The Rest that remains. WOULD that I could but be more taken up, in all my thoughts, meditations, and desires, with the rest that remaineth for the people of God! I grovel so; ah, and where there is grovelling, there is sure to be groaning; aye, and grumbling, too. This, my soul, is most sad, and well indeed mayest thou reproach thyself for the veriest indication to murmur or repine! What! the subject of such unmingled mercies-the recipient so long, so continuously, so uninterruptedly of benefits-and such benefits, tooand yet not merely thankless, but heartless likewise! Oh, Lord, pity and pardon, I pray Thee. I would have it otherwise, Lord, if I could. I never would, could I help it, even for a moment dispute Thy wisdom, doubt Thy love, or call in question the tenderness and mercy which are stamped on all Thy doings. Thy works, as well as words, are worthy of Thyself-a God "merciful and gracious, abundant in lovingkindness and in truth." Evening Reflections. As I sat last evening gazing upon the setting sun, how little did I imagine what was about, within an hour, to befall some hundreds of my fellow-creatures, the majority of whom had no doubt been contemplating that self-same setting sun. As the papers of this day inform us, just after sunset last evening, two large steamers came into collision, the one crowded with excursionists. The crash was such as to cut the passengersteamer in two, sending her and nearly the whole of her hapless living freight, to the bottom, within some four or five minutes! Seldom, if ever, was a calamity more sudden, more fatal, or less likely to have occurred. The evening was perfectly calm, the sea (if I may so term the waters of the Thames where the fatality happened) equally smooth; the lights on either ship in their place; and yet withal this dread catastrophe befell so unexpectedly so many hapless souls! Conception-not to say description— must, to all intents and purposes, fail in its efforts to realize such a dire calamity. Its very nature-happening when and where and as it did-serves but to intensify its awful character. Excursionists! had embarked but an hour or so, upon their return voyage, after all the excitement of the day. Many perhaps elated with the intoxicating cup. There was the music and most probably the dance! The day had just closed; the new moon was shining; the stars (at any rate, just after the calamity) were specially numerous and most brilliant. The lamps of the neighbouring Woolwich docks shot their rays across the silvery stream. All, all would seem to animate and cheer. Under these very circumstances the dread crash came! and, in but a little longer time than it takes to record the lamentable fact, hundreds of hapless souls were launched into vast eternity! Oh, how solemn is the contemplation! How with trumpet-tongue does this and all such facts declare, that we "know not what a day, nor even what an hour, may bring forth." But thou, oh my soul, hast indeed most special mercy to record in con nexion with this dread calamity. Some months since I stood on the pier hard by where these many creatures perished, looking with intense interest and anxiety for a certain ship to heave in sight. For many, many hours I watched, and why? Because she was bringing from a far-distant land those I loved. Ah, how was it that no calamity had befallen her, when battling with the winds and waves of wide-spread ocean? How was it she had successfully navigated the British channel, and pursued in safety her onward course until she reached her anchorage? How was it that friends were privileged to meet and greet each other with no loss or casualty to deplore? How? Simply of His mercy who "holds the winds in His fists, and measureth the waters in the hollow of His hand." Oh, that the Lord, of His great mercy, may grant that such dread events as that of which I have spoken may stir up men's minds to a more becoming recognition and acknowledgment of the debt of gratitude which is due to Him, by whose watchful eye and gracious care they have hitherto been preserved. May it be also instrumental in the hand of the great Teacher, God the Holy Ghost, to awaken a sincere and heartfelt enquiry as to how matters stand between God and their souls. May men be led to ask themselves, soberly and earnestly, Should any calamity befall me, in some one or other of the many ways in which accidents or casualties occur, am I prepared for such?" May the reader of these simple jottings be led to say: 66 "How stands the case, my soul, with thee? Is Jesu's blood thy only plea; Is He thy great Forerunner there ?" A Word with Jesus. BLESSED Lord, how constantly, and in what a variety of way and manner, am I reminded of my need of Thee! Oh Lord, it is only as I am upheld by Thee, from day to day-yea, from moment to moment-that I am safe! I have no power of myself to help myself. No, Lord, no; but I am only secure from harm and safe from danger, as guarded |