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hough higher than the reinatiin was meek and lowly in spirit.He reads again: “ And now, brethren, I commend_. you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is ableto build you up, and to give you an inheritance among“s © all them which are sanetified.”” Yes, brethren, saidthe holy man, I commend you to God. To whom elseshould I commend you? ‘Trust not in man——make notflesh your arm. For it is written, “‘ cursed is the manthat trusteth in man, and that maketh flesh his arm.”’Trust notin the riches, the pleasures, or honors of thisworld—they are fading, dying, evanescent, deceitfulthings. Cease from man, whose breath is in his nos-trils. But trust in the Lord forever: for in the LordJehovah there is everlasting strength. They who trustin the Lord shall never be confounded nor put to shame.: He will keep them in perfect peace, whose minds arestayed on him. O, if you would be filled with righteous-. ness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit, trust in theLord and do his commandments. Your happiness andsecurity will then be independent of the storm or sun-shine of earth. All things work for good to them thatlove God—to them who are the called according to hispurpose. or full half a century I have known “amidstthe storms and tempests of life the joys and consolationsof trusting in the Lord ; and now, in the evening of mylife, when sinking under the infirmities of age to thesrave, let me, as the best service I can render you, oncemore, and for the last time, ‘‘commend you to God, andto the word of his grate.’’ Yes, to the word of his grace,let me commend you. Precious word! It is able tobuild you up, and give you an inheritance among themwho are sanctified—able to make you wise to salvationthrough faith in Christ Jesus. It is profitable for doc-trine, for reproof, for correction and instruction in right-eousness, that the man of God may be perfect, and« thoroughly furnished to every good work. Clasp itto your posomaaee? as the most valuable boon belong-ing to your earthly home. O, hide it in your hearts, © BARTON W. STONE, 91 that you sinnot. Read it and meditate upon it day andnight. It is the word of God’s grace. QO, preciousthought! ‘‘Grace! ’tis a charming theme!”’ My onlhope—the only hope of perishing man. _ Yes, itis God’sword of grace, as it reveals his grace to sinners, and as »it reveals to saints his exceeding great and preciouspromises. wry The systems of men, for full fifteen centuries, havefurnished the professors of Christianity with questionsof endless strifes and debates, and have led to wastingpersecutions. The present condition of Ch¥istendom,cut up into hundreds of parties, exhausting their ener-gies in party conflicts, speaks volumes against the evilinfluence of humanisms in religion. ‘To the word ofGod’s grace, then, let me commend you. To the Bible,the Bible alone! ‘This is the religion of protestants.This, under God, can make you perfect—perfect infaith, perfect in feeling, in word, in deed, in heart andlife; in union and communion with God and one an-other. | | |_ He reads again: ‘‘I have coveted no man’s silver, orgold, or apparel. Yea, ye yourselves know, that thesehands have ministered to my necessities, and to themthat were with me. I have showed you all things, howthat so laboring ye ought to support the weak; and toremember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, itis more blessed to give than to receive.”? Both thespeaker and the hearers were deeply affected by thisreading. All present, who intimately knew the venable Stone, could testify that his whole life was a prac-tical commentary upon the verses read; that he haddemonstrated he was superior to covetousness—a manof great benevolence, devoting himself most assiduous-ly to the interests of the church, without reference topecuniary reward. | | But he reads again, and for the last time: ‘“‘And whenhe had thus spoken, he kneeled down and prayed withthem all. And they all wept sore, and fell on Paul’sneck, and kissed him; sorrowing most of all for the
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