may be found in some of their worst forms. I mean the lowest criminal class, and especially the female portion of it. Unless one has had to do with female convicts of this class it is utterly impossible to imagine the unspeakable wickednesses which are without any sense of shame done among them. After more than fourteen years' work of Bible-teaching among a section of this class, the younger section which is to be found in reformatory schools, the writer can speak from painful personal knowledge. For he has often been appalled by the things which he came to know as done among them. In the case of the many who have been born and bred in crime there is not the least perception of sin as sin, even in regard to the most abominable deeds. The sooner the young can be placed in a Reformatory School, and the longer they can be kept there, the greater likelihood of real and lasting good being done. And no more difficult work can be intrusted to any Christian worker than that which has to be done by the superintendent of a girls' Reformatory School and the officers under her. To do this work as it ought to be done requires a rare combination of gifts and graces. There should be wisdom and firmness along with much compassion and love for those committed to her charge. In short, one would need a large "supply of the spirit of Jesus Christ" to cope with all the difficulties and to meet all the necessities of such a difficult position. To do good in any way to the girls of this class, to get them to take their places simply as outwardly respectable members of society, one must aim at their highest good, and ever try to win them to the Lord Jesus. They have the savage's dislike to any steady work, and it needs much training to make them good workers and to get them to take a pride in their work being well done. REFORMATORY SCHOOLS. Things being as we have now stated, it says a great deal for the thoroughness of the work of reformation, that we find in the largest of the girls' reformatory schools under government inspection (that in Hampstead) from seventy-five to eighty per cent. of the girls turn out well; and of the twenty-five or twenty per cent. of whom this cannot be said, only about ten per cent. go back to their old life. This most gratifying result is, under God, owing to the unremitting care and attention of Miss Nicoll, the lady superintendent, who is supported by an influential committee. THE PRISON MISSION. This mission is doing work among that portion of our female convicts that cannot be reached by the reformatory schools, the grown-up women and the little children; and the work accomplished by Mrs. Meredith and her associates in this mission has been wonderfully successful. In the course of fourteen years it has grown into goodly proportions, in its twofold object of benefiting the criminals both in soul and in body. For years the great endeavour (often in vain) was to reach the prisoners before and after discharge: now the prisoners reach the mission by letter, visit, and message. Come help us! is the cry of the prisoner from jail and street. The work begins at the prison gate, where discharged prisoners are received as they come out, and laundry work is provided for them at Nine Elms, London (on an average fifteen days to each), at a shilling a day with a free tea. None of the women live on the premises. They are all boarded out, the payment for lodgings being deducted from their daily wages; and so success. ful has this plan been, that of upwards of 300 thus placed during the last year, only twenty left unsatisfactorily. A great many of these women indeed afterwards return to their evil courses, but not a few are permanently delivered from them. The Gospel is preached to these poor ones every day; twice a day the Bible is read to them with prayer and praise and with a short evangelistic address; and there is every reason to believe that not an inconsiderable proportion have received the glad tidings. It has been observed that when once conviction of