; and oh what a change that smile produces! Under the influence of it, every gloomy place is irradiated; all mists depart; while a voice reassures their hearts with these words, "Greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world" (1 John iv. 4). Satan being the Prince of this world, and his power crushed indeed when every sinful suggestion, while yet in the bud, is hindered from taking either form or shape. Again, should change or decay, with relentless stroke, sever the tenderest friendships, or scatter the happiest homes, have we not still Christ within us-the hope of glory Verily, yes. We that have Him are more than conquerors; for has He not said, "I am the resurrection" and what boundless possibilities of restoration are concealed beneath the bursting of the bonds of death. Blessed, blessed Jesus, be Thou with us now as the Finisher of our faith, even as Thou hast been the Author of it; and as that faith glories in the possession we have of Thee even in this world, may it, in anticipation, take a still further flight to that glorious time when we shall be like Thee, and, therefore, able to see Thee as Thou art; and if here Thou dost enable us to look up into Thy face with the confidence of happy children, and in doing so to rejoice with an unspeakable joy (1 Peter i. 8), what may we not look forward to there, of bliss beyond our present understanding!

Let us therefore at once yield ourselves in obedient supplication unto Him who invites us, and wait patiently for that power against remaining sin which God has promised we shall find in the Man, Christ Jesus; nay, more, what that loving Saviour Man in tender pity has made Himself responsible for; and when the knowledge of Him in us, the Destroyer of Satan, comes (as it surely will), then must the glad strain burst forth spontaneously, "Oh come, let us sing unto the Lord; let us heartily rejoice in the strength of our salvation." N. H. D.

Column for Testimony.

NEARLY two years ago the Lord led me, through the instrumentality of some of His servants, into a rest of soul for which I had long been a seeker. Since then, my life-though I had been converted some five years previously, and been a worker for the Lord for most of that time-has been, in a very real sense, a new one. It is about a few of the difficulties I, in common with many more, I suspect, experienced after receiving this blessing, that I want to say a few words.

The first thing I learnt after receiving Jesus as my King was that there was very much to surrender to Him yet. I imagined that all yielding up came before, and that I had given all into His hands before I entered into rest. But I found there was more behind that I had never seen as yet. The Lord was searching me, and I found it no good trying to search myself, for my eyesight was bad, and I could not see the sin in myself until it was revealed by the Lord Himself. Little by little I was shown what to let go. Very little things, some of them; but there was no peace as long as I attempted any controversy with the Lord concerning them, however little they might seem. Employment of time, amusements, time of rising in the morning, dress, expenditure of money, management of household, recreation, each came, one by one, under the Master's scrutinizing eye; and I was told clearly what was wrong, and what was inexpedient. The Lord took possession of the ground thus vacated, so to speak; and with the increase of the government, came an increase of peace and rest.

I found also that there was much not only to learn, but also to unlearn, and that many pet theories I had held so tightly and thought of so much