Then from the book the Judge pronounc'd
The sentence that the law denounc'd

On all that fail therein,

Which was-" That I should banish'd be
From God, and die eternally."

Such doom was due to sin.

No hope of mercy could it give :
My soul, allow'd a short reprieve,
Before its final doom,

Within me sunk ;-Heaven's light withdrew,
While Hell seem'd opening to my view,
And for me gap'd the tomb.

Rous'd by an heavenly report—
Brought by a herald into Court-
That one was near at hand

Who could me save from hell and sin,-
A prisoner now of hope divine,

My wond'ring soul did stand.

Just as the joyful sound I heard,
A stranger in the Court appear'd,
With his attendant train;

The eyes of all on Him were bent,
As through the crowd he press'd, intent
Some mystery to explain.

Superior majesty and grace,
And God's bright glory, in his face
Were visibly express'd!

Array'd in garments stain'd with blood,
He like some mighty conqueror, stood,
And thus the Judge address'd,

Dread Lord of heaven, and earth, and seas!
Inscrutable are thy decrees;

And holy is thy law,

Which stands fenc'd round with wrath unknown, To guard the honours of thy throne,

And keep the world in awe.

"This law, that can't the guilty spare,
Condemns the prisoner at the bar;
Its justice he doth own:

His sentence all the Court approves ;
And now, O Judge! it me behoves
To make salvation known.

"Nor do I here before thee stand
To ask for mercy at thy hand,

While Justice must abate:

The sinner's pardon I don't crave,—
As earthly kings their subjects save,—
The law to violate.

"No; that on which I ground my plea,
Makes Heaven's high attributes agree,
And Hell's design confounds.

Grace, truth, and righteousness divine,
In his salvation meet and shine,

And God with glory crowns.

"The Sinner at the bar condemn'd,
Is in Life's sacred Volume nam'd
An heir of heavenly bliss;
Adopted by eternal love,
Into the family above,

A son of God he is.

Chosen in me, in me he stood;
Him fall'n in Adam I fore-view'd:-
Ere fair Creation rose,
I undertook, in covenant love,
To bear his sins, his guilt remove,
And raise him from his woes,

"Heaven's sovereign purpose to make known,
I stoop'd from my celestial throne,
Aside my glory laid :

From him t'avert th'avenging stroke,
Beneath the law that he had broke,
A mortal I was made.

"Behold me in the sinner's stead!
When Justice for its rights did plead,
And law fulfill'd would be,

I met them both,-obey'd and died!
Behold my pierced hands and side,
Aud set the prisoner free!

"The law's dread curse that be'd incurr'd,
Passive in death, my soul endur'd,

That he might never die :
My spotless life adorn'd the law,
My righteousness, without a flaw,
Him now doth justify.

"Without Jerus'lem's holy gate
My soul his crimes did expiate,
And purg'd his sins as dross
When death and hell against me rose,
I triumph'd o'er his mighty foes,

And spoil'd them on my cross.

Though this I've done, 'twas fit that be His wretched nature-state should see,

And feel how weak he lies,

'Twas meet that judgment should take place,
That so I might might reveal my grace,
And be the mercy-prize.

"Let justice to my merits done, Now glorify thy Only Son,

And magnify thy name;

So shall the sinner sound abroad
The truth and faithfulness of God,
And all his grace proclain.

Here did the Saviour pause awhile ;-
Then turning tow'rd me, with a sunile,
"Now, that the Court may know
That nothing can my plea withstand,
The prisoner's freedom I demand;
Loose him, and let him go.

“Avaunt, ye fiends! that waiting sit,
To drag him to th'infernal pit:
And ye, my saints! admire,

Who at my conduct wond'ring stand,
Say is not this a sinner-brand

Pluck'd from the burning fire?
"Sinner! now raise thy drooping head,
See thine accusers all are fled,

That to convict thee stood:

Thee law nor Satan can condemn,
For cancell'd is their every claim,
By my atoning blood.

"Thou late adjudg'd by law to death!
To Jesus turn thine eye of faith,
And thy Redeemer see:
Eternal life and bliss are thine,
The sovereign gift of love divine!
Arisel and follow me."

I heard ;- and, at th'almighty word,
My chains fell off :-HIM I ador'd,
Whose voice so powerful caine:
My soul, assur'd he died for MB,
Sprung into life and liberty,

And bless'd the Saviour's name.

Amazement through the Court had spread-
That he, who suffer'd in my stead,
Should be the Judge's SON!