sin has laid hold of them, they more speedily than many others receive Christ as their Saviour; for they have nothing in themselves to cling to, as one expressed it, "they have come to an end of themselves." Our Saviour has said that publicans and harlots enter the kingdom of heaven before pharisees. An interesting monthly publication, called the Record of Christian Labour connected with Prison Mission and other Work, gives detailed cases well worthy of consideration. six years fifty-six girls have been sent out to service as welltrained domestic servants. THE EVANGELIZATION SOCIETY. This society, which holds no May meeting and employs no machinery for collecting funds, and does not even advertise its wants, is every year doing a greater and a greater work in preaching the gospel. Its income, which has met its expenditure, has been, during the past year, upwards of ten thousand pounds. By its evangelists the gospel has been preached in the course of the twelve months just ended on this 30th of March, in eightysix places in the metropolis and in upwards of five hundred places throughout the country, and in almost all, not only for consecutive nights but for consecutive weeks, for upwards of twelve thousand meetings have been held and more than two and a half million of persons have, it is estimated, attended these meetings. The society employs thirty-seven paid evangelists who devote all their time to the work, and fifty-one who are paid for occasional services, while there are ninety-five unpaid evangelists, making in all 183 who engage in this work. The work has been greatly blessed in various quarters, as ample testimony from local parties unconnected with the society abundantly proves. As we have seen some of the work, and know pretty well the character of the whole, and have proved the spirit in which it is carried on, we have much pleasure in commending the society, its agents, and its labours to the prayers, the sympathy, and the support of all who love the Lord Jesus and seek the salvation of the lost. Very few realize the great need that exists almost everywhere throughout the land for the operations of this Evangelization Society, even among church-goers as well as among those who are living away from ordinary gospel means. The following may be exceptional cases, but the ignorance they display to our personal knowledge can be matched in many a country village in England. In the west of England a gentleman asked a villager if he knew the Lord Jesus. "The Lord Jesus! who be He, maister? Be you He?" While another, when asked the same question, "The Lord Jesus! No, I never heard of Him. There's a many rich gentlemen that lives round here, but we don't see much of them!" Now the great object of this society is by men specially qualified to preach in the simplest language the gospel of the grace of God, and to make it plain to the meanest capacity. New Books. Representative Non-Conformists; by the Rev. A. B. Grosart, LL.D., F.S.A. (London: Hodder & Stoughton).-The title of this able and very interesting work is not the happiest that could have been chosen: for the four worthies here commemorated were far more than non-conformists to a particular church. John Howe (1630-1705) is given as the type of Intellectual Sanctity, Richard Baxter (1615-1691) of Seraphic Fervour, Samuel Rutherford (1600-1661) of Devout Affection, and Matthew Henry (1662-1714) of Sanctified Common-Sense. These terse epithets are not exhaustive: for Howe was preeminent also for solemn pathos, Baxter for conscience-moving appeal, Rutherford for insight into the depths of the human heart, and Henry for raciness of thought and diction. We can promise our readers not only intellectual gratification, and theological and historical suggestion, but (if they read aright) spiritual and moral edification in the perusal of this book-both in what is original of it, and in its numerous extracts from the writings of its heroes. We say this while not agreeing in all the essayist's opinions; nor thinking that he quite appreciates the whole excellencies of some of these men. We advise our readers to peruse the work. Through the Church Porch; being Thoughts associated with Church Services, and other short Poems; by E. Warden (London: William Poole).