every stage of the church's pilgrimage, that those who know more of Christ, as a daily provider, will know most how to trust Him in every trying hour. Again, the "rule of regulation" which ran through the gathering camp, was most significant. All classes and some of all ages were seen in the morning exercise of preparing for the omer of the sanctuary, where each must appear to shew the equality of right was with him that gave; and by the dint or assiduity of those who gathered, each gathered for his or her household; but there was no authority for proxies, the agility of youth did not overrun the decrepitude of age, nor did those whose bones were moistened with marrow, vaunt themselves against those who had become barren and full of years. Each one in presenting the "angels' food," at the door of the tabernacle, found neither had overplus or lack, nor shall any of the true Israelites who are led to go forth without the camp bearing His reproach, find the "true Manna" not supplied according to their needs, according to the riches of glory by Christ Jesus." Those who are the young among the flock shall give glory to God, and those that are of old age shall bring forth fruit, and shall be fat and flourishing. 66 Finally, after the miracle in itself had ceased, it should be had in everlasting remembrance, and form a part of the furniture of the tabernacle, "and Moses said, this is the thing which the Lord hath commanded, fill an omer of it to be kept for your generations, that they may see the bread wherewith I have fed you in the wilderness, when I brought you up out of the land of Egypt," all of which service and things spoke in unmistakeable language, that the Holy Ghost did thus signify, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made perfect: not so with us, we have the "Altar," which, sanctifying gift and giver, they who serve the tabernacle have no right unto, and we have the "Manna" of our nature in the Golden Pot of the Saviour's divine nature, appearing before and in the presence of God for us, and a sure word of promise, "to him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden Manna," And now, dear reader, if you possess the characteristics of the wilderness gatherer, be assured the Manna will not cease until "the old corn of the land" is brought before you. Depend upon it, it will be so. "For your fathers did eat "Manna" in the wilderness and are dead; but he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever." Let us then be followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises. Sussex. MOSES. THE NEW BIRTH. THE suretyship of Christ involved Him in death. He having been made sin for all the chosen seed. Justice sought, and found all their sin and transgression upon Him. They being entirely insolvent, justice sued the surety, and received satisfaction at His hands. He gave His life a ransom for the many, thus the law is honoured by His obedience, justice is satisfied by His blood-shedding, and complete and entire redemption is wrought out: a redemption so full and perfect brought in, that it insures the salvation of all those who are interested therein. The law being fulfilled by Him, it hath no charge against them, their sin being put away by the sacrifice of Jesus. All Jehovah, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, beholds them without spot, as they stand complete in Him. the perfections of God harmonize in this glorious work of love and grace, and the whole God-head will be glorified for ever by it; His glory is great in their salvation, every thing that is great, every thing that is glorious, shines forth in this magnanimous act. Here is infinite mercy coming down to the deepest misery, the arm of Almighty power stretched out to the assistance of the helpless, and a heaven of eternal bliss, blessedness, and glory, the free gift of God to the vile and rebellious sons of men "For love like this, let rocks and hills, Their lasting silence break." But of all this amazing grace we should remain entirely ignorant, but for the gracious work of the Holy Spirit. The personal and experimental deliverance of the soul from sin, is effected by God the Holy Ghost. The first act of the Spirit upon a poor fallen sinner, is regeneration, or the impartation of new and spiritual life; no spiritual effect can be produced until this life is given. Before this, a man is dead in trespasses and sins, is incapable of receiving any spiritual impression, or performing any spiritual action. The things of the Spirit are discerned by the spiritual eye; but an unregenerate man is destitute thereof. Spiritual blessings are received by faith, but he hath not faith; the truth is received in the love of it, but he has no love to it; he knows not his lost condition, and feels no need of a Saviour, hence the necessity of "the new birth:" I. What is regeneration? II. By what power effected? III. Its developements ? I. What is regeneration? reception of a principle of life purely supernatural; that which is born of the Spirit, is Spirit; it is sometimes described in the word, as the "new man," and the "inner man," also as "good ground," into which the seed or the word dropped, produces a harvest, while all the others perished; it is described also by its nature; it is holy; that which is born of God sinneth not; that wicked one toucheth it not; preserved by the indwelling of the Holy Ghost, it never consenteth to the action of sin. It is the II. It is the handy work of God, which He never forsakes, but watcheth and keepeth night and day. Thus the individual who was before," dead in sin," is now "alive unto God;" is a "new creature," is passed from "death unto life," from the power of sin and satan unto God; is delivered from the power of darkness, and translated into the kingdom of God's dear Son; is joined to the Lord by living faith; he that is joined to an harlot is one body, but he that is