victory over death and the grave, through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

The battle to which this brief narrative relates, was fought on the continent of Europe, some considerable time ago. Amongst our troops which took part in that action there were not a few christian soldiers, who, while boldly following their respective leaders into the battle field, realized a far nearer relation to their Heavenly Leader and Commander, Jesus Christ. And the chosen Captain of their Salvation stood by them to the last, and caused them to triumph even in the immediate prospect of death and eternity. Soon after the battle commenced, one of these soldiers received a deadly wound. He was lifted up by several of his comrades, and carried out of the field to obtain assistance. He felt, however, that his end was come, and only requested that they would leave him alone on the roadside to die. They did so ; and returned at once into the field of action. Not long after he was thus left alone, an officer came riding past in haste, to join the battle. Perceiving the dying soldier on the ground, a feeling of humanity prompted him to dismount from his horse and offer the wounded man a momentary help. Approaching, he exclaimed, "Can I do anything for you?" "Nothing, sir." "Can I not fetch you a little water?” 66 "I am dying," was the emphatic reply. "Is there, then, nothing I can do?" rejoined the benevolent officer "Could I not take a message to your wife and children?" 'There is something," answered the soldier, "you can do. If you will open my knapsack, and take out my Bible, and read me a verse at the end of the 14th chapter of the gospel by John, beginning with Peace,'--I will thank you." The officer did it promptly; found the text, and read these soul inspiring words of the dying Redeemer,-"PEACE I LEAVE WITH YOU, MY PEACE I GIVE UNTO YOU: NOT AS THE WORLD GIVETH, GIVE I UNTO YOU. LET NOT YOUR HEART BE TROUBLED, NEITHER LET IT BE AFRAID." "Thank you, sir;" earnestly said the soldier, his countenance lighted up with joy, “I have that peace; I am going to that Saviour; I want no more."

The officer was deeply moved,-replaced the Bible, mounted his horse, and rode into the battle field. Not long after, he also received a wound, and falling from his horse, was carried out of the field to the nearest house or tent. The road whither he was carried out was the same by which he had entered, and where the now dead soldier, with whom he had so benevolently spoken, was lying. The sight of him at once recalled the conversation so lately held at that spot; and he was overheard by those who bore him along on their shoulders mournfully speak

ing within himself," Oh, I am dying as you were; but I have no peace to speak of,-no Saviour to receive my soul." He was carried to the appointed place to obtain help; but all in vain; his wound was found to have been mortal. His strength to speak could not have remained long; but during that brief remaining interval he detailed to those who attended him,-as what had much impressed him,-the remarkable interview just narrated. Who can tell but that the dying soldier's victory over death may have been mercifully ordered by Him who is "wonderful in counsel," to lead that officer's mind to the Redeemer-that in his awful circumstances he might obtain, through infinite grace, forgiveness of his sins, even at the eleventh hour, like the dying one crucified with Christ, and exclaim, ere he entered into eternity, "Thanks be unto God wno giveth us the VICTORY, through our Lord Jesus Christ ?"

"God moves in a mysterious way
His wonders to perform;
Hc plants his footsteps in the sea,
And rides upon the storm."

The dying soldier (it will at once be seen) had not the battle to fight, the victory to obtain, when he came to the last day of his life. No. He had it before; and at death proclaimed, to the glory of his conquering Redeemer, his eternal triumph! He had it in perfect health. That triumph was his, the moment he believed in his Saviour's love in dying for his sins; even the instant he thus most willingly enlisted under his banner, no longer, through Divine grace, to serve sin and Satan; no longer to live to please himself, but only to love and obey his glorious Commander. From that hour of enlistment it was his blood-bought right to exclaim, "O DEATH! WHERE IS THY STING? O GRAVE! WHERE IS THY VICTORY?" And is it not the high privilege of every hearer of the glorious Gospel thus to obtain the victory over sin,-Satan, death, and the grave? Why, then, is it that so many professing Christians are, "through fear of death, all their life subject to bondage?" Why, let it be demanded, is this great victory so seldom proclaimed with joy from the deathbed? The answer is obvious; because it is so seldom enjoyed by the vigorous and the strong,-so seldom sought, through Christ, in time of health. In place of obtaining the victory over death now, by hastening at once to the Redeemer, that through his atoning blood sin may be freely pardoned, and thus death deprived of its fatal sting,-too many practically banish the remembrance of that enemy from their minds,

or hope he is at such a distance that they may enjoy many days of undisturbed repose in this world; while, in fact, he is ever at hand, ready to rush upon them, when the signal from on high is given, and destroy them for ever! Yea, even at the present time, when the trumpet voice of Providence may be loudly heard over the nations, exclaiming, "It is high time to awake out of sleep; "—when "the last enemy" appears on all sides, specially preparing, by means of war, and of dread pestilence, to slay his tens of thousands, what multitudes are there who appear insensible to their awful danger, saying to themselves "Peace, peace," when, lo! sudden destruction is at hand!