-The title of this book is as "churchy" as that of the foregoing is "non-conformist." We have here real poetry as well as piety. The title suggested to us a rather perilous comparison with George Herbert; but the perusal of the very first piece (of but two stanzas, written in reply to the question of modern unbelief as to the fulfilment of the promise of Christ's coming "to make all things new") sufficed to show that the author was possessed both of a devout spirit, and of a fine poetical gift. Let us quote it : THE PROMISE OF HIS COMING. A THOUGHT FOR ADVENT. He tarries, where beneath His feet Faith's feeblest, faintest prayer; Not dead, but risen, for us He reigns No soul that seeks shall find Him fail Bright glimpses of His glory shine Our readers will find a second specimen of the poems in another of our pages. There are a number of other beautiful picces in the little book in which, we doubt not, many readers of taste and piety "will find the echo of the thoughts and aspirations of their own hearts." Notes on the Book of Job, with a New Version; by William Kelly (London: G. Morrish).We are glad to see the combination, in this little book, of a devout spirit with real scholarship. The reader will meet with nothing of the open or covert unbelief that characterizes too many critical writers and expositors of our day; but, on the contrary, reverence and an evangelical spirit throughout;—yet (as a careful examination of the translation of some of the most difficult chapters enables us to say with confidence) he will find real learning without pedantry. All scholars know, and unlearned readers feel, that the lofty poetic style and the obscure allusions of the book of Job make the translation of it in many parts very difficult; but Mr. Kelly has con Notices. Literary communications, Books for review, &c., to be addressed to the Rev. WILLIAM TAYLOR, M. A. Business Letters and Orders for the Publications, with Money Orders, TO BE ADDRESSED TO JOHN MACFARLANE, MANAGER, DRUMMOND'S TRACT DEPOT, STIRLING, N. B., from whom specimens of the Fublications, with Catalogue, may be had, 10 t free. OUR LONDON AGENCY.-A complete stock of the Stirling Tracts and other Publications is kept by Messrs. S. W. PARTRIDGE & Co., 9 Paternoster Row. Agent in Melbourne.-Mr. M. L. HUTCHINSON, Book Warehouse, 15 Collins Street West. Agents in Tasmania.-Messrs. J. WALCH & SONS, Hobart Town; Messrs. WALCHI BROTHERS & BIRCHALL, Launceston. We have received several small legacies be queathed to the Enterprise, aud have had intimation besides of others on their way. We append a form of bequest, for the guidance of other friends who may think of following so good an example: FORM OF BEQUEST. sulted with evident advantage the best recent versions, while exercising an independent judgment of his own. His expository and doctrinal remarks also are often very good. Cradled in the Nile (London: Alfred Holness).—This is an instructive book for the young, which we think parents and religious teachers may put into the hands of their boys and girls, in order to question them on its contents. It is, chiefly, a history of Moses, very simply yet suggestively told, and prefaced by a useful account of the coast of Africa. The aim and spirit are thoroughly evangelical; take the concluding paragraph in evidence of this:-"Christ Jesus came into this world, as really to save sinners, as Pharaoh's daughter saved Moses from the dangers of the river Nile. She, to save the child, gave her orders; but Christ, to save sinners, gave Himself!" Jesus is Coming; by W. E. B. (Edinburgh: R. M. Cameron).