Now how is it with you as to this matter? Hath sin been over bitter to you? Have you mourned over it? Wil you yet see it and mourn? 2. A looking off from all other remedyes whatsoever, as of no value. They that were stung, and had tryd other means to no purpose, when they heard of the serpent on the pole, threw them all away and run to that. So doth every truly believing soul, as Paul, Phil. iii. 8, 9. His own righteousness was now worth nothing in his account and esteem. 3. A respect to the commands and promises of God, to the power and willing. ness of the Lord Jesus to save. (1.) To the command and promise of God. 1 John iii. 23. As His command was to the stung Israelites to look, which command was backt with a promise, that by looking they should be cured; so His command is to us, that wee should believe: and His promise is, that whosoever believeth should not perish, but have everlasting life. Now by eying this command and this promise the soul is encouraged. and invitations, such as that Matt. xi. 28, John vii. 37. 4. Resting satisfyed with Him, and expecting from Him that healing which we come for. Acts iii. 4, 5. Trusting to Him for it, relying on Him. For the application of this 1. Either wee are such as have never yet lookt one believing look unto Christ to this day; and if so, I must deal faithfully with you, and tell you, your wounds are all bleeding upon you. Objection. I feel no such matter. Answer.-Your condition is the more miserable, and sad as Laodicea. Rev. iii. 17, 18. O hearken to this good counsel. Come to Him, and look to Him that alone can heal and save. Behold, Hee calls thee as if by name, Look unto Mee. Consider, thy condemnation will bee just and severe, if a look might have saved thee, and thou wouldst not-one good look to Christ. II. Or wee are such as have lookt and are healed. Then 1. Let free grace have the glory of the Luke xvii. 15. (2.) To the ability and willingness of cure. the Lord Jesus to save. Able Hee is, for Hee hath fully satisfyed; witness his death and resurrection: the one the price payd, the other the acquittance. Now this must be lookt at. Willing Hee is; witness His gracious calls 2. Keep your eye still upon Him, every day in every thing, (Heb. xii. 2,) for guidance, assistance, acceptance, pardon, righteousness, grace, and strength. 3. Goe thy wayes; sin no more; take heed of serpents: but if-1 John ii, 1. Obituaries. THE REV. THEOPHILUS EASTMAN. THE Rev. Theophilus Eastman, B.A., of St. John's Wood, was born at Portsea, in 1789. His father was for many years senior deacon of the church under the care of the Rev. J. Griffin. His mother was a woman of prayer. From earliest childhood his truthfulness was remarkable; never was he known to utter a falsehood. And this spirit of unswerving conscientiousness, characterized him through life. His decision for Christ may be traced to the prayers of a mother with, as well as for her child; a father's example; the judicious training of the Rev. H. Gauntlett, with whom for some time he was placed; and the ministry of the Rev. J. Griffin. He studied first at Gosport, and afterwards at Glasgow University. In 1816, he married Mary Adlam, of Bristol, a woman of deep piety and precious faith. His first settlement was at Stalbridge, Hants, from which he removed to Fareham, where for twelve years he laboured with earnestness and success. While there, he became associated with the Rev. Dr. Bogue, as classical tutor in his Missionary Seminary. After leaving Hampshire, he resided at Bath, giving his services to the little church assembling at Widcombe Chapel, near that city. Subsequently he went to Ruthing, in North Wales, as pastor of the Independent church there. Circumstances over which he had no control obliged him to leave, amidst the tears and prayers of his beloved flock. His last settlement was at Whitchurch, Salop, where he remained nearly five years. From the close of this his last pastorate, until within four years of his decease, he was frequently employed in his beloved work. Early in the spring of 1861, his health became seriously affected, owing to a failure of power in the heart; and on the 22nd of April, 1863, he was seized with slight paralysis. All his lifetime had he been subject to bondage. A depression, probably constitutional and inherited from his mother, ofttimes weighed down his spirit to the dust. Now, however, that the journey was nearly over, the home well-nigh reached, faith grew stronger and hope brighter. But it was reserved for the last few days of his earthly sojourn to prove the tenderness, the faithfulness, the omnipotence of the love of Jesus. "Stronger than death," was that proved to be; "many waters could not quench it, neither could the floods drown it." Many were the hymns and portions of Scripture on which his soul fed during the last