Well-pleas'd, the Father heard and smil'd;
Justice and mercy, reconcil'd,

Now in his count'nance shone.

The Judge the awful silence broke,
When my acquittal thus he spoke,
In words of heavenly sound,-
Deliver bim from penal wrath,
Nor let his soul descend to death,
A ransom I have found.

Now, in the Judge, my eyes beheld
My covenant-God in Christ reveal'd,
My justifying Friend!

The honor of the law restor'd

By Jesus, iny Incarnate Lord,
His mercy doth commend.

In gratitude did I adore

The Wonderful, the Counsellor,

That well my cause did plead!
My soul, releas'd, his praises sung,
The Court with loud Hosannas rung,
And bail'd me" free indeed."

All disappointed of his prey,
Satan, th' accuser slunk away,

And with resentment burn'd.
The world enrag'd the change to see,
Sullen withdrew,-its love to me,
To persecution turn'd.

The day, that saw me tried and cast-
The day, on which was sentence pass'd,-
The day, when Jesus sav'd

My soul from death, my eyes from tears,
Cancell'd my debt and quell'd my fears,
Is on my heart engrav❜d.

Jesus, my full deliverance brought:
A glorious change the Spirit wrought,
Creating me anew.

The world renounc'd and sin subdued,
The path to heaven I now pursued,
The crown of life in view.

When Satan enters some fresh suit,
My blissful title to dispute,

My Advocate on high,

Presents his plea before the throne,
His pardoning love again makes known
Imparting peace and joy.

The life that with his blood he bought,
I to his glorious cause devote;
His service sweet I prove.

The grace that keeps ine day by day,
Constrains me gladly to obey
The gospel of his love.

Long as I live will I proclaim
The honours of Emanuel's name,
In loud harmonious lays;

And after death in worlds above,
I'll hymn the wonders of his love,
To everlasting days!

Manchester.

-000

A PILGRIM.

A TRUE PORTRAIT OF THE LATE Beloved edITOR OF THE

GOSPEL MAGAZINE.*

HAIL! Christian Brother, thy old fashion'd-face

Is welcome, yea, thrice welcome to my heart;

I greet thee in Jehovah's name! and bless the Lord

To see thee look so well, in this New Year;

This Piece was inserted in February 1831, we repeat it at the expres desire of the respected Correspondent.

Thy honest countenance, tho' mark'd by time,
Yet bears the features of thy youthful days,
Tho' here and there, gray hairs adorn thy head,
The silvery locks-in righteousness appear;
Thy voice, I still perceive "is Jacob's voice,'
And pleads the glorious cause of Jacob's God!
Thy patriarchal suit wears well, tho' not
The cut of Modern Evangelicals;

Thy shoes of iron and brass seem none the worse,
Tho' worn so many years will last thee, till
Thou reachest safely thy dear Father's home;
I much rejoice to see, that ancient staff,
On which thou leanest in declining days,
"Twill still support thee, and defend thee too,
In every storm, that's rais'd by earth and hell;
Thine arm, yet strength'd by Almighty aid,
With this strong staff shall cudgel every foe,
Who tries to rob thy Master of his crown;
The pestilential mildew of "Free-Will"
Hath not yet tarnish'd thy well-furbish'd sword,
Nor" March of Intellect," thy polish'd shaft;
The glance of" Candour's" jaundic'd eye,
Shot from the bow of false" Philanthropy"
Have caus'd thy steady foot to turn aside;
Thy noble Preface, now before me, tho'
Six-and-thirty years have pass'd is found
To harmonize with this I read to-day;
Stand to thy arms! old soldier of the cross,
Still guard the banner on Mount Calvary's hill,
Sound the alarm!-ERROR and BLASPHEMY,
With monkish cowl, are marching thro' the land,
And welcom'd by professor and profane!
With SANCTITY the modern ESAU's clan
Surround the door of Jacob's dwelling place,
And from his excellency-they consult
To cast him down, with lying lips they bless
And in their inward parts they curse his seed!
The evening wolves prowl round the Shepherd's fold,
The HIRELING breaks the ancient land-mark down,
And men array'd in ministerial garb,

Let in the WORLD, and spoil the CHURCH of God!
Draw out the spear, and stand thou in the gap,
Bold champion for deserted ZION's cause,
The timid child may pass thy KEEN Review
If he but ask his nearest way for home,
His Father's house, not MOATED round by thee
Is nigh at hand; the "fatted calf" and "ring"
With open arms, and sweet paternal kiss!