— This is a repertory of scriptural quotations, and of arguments on the pre-millennial side of the controversy as to the order of the predicted events of the last days. For ourselves, it is a subject which we think it important to study, but on which we are chary of offering a confident opinion. We sometimes ask ourselves whether the key to the solution is yet in our hands. Until that key be found, we think our attitude should be that of modesty, activity, and expectancy; as those who "look for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ," yet who labour and pray not merely that a testimony for Christ may go forth to all nations, but that by the power of the Spirit that testimony may be now received by all men. Is it wonderful that on this, as on other important points, there should be found seemingly opposite scriptural statements which we cannot as yet fully reconcile? The day that shall declare their precise meaning will show their consistency. The Life of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ; abridged from Fleetwood's Life of Christ, with a recommendatory preface by the Bishop of Ripon. (London: Book Society).-A life of Christ, of 180 closely filled pages, for one penny. "Other lives of Christ are in circulation which are not free from grievous error;" this is of a better kind, fitted to do good. ILLUSTRATED MONTHLY PERIODICALS. THE BRITISH MESSENGER, THE GOSPEL TRUMPET, Price One Halfpenny, or 3s. 6d. per 100. GOOD NEWS, Suitable for circulation amongst Sabbath Scholars, in mission districts, and for general distribution. Price One Halfpenny, 3 copies for 1d., or 2s. 6d. per 100. 18 monthly, 6s. 1er annum; 36 copies, 128., and upwards, sent post free. THE HALF CROWN PACKET, consisting of one British Messenger, one Gos, el Trumpet, and one Good News, monthly for one year for 2s. 6d., including postage, to any address in the United Kingdom, or any of the following places abroad:-Austria, Belgium, Canada, Constantinople, Cyprus, Denmark, Egypt, France, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Holland, Italy, Madeira, Malta, Morocco, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Norway, Nova Scotia, Portugal, Prince Edward Island, Russia, Servia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, and United States of America. THE FOUR SHILLING PACKET, consisting of two B. Messengers, two G. Trumpets, and three G News, monthly for one year for 4s., post free, to any address in the United Kingdom, or to any of the places named above. I, A. B., do hereby give and bequeath to the "Stirling Tract Enterprise," established by the late Peter Drummond, seedsman, SUBSCRIPTIONS IN AID OF THE NEW Stirling, the sum of free of legacy duty and all expenses; and I hereby direct and appoint my executors to pay the same to the Trustees acting under a Trust Disposition and Codicils relating to said Enterprise, granted by the said Peter Drum. mond, or to their Manager for the time being, for lehoof of said Enterprise. BUILDING FOR THE STIRLING The following sums have been received up to Amount formerly reported, T. B. Kenderdine, Esq, Auckland, N.Z., £5259 13 2 100 £5260 13 24 1. No Liberty to Perish. 16 pages, Cd. per dozen. 2. Dr. Doddridge's Dream. 8 pages, 41. per dozen. 3. Lost Days. 8 pages, 4d. per dozen. 4. Wherefore Didst Thou Doubt? 16 pages, 6d. per dozen. 5. Stones of Stumbling. 16 pages, 6d. per dozen. 6. Are You a Man? 32 pages, 18. per dozen. 7. The Teacher's Daughter. A Brief Memoir of Mary Ann Whyte, in a Letter by her Father. 32 pages, 18. per dozen. 8. Ten Minutes' Warning. By the lats Rev. Thoma, Guthrie, D.D. 32 pages, 18. per doz. 9. "Herrings for Nothing!" 16 paes, Cd. per do en. 10. A Few Words to the Older Girls in our Sunday Schools. 16 1a,es, 6d. for dozen. A Packet con'aining one co; y of each of the above for Sixpence, post free. Additional Number. 