months of his life. On Sabbath evening, June the 14th, when conversing on his favourite topic, heaven, he remarked, "Though we cannot speak with the confidence of some, it is a great mercy to be able to gay,— "A guilty, weak, and helpless worm, Be thou my strength and righteousness, If the Lord had meant to destroy us, he would not have showed us these things." Gradually, indeed, failed his strength; but on the night of the 17th of July, the sudden lapse of power told unmistakably that he was almost home. The following Tuesday was his last day up. After giving various little directions with perfect calmness, he said, "Do not expect me to say much at the last." But the glad words were to come, all unbidden and unasked; and the humble, shrinking spirit was to bear a full and glorious testimony to the sustaining power of that precious gospel it had so often preached to others. During the last fortnight his mind wandered much, and for many hours on Friday, the 24th, his perplexity and distress in consequence were painful to witness. A day or two afterwards, he asked for the well-known anecdote of Bishop Beveridge when dying. On its being related to him, his features glowed with delight, and truly for him, when flesh and heart were failing, the name of Jesus had a charm which nothing else possessed. Friday, the 31st, was indeed a memorable day. The restlessness was fearful, and at times the whole frame was convulsed; but death's conqueror was there, and the timid spirit gained the victory. About 9 A.M. he suddenly looked up, exclaiming with ecstasy, "Oh, my Mary!" at the same time clapping his hands. Fourteen years back had the wife and the mother passed to her reward. Who can doubt that she now waited to welcome him? Then, with a fixed and earnest gaze, he slowly repeated, "A great host!" In the afternoon he was heard to say, "Underneath are the everlasting arms of Jesus-of the Good Shepherd." After lying quietly for some time, he remarked, "He will raise us up again." About 9 P.M. he raised himself in the bed, and at short intervals uttered the following words :-"All temporal, spiritual, and immortal good flows to me through the merits of my Lord and Saviour.""I know I am not what I should be; I have not the resemblance to the spirits in heaven that I ought to have: but these pantings and aspirations after the higher life, they come not from myself—they are the work of his Holy Spirit."-"I know that grace will be given me even to the end."-"Sanctified on earth, glorified in heaven."" Then let me die, if it be His will "For ever with the Lord!*** As the remaining lines of the verse were repeated for him, he responded,— risk their all in His dear hands," clasping | his own together. "Let them come. Whosoever will, let him come, and have hope, and rest, and peace, and joy, and heaven. It is for all, throughout the whole world, and to the end of time! Amen." Once again during the night his voice was heard. "Glorious salvation!" burst from his lips. From this time he gradually sank into a kind of stupor; but about 1 P.M. on the Monday, one of his daughters said to him, "Jesus is watching you, dearest father, more tenderly than we are, and you will soon be with him." A pressure of the hand, a smile, and movement of the head, told that all was peace. Towards night the breathing became much heavier, and at a quarter to 11 A.M. on Tuesday, the 4th of August, he entered into the joy of his Lord. THE REV. J. J. INSULL, BEDFORD. THE name of this able and devoted minister of Christ, cut off in the flower of his days, is worthy of being embalmed in the Church's memory, not only for the important position he occupied, but also for his character and work's sake. In childhood his religious advantages were few; but while yet a youth the influences brought to bear upon him in the Surrey Chapel Sunday School, together with the earnest and affectionate ministry of the Rev. James Sherman, led to his conversion to God. He then be came a member of Surrey Chapel, and gave himself to various works of Christian usefulness. His services in the Sabbath School, and his occasional addresses at the young men's early prayer meeting, soon marked him out as destined for higher service in the Church of God. He was induced to preach, and made his first attempt in a tent on Kennington Common. The attention of his pastor having now been directed to him, the opportunity was afforded for his giving expression to a desire for the work of the ministry, which had been for some time "as a burning fire shut up in his bones." Arrangements were made for his pursuing preparatory studies under the direction of the late Rev. W. Legge, of Fakenham; and eventually he entered as a student at Cheshunt College, where he soon gave evidence of possessing a keen and vigorous intellect, and a large and earnest