It is written in the published works of one of our greatest poets, "All men count all men mortal but themselves." How shall we account for such a saying as this? If it be true, it might almost lead to the conclusion of universal illusion or infidelity. For, if there be one truth above another which is attested by an ever increasing amount of evidence, it is, that every man is doomed by an irreversible decree to death-that his very life is a constant death. Dying," said God, "thou shalt

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die." From that time death has advanced onwards with the irresistible sweep of a conqueror, sparing neither age, rank, nor character, to the present hour. Every attempt has been made to escape his power, or ward off his approach; but in vain. He has laid siege to every kingdom, encamped against every city, town, or hamlet; and where he found, so to speak, the door barred against him, he has, according to the expressive language of the prophet, come up into the windows," and accomplished his end. Has he exhibited partiality? Has he passed the houses of the great ?-the palaces of kings? Has he had mercy upon little children because of their tender age?—or spared young men whose prospects were so bright? No; all alike have been, and are, the objects of his destructive pursuit. Who, then, can question his near approach to them?

But no man doubts of death in the abstract. It is not in regard to the general fact that there is any scepticism. Where, then, lies the delusion? It is in the practical application of the general truth to our own individual cases. Now, it will be hard to convince any of my readers, who have not already obtained the victory over death and the grave, who are not preparing to meet God, that they do not fully believe in the awful certainty of their own death; that though they may imagine it, neither their minds nor hearts reflect on the reality of their circumstances. Now, what is the principle which tends to prove this mournful statement? It is this, that a man's

THE ENGLISH MONTHLY TRACT SOCIETY 27 RED LION SQUARE, LONDON.

man

habitual conduct corresponds to what he believes in his heart. You see this principle constantly exhibited in the ordinary affairs of life. If that which is appreciated by any whatever it may be is believed to be in immediate danger, there is, there can be no rest in that man's mind, till steps are taken to save, if possible, the object from destruction, and to secure its safety. On the self-same principle, if men believed in the value of their immortal spirits; and that these precious souls were every instant, on account of their sins, exposed to endless perdition; that at any day, hour, or moment, without the slightest previous warning, they might be summoned into eternity, to meet that God with whom they have to do, and near a sentence which cannot be reversed;would they,- could they, go on at ease from day to day, unprepared to meet God, never having fled to Christ, never having obtained the victory over death? Impossible.

"Ah! men may with words confess that they shall die,
But with their actions, they their words belie."

The sad proof of this deadly delusion in regard to death in any case, is the fact of the consideration of it and its consequences being systematically postponed to a future day, or drowned in the constant tide of business, pleasures, or worldly concerns. In our high national assemblies, where the opponents of a particular measure desire to get quit of it altogether, they do not directly move its immediate rejection, but that it be considered at a distant future day. Ah! well do they know, that if this proposal be acceded to,—they have got quit of it altogether. And so men dare not impose on their understandings, so as to deny that they are appointed to death, and that the universal sentence may be executed at any moment on themselves; but they willfully nullify the whole by putting off the consideration of it to a future day. And what is that in effect but living for the present as if there were no death?

But whence this unwillingness to consider our latter end, to count the number of our days ? Before assigning the true cause, let it be observed, that death is not, in the highest sense of the word, a natural event. It is not what is usually termed "the debt of nature." For, men were not originally made to die. On the contrary, it is the execution of a judicial sentence on account of sin. Hence the natural shrinking from death, and the eager desire to preserve life. For, all that a man hath will he give for his life. And when to this natural aversion to death is added the deadly influence which the heart frequently has over the understanding—that what men do not wish for,

they openly or practically deny-who shall wonder that the dread subject is practically ignored? But why is death so habitually dreaded, since life is so frequently embittered by adversity or disappointment? The true answer is this, the region beyond death is to such so impenetrably dark and alarming! It is true, indeed, that they have read of "fields of living green" in the Paradise above;-of rivers of pleasure at God's right hand ;of glorious scenes ;-and of a multitude of happy ones who cease not day nor night to express their unutterable joy. But they have also read-and their consciences have dreadfully responded to the inspired announcement-that there is a "JUDGMENT TO COME;"-that between this world and heaven there is a "GREAT WHITE THRONE;"-and that on that awful tribunal a Holy God, who-though full of forgiving love through the blood of atonement, yet cannot receive into heaven an unpardoned sinner. Thus men tremble to look into eternity, and with instinctive dread (save where their consciences have been lulled asleep by deceitful opiates) shrink back from meeting God.

It is sin

Thus we see at once what it is that gives death his power, and makes his approach so formidable. pardoned sin. "The sting of death is sin." The moment, therefore, that the awakened soul is assured that the blood of Christ shed for our sins is by itself an abundant warrant to approach the throne of the Eternal with humble confidence; and the sinner draws near, firmly believing that the gracious Redeemer will in no wise cast him out, but enlist him under his banner, he is freely forgiven. Death is at once disarmed. Having lost his sting, he becomes entirely harmless; not only not feared, but at length joyfully welcomed! How blessed, unutterably blessed, therefore, is the man whose iniquity is forgiven, whose sin is covered ! For he can boldly defy this ancient conqueror,-challenge him in the name of Christ to do his worst, seeing he has in one hour been deprived of all his malignant power; yea, been compelled to become, through infinite grace, a friend to the true believer, a herald to go before and throw wide open the door by which he is ushered into eternal glory! And when that joyful entrance is made, a voice is heard again from heaven, saying, "Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them."

Thus have we seen, that the "victory which overcometh the world," is faith alone in the eternal love of God to ourselves, manifested in the gift,-the sufferings, and death of His beloved