11. Purposes for the New Year. By the Very Rev. Henry Law, M. A., Dean of Glou cester. Two of the above, 32 yages each, can be sent in an envelope along with an ordinary sized letter, for a penny of postage. BOOKS RECENTLY PUBLISHED, And sent Post Free at their published prices, on application to JOHN MACFARLANE, Manager, DRUMMOND'S TRACT DEPOT, Stirling, N.B. 8. d. Palms of Elim; or, Rest and Refreshment Invitations. By Lady Hope of Carriden. From Day to Day; or, Helpful Words for 3 6 1 6 1 6 7 G Eventide at Bethel; or, The Night Dream of the Desert. (An Old Testament Chapter in Providence and Grace.) Macduff, D.D., Handbook for Bible Classes, The Epistle of Paul to the Churches of Galatia. With Introduction and Notes by the Rev. Professor Macgregor, D.D., Brownlow North, B.A. Oxon, Records and Recollections. By the Rev. K. MoodyStuart, M.A., Moffat. Cheap edition, Carmina Regia, and other Songs of the Heart. By Rev. E. C. Wrenford. Dedicated, by permission, to Her Most Gracious Majesty the Queen. 78. 6d.; gilt edges, Printed on superior Tinted paper. For inclosure in Letters and general distribution. Crown 16mo, cloth, price 6d. By J. R. Mrs. J. M'Intosh, . 10 0 s. d. Miss M'Lean, 20 G. Bell, Esq., T. Thornton, Esq., 10 0 DOUNE J. P Bourne, Esq... 6 0 26 3 6 A. Anderson, Esq, 10 0 J. Muir, Esq.,. . 12 0 D. Meek, Esq.,. 2 6 A. Will, Esq., Rev. J. A. Anderson, 50 T. Bell, Esq., 10 O R. Main, Esq.,. 5 0 G. Rough, Esq., 100 Rev. J. Hyslop, 26 J. Guthrie, Esq., 50 J. M Lean, Esq., . 2 6 1 6 And. Ogilvie, Esq, Wm. Mackison, Esq., 5 0 Small sum, . David Small, Esq., 50 DUNBLANE. 3 6 J. Ogilvie, Esq. J. W. Barty, Esq., . 10 0 D. Duncan, Esq.,. 50 Miss Barty, 8 0 Messrs. Watson and Philip, Rev. Dr. Blair, 5 0 A. Wilson, Esq., 26 2 6 7 6 8 6 R. Moody Stuart, Esq.5 Wm. Forwell, Esq., 5 0 David Buchan, Esq., 50 Wm. Hunter. Esq, 0 AUCHTERARDER. J. C. Halliday, Esq., 50 Rev. G. Jacque, Newcastle, 6 6 2 6 F. S. Sandeman, Esq., 5 0 P. Paton, Esq., 20 Mrs. Thomson, 2 6 ANSTRUTHER. W, O. Dalgleish, Esq., Dundee, J. Logie, Esq.,. 2 6 D. Black, Esq., 7 0 W. Bisset, Esq., 26 J. Martin, Esq., Mr. J. Bremner, Valencia, . 15 8 60 0 50 Dr. Pirie,. 2 6 H. B. M'Intosh, Esq., 5 0 Mr. G. Graham, Easter Dr. Christie, 3 6 Mrs. Williamson, Board, 10 0 2 6 D. Myles, Esq... 2 6 P. Oliphant, Esq., 2 6 D. C., Lasswade, 20 John Colville, Esq.. Mrs. Roberts, Dean 26 J. Bonthron, Esq., 26 John Henderson, Esq., 2 6 Rev. A. Gregory, . 26 J. W. Sheperd, Esq., 2 6 R. Donaldson, Esq., Mrs. A. Bowie, Kil 26 6 . 26 Messrs. Sharp and Murray, 2 6 2 6 R. Watson, Esq., Rev. C. Whichcote, 2 6 C. H. Aitken, Esq., 26 R. Fortune, Esq., . 26 Folkingham,. .16 0 Mrs. Bryce, Kendal, 46 6 F. Graham, Esq., 26 A. D. Mitchell, Esq., 2 6 Mrs. Little, Bath, Miss Colvil, Troon, 5 0 D. Hunter, Esq, Robert Nicoll, Esq.,. 2 6 J. T. Dairsie, Esq., Mr. D. Cameron, K. Rannoch, Lady Stuart Menteth, .20 0 26 New Cumnock, 29 Jas. Allan, Esq... James Perrie, Esq., 10 0 J. M. Duncan, Esq., 2 6 30 Mrs. Ritchie, 40 1 6 LEVEN. Messrs. D. & D. Nicholl, 5 0 2 6 20 10 Annie, for Soldiers in India, 1 0 1 0 20 DYSART. J. Watt, Esq.. 2 6 R. Hall, senr., Esq., Cork,. PATHUEAD. 26 Messrs. T. & J. Kay, J. Wishart, Esq.,. Miss M. A. Davies, 10 0 M. Haven, 6 0 10 O 5 0 Messrs. Shepherd & Beveridge, 5 0 Provost Swan, 5 0 20 0 R. Russell, Esq., 20 0 5 0 Messrs. Lockhart & 0 5 0 S. Davidson, Esq., 10 0 10 O 0 Messrs. Douglas and Grant, 50 6 R. Heriot, Esq. 5 0 J. Hamilton, Esq.. 5 2 0 Messrs. G. & W. 26 26 THE WAY OF PEACE ILLUSTRATED By Fact, and not Fiction; Through the experience of those who have found it. A word for the anxious. By the Rev. W. Poole Balfern, Brighton. "Our greatly afflicted friend, Mr. Balfern, writes very sweetly, with a measure of delicate poetry in his expressions, admirably wedded to the true spirituality of his thoughts. In this little book he keeps along the common highway of life, and relates instructive incidents in plain and telling speech, seeking in all he says to win men's souls for his Lord, gently and in love. 'The Way of Peace Illustrated' is the kind of book to give to our ungodly friends, if we wish to put before them a pure gospel message, so stated that they will be attracted to read it."-C. H. SPURGEON, in The Sword and Trowel, Feb. 1879. J. Goodfellow, Esq.,. 