heart. As his college course approached its termination, he was invited to become co-pastor with the Rev. John Jukes over the church in Bunyan Meeting, Bedford, and he commenced his ministry there in 1854. From the first he highly appreciated the importance of his position, and gave himself to its duties with all the energy of his nature. Besides preaching in turn in Bunyan Meeting, and in the village chapels connected with it, he conducted Bible classes, entered into various schemes for the benefit of the young people of his charge, gave his incessant attention to the aged and the sick of the flock-to whom his visits were singularly felicitous-and lent his energies to every work that aimed at the moral and religious elevation of the people of the town in which his lot was cast. In this way he continued to labour for nine years in unbroken harmony with the senior pastor, and with evident tokens of the Divine benediction. By his instrumentality not a few souls were saved, and many others quickened to a higher Christian life. Mr. Insull's mind was characterized by great power of analysis, and a most restless desire to go down to the roots of things. Nothing satisfied him but the clearest views of a subject, and he counted no effort too great to gain them. He had a keen relish for the best class of literature, especially for such as aided him in the elucidation of the sacred text. A more painstaking and thorough student of the Word of God is seldom met with. He delighted in the study of the Grand Old Book. Nor did he shrink from grappling with some of the difficult problems of theology. There was a time when he would have dared to force his way beyond the limits prescribed to faith, had he not been held back by his deep reverence and his intense devotion to the Master's service. As might be expected from a mind of such an order, there was sometimes an elaboration and finish about his productions which commended them most to his more cultivated hearers; but his over-mastering desire to serve all whom it was his duty to address, led him for the most part to aim at presenting truth in a simple and forcible manner. The character of his general ministry may best be learned from one who not only had ample opportunities of hearing him, but who is highly competent as a judge. In a funeral sermon preached for his beloved colleague, Mr. Jukes says, The public services of our beloved brother were by no means of an ordinary character. His prayers are seldom approached, either in the range of the topics they embraced, the variety of expression by which they were characterized, or the rich devotional feeling 66 they disclosed. As a preacher, he had few equals among men of his own age. The diversity of his subjects, the readiness and power with which he grasped the strong points of a text, his happy illustrations, the extent to which he could go into the experience of his hearers, his striking appeals to the judgment and the conscience, and his truly evangelical spirit, have often filled me not only with pleasure, but surprise." The secret of this effective ministry lies in the fact, that preaching was the great idea of his life-the work he lived to do. Mr. Insull's physical powers were never equal to the energy of his mind and heart. So early as in his college days, symptoms of disease manifested themselves. He pursued his labours, however, with little interruption till the latter part of last year, when he was obliged to take perfect rest. Under the advice of a physician, he repaired to Brighton; but the change proved of little service, and he returned to Bedford to pass several weary months in extreme physical prostration. At length he rallied, and became able to resume part of his accustomed duties, continuing to preach more or less requently till within a Thus fell, in the thirty-sixth year of his age, one whose memory will long be cherished by all who knew and loved He fought, not long, but well: J. B. F. him. AND NOW HE IS CROWNED. Death of Thomas M. Coombs, Esq. It is our painful duty to record the death of our friend Mr. Coombs, who departed this life at his house, on Clapham Common, on Wednesday, the 18th of November, in the seventy-third year of his age. His friends had observed symptoms of declining health for some time previous to the illness which, after a few weeks, issued in his death. That death was what his life had prepared such as knew him to expect. It was calm, trust ful, and full of hope. He knew whom he had believed, and expressed his simple faith in Jesus as the only ground of confidence and peace. After a long course of Christian activity, his removal will prove a severe loss. He was treasurer of the Orphan Working School, of Mill Hill Grammar School, of the Irish Evangelical Society, and of New College, St. The John's Wood. Zealous for the welfare |