joined to the Lord is one spirit. III. Regeneration forms a line of distinction between one man and another. Without this, religion makes no real difference; destitute of this, all religion is empty, vain, and dead, and brings the individual no nearer to the kingdom of heaven; but the new birth makes a man meet to be a partaker of the inheritance of the saints in light. He is no longer a stranger and foreigner, but a fellow JOHN BUNYAN'S HOLY WAR. Doth God hate sin, and shall we not hate it? Satan tells us that, under God, we must be bound by laws that will pinch us, and we shall be made to do that which at present is hateful to us. Carnal men easily believe this. But Christ's yoke is easy, His burden is light. God's ministers should look to their Master for strength to subdue the hearts of sinners; they should pray for them as well as preach to them. When the Saviour wars against the devil, He comes attended by faith, hope, love, innocence, and patience, and directs the warfare. Covetousness is not prudence. Lasciviousness is not harmless mirth. Anger is not zeal for God; though they often take these names, and may by some persons be mistaken for them. Christian, beware; lest sins should be disguised under the names of good qualities. When the soul is in a backsliding state, hypocrisy may pass for holiness. Reader, are you a professed follower of Christ? Beware of mixing with the world, and seeking to reconcile God and mammon. Experience causes the believer to know the evil of listening to the temptations and flatteries of satan. "MANNA." Precious gift of Israel's God! Let the morning dew be spread, For the church expressly sent, Earth! too poor to yield supplies, FREE-GRACE. Free-grace! free-grace! delightful theme, In every nation, place, and time, Ye britons! prize the grace of God, Display'd in men and things; In noblest, sweetest, strains; CHARLES DRAWBRIDGE. THE BELIEVER'S "SAFEGUARD." (1 Sam. xxii. 23.) The Shepherd has laid down His life, For His sheep to redeem them from hell; Elected to be the Lamb's wife, For ever in glory to dwell: They deeply were sunk in the fall, And justice would have its demand; This Shepherd redeem'd them from thrall, And perish they can't from His hand. Ye mourners in Zion give ear, Free pardon and peace you shall have, And washed in a fountain so clear From sin and from guilt He will save: Arrayed in His own precious robe, Complete in your head you shall stand, The winepress alone He hath trod, And perish you can't from His hand. Believer, this Shepherd is thine, Thy strength and salvation alone; Engrafted in Him the true vine, United for ever in one: His spirit shall guide thee safe home, And on Zion's mount thou shalt stand; This Shepherd did for thee atone, And perish thou can't from His hand. The world, with its pomp and its pride, May rage against thee and the way; Disdain, persecute, and deride, And fill thee sometimes with dismay : But Jesus, thy Shepherd and Friend, With heaven and earth at command, Thy soul from all foes will defend, And perish thou can't from His hand. Thy own in-bred sins may rise up, : Thy vile, wicked heart plague thee sore; Thy burden and grief make thee stoop, And often thy wand'rings deplore : This Shepherd, with all-watchful eye, Will help, as thy case may demand, He all needful grace will supply, And perish thou can't from His hand. By Satan sore tempted and tried With various devices and art, In glory thou soon shall be crown'd, LIVES OF LIVING MEN. (A REDEEMED SMUGGLER.) (Continued from our last.) As soon as I had entered the gates I saw I was in prison, and was surrounded by 500 fellow-prisoners in the prison yard. My companions and I agreed to hold conversation in the Dutch language, with the idea of not being discovered by the English, for we had just come from Holland when we were taken at Newport, and had Dutch colours flying. However, we were soon told that our countenances betrayed us, and that we were English. I was now conducted with my six companions to a room wherein there was already twenty prisoners. All the furniture this place contained was a table and two stools. There were no beds, and all of us had nothing more than either a little straw, or the brick floor to lie down on, which was often so damp, and scarcely ever cleaned, that it caused one of my ship companions to catch a fever. He went into the hospital, and died there. Soon after this, another of my ship-mates and I caught severe colds, and we both went into the hospital together. He died, but I was spared. (Hitherto sovereign mercy had shielded me, many many times, in a most conspicuous manner, and does not grace appear in its glorious character, that while death overtook two of my ship-mates, the life that I lived in the flesh was spared? and all this was mercy promised through the blood of the everlasting covenant.) Up to this time, my heart was as hard as a rock, and not susceptible of any moral or religious impression. God, to me, was not only unknown, but un-cared for, but the time of the promise of my regeneration was, nevertheless, drawing nigh. While in the hospital of this fever, my conscience seemed just to be stirring itself, and a little afraid of wrath to come, I made great promises to myself, that if I ever lived to get out again, I would make some amendment, and I resolved on some things, to leave off swearing, &c., but no sooner was I better, than my promises came to nothing; for I went on worse-waxing worse and worse, if possible. (This is always the issue of promises made by self, and through self, and to self; for it was the slavish fear of a possible future working in me, that caused me to want to get better; so that self, and self-comfort, was at the bottom of all my desires. But when the Holy Spirit enlightens the poor sinner to the vanity of his own mind, he sees it is daring pride in him to pretend to have strength to perform spiritual acts, and