26 BROUGHTY-FERRY. Misses Young, Rev. J. E. Somerville, 50 PERTH. James Cornfnte, Esq., 5 0 Kirkwood Hewat, Esq.,5 Robert Robertson, Esq.,5 John M'Donald, Esq., W. Milne, Esq., J. Dewar, Esq.. H. V. Hunter, Esq., Mrs. Robertson. Miss Brown,. KIRKCALDY J. Muckersie, Esq.,. 26 R. Hutchison, Esq., 5J. L. Stocks, Esq., 26 J. Hogarth, Esq., 26 H. Horn, Esq. 26 F. Heggie, Esq., T. Dale, Esq., 26 26 T. Henderson, Esq., 26 T. Hepburn, Esq., BURNTISLAND. 0 5 0 5 0 26 50 THE GRATUITOUS CIRCULATION of the British Messenger, Gospel Trumpet, Good News, and Tracts of the Stirling Tract Enterprise, since its commencement, amounts to more than 37 millions. The number in 1878 alone exceeded two millions. The Trustees are anxious to continue and greatly extend this gratuitous circulation, and they invite and would gladly welcome the contributions of Christian friends to enable them to do so. Many applications could be more adequately 28 responded to did funds allow. . 26 . 26 2 6 2 6 2 6 5 0 2 6 20 26 2 6 Rev. J. Parlane, M.A., 2 6 Messrs. Paterson and The following per Rev. R. F. BROWN, Travelling Agent:— MANCHESTER. 8. d. J. Garnett, Esq.,. 100 0 Messrs. J. Johnson During the month ending 30th 28 April, 1879, the following quantities were given gratuitously: 13,159 British Messenger, £39 12 1 7,875 Gospel Trumpet,.... 11 9 3 14,109 Good News, and s. d. 123,165 Tracts, ASHTON-UNDER-LYNE, 26 J. Walker, Esq., 5 0 W. Lowson, Esq.,. R. Heggie, Esq. 5 0 D. Steele, Esq., David Storrar, Esq., 5 0 J. M. E., 2 0 Miss Meffen, W. Brown, Esq., 50 Messrs. J. and F. 5 0 2 6 W. Lowson, Esq., 50 J. Adie, Esq STONEHAVEN. G. Arthur, Esq., J. Campbell, Esq., 26 Mrs. Elder, 2 6 Miss Williamson,. 26 J. Lowson, yr., Esq., 3 0 Miss Hay, 20 J. Thom, Esq.,. Mark Aitken, Esq., 2 6 Dr. Stevenson, W. Mowat, Esq., 26 J. Lowson, Esq., 26 J. Scott, Esq., 2 6 J. Myles, Esq.,. W. France, Esq., 2 6 J. Tavendale, Esq.,. 2 6 J. Ewan, Esq. .2 6 Rev. A. Henderson,. CALLANDER. 26 A. Swan, Esq.,. A. Darney, Esq., Mrs. Black, 2 6 Mrs. Christie, - 26 Mrs. Robertson, 40 0 Mrs. Milne, Miss M'Laren, . . 10 o J. C. Gardner, Esq., 26 W. Mitchell, Esq., J. M'Arthur, Esq., 50 A. Gilmour, Esq., 60 Rev. A. Bogle, 26 Miss Weymss, 26 26 Rev. W. S., 1 6 J. Boyd, Esq. . 10 0 R. Longdon, Esq., . 10 0 5 0 Rev. T. Bain, 26 J. Hawarth, Esq., 5 0 Mrs. Burns 2 6 G. B. B., . 10 0 J. Barlow, Esq., . 10 0 S. Smith, Esq.,. 26 Davidson, 2 6 G. Cooper, Esq., . . 10 0 D. Duncan, Esq., . 20 0 26 J. Orr, Esq.,. 10 0 J. Houghton, Esq., 20 0 J. C. Needham, Esq., 7 6 Messrs. Balfour & 26 W. S. Soutar, Esq., 10 0 E. P. Ridgway, Esq., 6 0 Williamson, W. Culross, Esq... 2 0 R. Hunter, Esq.,. J. Smith, Esq., 0 T. Mitchell, Esq., .26 R. B a Friend, 50 J. Gordon, Esq.. 20 0 Mrs. Dr. Lunan, 2 6 20 0 Rev. J. Baxter, 2 6 R. W. Ledward, Esq., M.D. Rev. M. White, 2 0 J. H. Raper, Esq., 0 A. Crowe, Esq., 26 J. Heywood, Esq., J. Robb, Esq., DUNDEE J. P., 5 0 5 0 W. Salmond, Esq., 2 6 Mrs. D. Martin, 20 0 H. Stevenson, Esq., W. Sievewright, Esq., 2 6 A. Ferguson, Esq., 2 6 E. Sadler, Esq., J. Suttie, Esq., 2 6 W. Stephen, Esq., . 20 0 G. Lyon, Esq... 2 6 2 6 G. Carmichael, Esq., 20 0 D. Carmichael, Esq., 200 20 0 A. Petrie, Esq.. G. Sturrock, Esq., Rev. A. B. Cameron, J. Ferguson, Esq., FORFAR. 26 A. J. Buist, Esq., Mrs. Parlane, R. Affleck, Esq., 100 20 0 .10 6 R. C. Johnson, Esq., 10 6 .10 6 50 J. Bell, Esq Esq. 5 0 D. Jardine, 10 0 50 J. Bingham, Esq, Messrs. Johnson & Grainger, . 10 0 50 W. Crostield, Esq., . 10 0 50 W.Crosfield Jun., Esq.,10 0 50 S. Cearns, Esq., . 10 0 50 D. Rowatt, Esq. . 10 0 A. Lyon, Esq., . 10 0 J.H. S.Crompton, Esq.,50 J. Cookson, Esq.. 26 C. A. Chambers, Esq., 26 W. Smales, Esq. 5 0 26 0 W. H. Thomas, Esq., 2 6 Per Sailors' Home, 10 0 J. Walker, Esq., J. Stevenson, Esq., . D. Bell, Esq., 5 0 5 0 5 0 10 0 Miss Barbour, 26 W. F. Curryer, Esq., 50 J. Sharrock, Esq., 26 G. G. Blackwell, Esq., 5 0 100 T. Shirley, Esq.,. 