extend their arms within the clouds; drink the dew of heaven; and beneath which, the world is only shade.

This vision of angels, who came commissioned from God, was a signal instance of the Divine condescension, and care of his devoted servant. Though these angelic Spirits are the principalities and powers, among created existences, yet they glow with all that is kind towards the Saints. At the creation of man, those Morning Stars sang together-then all those Sons of God shouted for joy. At the birth of the incarnate Word, what a rejoicing acclamation among the heavenly host !—And, O! what pure, and enlarged benevolence, what exalted joy are manifested by those great and good Spirits, when a penitent sinner is brought to believe in God, through the mediation of our adorable and adored Saviour. Sent forth from the presence of God; with what delight they minister to the heirs of Salvation, regardless whether they number with shipwrecked mariners, with wanderers in the pathless desert, with children of adversity in the cottage, with nobility in their mansions, or with sovereigns elevated on their thrones. But, what mind can conceive that extension of knowledge which they receive, and those heights of transport to which they rise, while employing their vast energies, in

contemplating the glorious and profound mysteries, connected with the Redemption and final Salvation of those infinitely loved sinners, who are the objects of their guardianship. We shall never know the extent of their services, nor the extent of their love-never, till being conveyed by them to eternal felicity, we take our stand with them before the Throne, and unite with them in that most triumphant anthem, of "blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne and unto the Lamb, for ever and ever.";

JOHN OF THE SCORE.

What an observable passage is that also, known to many yet alive, anent a notorious Robber in the south parts of this land, called John of the Score, who for many years having driven that woeful trade, did one day rencounter a poor man travelling with two horses, which he, according to his custom, takes away, the poor countryman falling down on his knees, did earnestly beg, that for Jesus Christ's sake, he would give the one again, for he ..had no more to maintain his poor family, but what he could gain by them, but it

F

I was in vain; he carrieth them home with him, leaving the poor man in that desolate condition, but a little after he turns dumpish, and melancholy, could get no rest or quiet, not knowing the cause, but as he professed, that these words the poor man had spoke to him (though he was so great an atheist, that he understood not what he meant when he spake of Christ) were lying like a heavy weight upon his spirit, and whilst he was sought after for his robberies, he desired his sons to shift for themselves, for he could not go out of the way, there being a restraint upon him, and something within him that in a kind bound him from going out of the way, and thus stayed at his house until he was apprehended, brought into Edinburgh and there put up in prison, upon which a godly minister Mr. Henry Blyth, with a christian gentleman, William Cunningham, Tutor of Bonitoun, who had sometimes known him, makes a visit, holding forth to him his miserable estate, and the hazard of his soul, for he was judged by the law to die) and amongst other words, shewing him the necessity to flee to Jesus Christ, he doth suddenly break out with a cry, "O what word is that, for it hath been my death; that is the word that hath lain upon my heart since the poor man spoke it to me; so that I had no power from that time to go out of the way,

and after being told what an one Christ was, without whom he could not be saved, he crieth, "O will he ever look to me, and show mercy that for his sake would not shew mercy to that poor man, and give him back his horse," but after further instruction, a most real, and gracious change did appear upon him, he gave most convincing evidences of the reality thereof, attained to great assurance before his death,' and upon the scaffold in the public streets where he was executed, did speak so wonderfully of the Lord's dealing with him, and with such knowledge and judgement as left a conviction on all present, and forced them to see a truth and reality in the grace of God.

From Flemming's fulfilling of the

Scriptures.

REFLECTIONS.

John of the Score could not flee, but waited to be taken, though he knew the consequence would be death. Had there been no operative influence out of himself, and superior to himself, instead of sitting at home as a prisoner in chains, the robber would have fled from his pursuers, as the hart from the hunters. But herein the hand of God, invincible in its operations, is most visibly, and most signally displayed.

How various are the ways by which God brings wandering sinners home to himself! John of the Score, was fast fitting himself for destruction; but God having determined that his covenant with death and hell should be dissolved, he is therefore delivered from going down to the pit. A ransom is found, and the captive is liberated. He was a brand already lighted up, for flames unquenchable; but God extinguished the blaze. He appeared to be a vessel of wrath, but being in the purpose of God, a vessel of mercy, was in due time shewn to be such. Hell deemed him her lawful prey: but God delivered him from the mighty. Instead of being cast into the lake, which burneth with fire and brimstone, John of the Score is elevated to heaven, where he excites the joyful-the triumphant admiration of Angels, and the spirits of just men made perfect.

With such an instance before us, say, reader, what penitent need despair? and of the repentance of what sinner need we despair.