make a repentance that is unto salvation, and not to be repented of.) Well, I got better, and we were growing desperate in consequence of our long confinement; and myself and ship-companions determined in attempting some method of escape and getting to Holland. At last we obtained a rope forty or fifty feet long, and having tied it to the top of a tree, they lowered themselves over the ramparts, and I was just going to do the same, when I saw the sentry looking suspiciously at me, and returned back to my room, thinking that if I followed, I should betray the rest; but it afterwards appeared that the guard was bribed, unknown to me, by the captain who escaped. Here, again, the superintending hand of God is seen in withholding this information from me; so that it plainly appears that it is He that makes man's mouth, and opens it, and closes it when he pleases; whereby the captain did not give me all the particulars of the plot for our escape. If he had told me that the sentinel was bribed, I should have followed them, and taken no notice of him; but I was now separated from my shipmates; and made to return to my cell, for the Lord had commanded the blessing for me-even life for evermore. Soon after, I was sent with two hundred more prisoners to Valenciennes, and planned another escape with two men, but the English coming to take Flushing, our scheme of escaping to Holland was of course frustrated. I then thought I would learn to read, so that whenever I got home I should not seem quite so ignorant; but this I was not able to do, for an order came that we were to be sent back to Arras. I had now got back again to my old quarters. Here I had an opportunity of following out my purpose of learning to read; and I feel cer tain that an unseen power aided me, for I am sure that I could not have made such astonishing progress without divine, and supernatural assistance. Two years more I continued in the bonds of iniquity, making four and-a-half years spent in prison. Within the walls of Arras, there were groves of trees, and one day I was walking there alone, and many thoughts rose in my mind about my past history; sins and iniquities were being brought to my remembrance, and I was deep in thought about the unmentionable wickedness of my daring life. My sense of my fearful impiety increased, and I sincerely cried out like the Publican, when his former wickedness was brought to light-" God be merciful to me a sinner." Up to this memorable period, God was not in any of my thoughts; never having considered that there was such a Being; but then aroused by all the terrors of a quickened conscience, I was convinced of His presence, and aware of the searching of His piercing eye. The terrors of God were upon me, and as I have just hinted that I was walking at this time in a grove of trees, I literally followed the act of my first parents in running to hide themselves; for so sensibly aware and frightened was I under the consciousness of the Divine presence, that I had just began to hurry away to a secluded spot, there to shield myself from the conscience-terrifying presence of God; but I was stopped by the words, "if thou take the wings of the morning, and fly unto the uttermost parts of the sea." I do not recollect ever having heard such a portion of Scripture repeated by any one; neither was there any sentence of the Bible that I ever knew anything about; therefore, I can only say, that as God is a Spirit, and to "His own speaks spiritually, and I believe he spoke these words to me, without employing the written word. Six weeks was I dwelling under the black cloud of my innumerable trespasses, and horribly afraid on account of the vision of my countless crimes. I concluded hell must be my portion; for I could not see any way of escape, nor how God could do otherwise than condemn me. (To be continued.) OBITUARY. (MR. W. COLVER.) MR. WILLIAM COLVER was the son of the late Colver, Captain of a merchant vessel of the Port of Rochester, who died and left his mother with two children-very young-a sister and himself. His mother, Mrs. Colver, being a God-fearing woman, was married to the Rev. Thomas Drew, who was forty years minister of Zoar Chapel, Strood, and being very much attached to the children, he trained them up in the way they should go, trusting that God would keep them from departing from it.-Prov. xxii. 6. William was a great favourite with his father-in-law, who gave him a liberal education, and apprenticed him to a linen draper in the town, where he served his time with great credit to himself, and to the entire satisfaction of his employer, who retained him in his service as his leading hand, for five years after his apprenticeship. At the expiration of that period, he commenced business on his own account at 40, High Street, Strood, on the 25th day of March, and God graciously favoured him in a way of providence, giving him acceptance in the eyes of the people. On the 18th of April he was married to my third surviving daughter. Having lived happily together for a short period, he died in the faith of God's Elect, on the 15th day of October, 1851, of a rapid consumption brought on by a cold, after six weeks' illness. Mr. Colver was a moral young man, a strict attendant upon the means of grace, and one who loved and admired the true Christian character from a very early age, but knew nothing savingly of the plan of salvation, till about seven years ago, when he was deeply impressed, and led to see his state as a sinner, by reading a piece of poetry, by Mr. Mote, in "the Zion's Trumpet." These impressions were so deep and lasting, as never to be forgotten. From that time he was led to examine the Scriptures, and to read the writings of God's servants with great pleasure and profit, from whence he derived much spiritual instruction. He felt a great pleasure and comfort in hearing the Gospel preached in its fulness, and for |