26 T. Hanmer, Esq., 50 20 P. Carmichael, Esq., 20 0 2 6 H. Walker, Esq... .20 96 A. D. Grimmond, Esq. 10 0 2 6 Messrs. H. Smith & Co., Messrs. J. & F. Stevenson, 1 0 R. W. Anderson, Esq., 20 0 Published and sold by the Trustees acting under a Trust Disposition and Codicils relating to the Stirling Tract Enterprise granted by the now deceased PETER DRUMMOND, Seedsman, Stirling, proprietors in Trust; and all business communications are to be addressed to JOHN MACFARLANE, Tract Depot, Stirling, Manager of said Enterprise. Printed by WALTER GRAHAM BLACKIE (residing at No. 1 Belhaven Terrace, Parish of Govan), at his Printing Office, Villafield, in the Parish of Barony. JULY, 1879.-New Series, No. 7. THE PRICE ONE PENNY. BRITISH MESSENGER. Published Monthly by the Trustees of the late PETER DRUMMOND, at the THE SUFFERING SAVIOUR. AN EXPOSITION OF THE TWENTY-SECOND PSALM. THE deepest anguish of our suffering Lord is here 1, 2. "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words Extracted, by the author's kind permission, from Family Devotion. of my roaring? O my God, I cry in the day-time, but thou hearest not; and in the night-season, and am not silent." Our station is at Calvary. The cross is erected. Jesus, the God-man, our proxy, our Redeemer, hangs thereon. We look, and we rejoice in the undoubted truth that verily He is bearing our curse, and drinking to the dregs our cup of wrath, and receiving into His inmost soul the sword of justice, and suffering the extremities of penal anguish. For three hours darkness veils the world. Let us not attempt to pierce the mystery. What mind could bear to realize the tremendous transaction? We learn all that we need to know from the shrill cry which burst from the sufferer's heart. He testifies that God, His God, was no more present. The heavenly countenance was wholly hid. Utter desertion overwhelmed Him. He cried for help, but no help came. He roared through extremest anguish, and was not silent, but no answer cheered Him It was the hour and power of darkness. Hell could not do more to terrify and excruciate. He was abandoned to its fury: He was surrendered to its worst. Here we have fullest proof that our Lord's sufferings were real; but they were not for Himself. They were all really substitutional. We have a real curse-bearer, and we really suffer in Him. But against all feeling, when things were most adverse, faith still survived and stretched its hands to God. From desertion's lowest depth it cried, "My God, my God." 3, 4, 5. "But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel. Our fathers trusted in thee: they trusted, and thou didst deliver them. They cried unto thee, and were delivered: they trusted in thee, and were not confounded." It is faith's happy province, when outward comforts utterly depart, still to justify God. Faith cannot blame, disparage, or cast doubt on Him. Against all outward sense it knows and witnesses that God is holy; it confesses that God is entitled to all praise. Praise is the debt which ever is His due: His people's praises are His home. In darkest times it gathers strength from ages of experience: it looks to the elders of God's house: they all were partakers of confiding grace. It is thrice repeated that they trusted. To trust they added prayer. The end was sure. Deliverance came, and they were not ashamed. Though He slay us, yet let us trust Him. Light is sown for the righteous. We read a wondrous word as falling from the lips of Jesus, "Our fathers." He states that He is thoroughly one with us. He is born very man, a member of our family: our fathers are His fathers, even as His Father is our Father. 6. 66 But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people." Jesus foresaw His deep humiliation. He takes the place of a scorned reptile. He is deemed scarcely worthy to be ranked on a level with the human race. We read the prelude of the prophet's strain: "He is despised and rejected of men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief, and we hid, as it were, our faces from him." Let us gratefully remember that His low estate is our exaltation. He thus sinks that we may be uplifted. 7, 8. "All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying, He trusted on the Lord that he would deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him." We may not move from Calvary. The whole scene here appears in predictive light. As the Psalmist wrote, it is transacted to the letter. Hear the inspired historian: "They that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads. Likewise also the chief priests, mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said, He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him." The sight of extremest misery moved not their cruel hearts. They revelled in their victim's pain: their sneers and taunts wound deeper than the nails. His grief surpassed all grief, even as His love exceeded love. By these His stripes we are healed. 9, 10. "But thou art he that took me out of the womb; thou didst make me hope when I was upon my mother's breasts. I was cast upon thee from the womb: thou art my God from my mother's belly." Faith draws support from recollection of the earliest mercies. The goodness which watched over infancy and childhood are often overlooked as common dealings. But the enlightened eye in all this watchful care discerns God's gracious hand. It is our wisdom to trace each providence to special love. They dwell in regions of delight who see God everywhere. In all things Christ is our bright example! May He who is the giver of faith, give unto us faith strong as His own! As He trusted, so may we trust! 11. “Be not far from me, for trouble is near; for there is none to help." Faith quickly flies to God. Its feet frequent the well-known path of prayer. Troubles lead quickly to the mercy-seat. Absence of human help is not a loss when it secures the help of heaven. Welcome temporal destitution, when God supplies the void. 12, 13. "Many bulls have compassed me; strong bulls of Bashan have beset me round. They goped upon me with their mouths, as a ravening and a roaring lion." We still are present at the Cross. The dying Jesus looks around; multitudes beset Him; with open mouth ferociously they gape. Throughout the mass there is no sign of pity; all hearts seem dead to common feelings of humanity; they show the properties of the wildest beasts; they are savage as the untamed bull; they thirst for blood as the devouring lion. This is the saddest picture of man's malignity. What frightful fury raged against Jesus, the perfect model of holiness and love! His only offence was, that He trod this earth as God. We see what man is when no grace restrains. If we love Jesus, whom the world thus hated, let us give praise to grace, which causes us to differ. 14, 15. "I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels. My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleareth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death.” The suffering Jesus thus described His miserable state. In graphic terms He tells of His extremity of agony and weakness. The pain of the cross was bitterest pain; the weight of the body, suspended by the nailed hands and feet, violently strained the whole frame. It was almost dislocation of each bone; every joint was wrenched. But still no bone may suffer fracture. A clear type announced that they could not be broken, and wondrously was the figure fulfilled. The picture shows the whole frame dissolving; it retains no firmness, no consistency; it utterly yields and flows away in weakness, as resistless water yields to touch. Strength of spirit, too, collapses. As wax melts, softens, and resists not subduing heat, so the heart lay prostrate beneath overwhelming misery. What is so weak and brittle as the clay of the potter baked and dried up by fire? So the fire of God's wrath brought down to nothingness the sufferer's strength. The clammy mouth showed that the vital juices were dried up, and death usurped undisturbed dominion. In all this anguish Jesus realizes His heavenly Father's hand. This is Thy doing. I sink into the dust of death: but it is Thy hand which lays me low. Jesus dies, because His |