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to try to keep you in peace while out of Christ, that he may take you quietly to the lake of fire and brimstone. "When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace." Seeking ones, it will ever be Satan's business to throw obstacles in your path. He hates to see a soul coming to Jesus, While he was yet a coming

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the devil threw him down and tare him."

Young believer, Satan's aim will ever be to lead you into sin and then into despair; to get you first into By-Path Meadow and then into Doubting Castle. "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: whom resist stedfast in the faith."

Reader, I must again remind you that death and the grave are before you, and with the best of wishes remind you that nothing but a saving knowledge of Jesus will do to die with.

"Let Reason vainly boast her power
To teach her children how to die;
The sinner in a dying hour,

Needs more than Reason can supply:
A view of Christ, the sinner's Friend,
Alone can cheer him in the end.

When nature sinks beneath disease,
And every earthly hope is fled,
What then can give the sinner ease,
And make him love a dying bed?
Jesus! Thy smile his heart can cheer;
He's blest, e'en then, if Thou art near.

The Gospel does salvation bring,
And Jesus is the Gospel theme;

In death redeemed sinners sing

And triumph in the Saviour's name:
O death! where is thy sting?' they cry,
"O grave! where is thy victory?'

Then let me die the death of those
Whom Jesus washes in His blood;
Who on His faithfulness repose,

And know that He indeed is God.
Who round His throne in glory meet,
And cast their crowns beneath His feet."

BRIEF MEMOIR OF JAMES LEE. THERE can never be a source of joy, to godly parents, greater than that of the conversion of their children. And yet how often before this takes place such a prospect appears very dark! But when the great change at last occurs, it is always so arranged that the work and glory alike are seen to be the Lord's. And so it is written, "Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts" (Zech. iv. 6).

The parents of James Lee were truly godly people. Indeed, they are still living and reside at the village of Meads in Sussex; and though poor are most highly respected by a very large circle of friends, both near and at a distance. And this is a proof that the fear of the Lord brings "honour" with other favours, however humble the state of persons in this world may be (Prov. xxii. 4). Their son, James Lee, of whom we have now to speak, was born on September 11th, 1818, in the parish of Arlington, Sussex, and left home when very young to go into service. Being very fond of singing, he was easily enticed by light and worldly companions who were given to mirth and folly, and was soon drawn into very bad society. By this means he was often brought into trouble, and was compelled at last to return and live with his parents. They often reproved him for his foolish

and wicked conduct, telling him the awful consequence, should he die in his sins.

One night he had been out, and was returning home. It was very dark all around, when suddenly a great light from the heavens seemed to shine about him, and very much alarmed him.

Some time after this he was seized with a bad fever, in the midst of which the Lord, in measure, brought him under serious concern for his soul. His conscience also severely reproached him for all the trouble he had given his parents; and, during the attention which he constantly received from his devoted mother, he would often say, when sensible, "How kind you are to me! I hope, if the Lord is pleased to raise me up again, He will not suffer me to give you so much trouble any more."

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He recovered, however, and then his old besetting sin struggled hard to again get the mastery over him, and did so frequently. But "God, who is rich in mercy, did not allow his conscience to rest, nor suffer him to turn his back wholly upon the truths of the Gospel or the means of grace. There was always thenceforth a great restraint upon him from the Lord, during the twelve or thirteen years before his death; and at length his last and fatal affliction was sent.

In this the wickedness of his fallen nature was broken up to his view, and in such a way as almost to overwhelm him. So much was he tried that all evidence and hope of salvation were taken away from him. While in this sad condition, Mr. Tatham, of Eastbourne, visited him, and spoke to him very encouragingly of the mercy of God. He said to him in reply, "he wondered, after sitting under the sound of the Gospel for several years, he should so deceive him

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self as he had done," and added, "I look forward to nothing but destruction." It was then the enemy suggested the fearful idea that he would never be any different, and so he had better make away with himself. But divine power and grace never allowed this. To his aged mother he expressed the fear that his afflictions and feelings were only such as end in the pains of hell. But after a while, the Lord gradually raised him to hope in the mercy of God through Christ; and he would then often desire his mother to read a little at a time out of the word of God, which, he said, was very sweet to him." Next to the Bible (a fact often observed) Mr. Hart's hymns were most blessed to him. The "dialogue between a believer and his soul" was much owned of the Lord to the encouraging of his hope, and also Lam. iii. It was observed that he was made very honest, and afraid of deceiving himself; but Satan did not let him alone. On one occasion the words, "I will not hear cry nor prayer for them," very much tried him. His mother got the Bible and read Jer. xi., where, in substance, they are found, and then said to him, "You want Christ to reign over you?" "Oh yes," he answered with great earnestness, "I want Him to reign over me, and to do all in me and for me, for I can do nothing." In due time the snare was broken.

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As his hope in Jesus increased, the Lord seemed to shine upon all he had passed through. Then he would say, Why art thou cast down, O my soul ?" Indeed, from the very time of Mr. Tatham's first visit he appears to have revived in spirit. At one time, when being moved in bed, during the month of December, 1865, he broke out singing,

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Thy sweet communion charms the soul," &c,

and threw up his arms in an ecstasy of joy. At another time his mother overheard him singing,

"Come, Holy Spirit, come,

Let Thy bright beams arise."

In addition to these, "God moves in a mysterious way," and "Blind unbelief is sure to err," would hang upon his lips. His sufferings sometimes being very great, caused him once to cry out, Oh dear, I wonder how long!" when he checked himself, saying, "It is wrong to be impatientthe Lord's time is the best time."

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Being married, he was much concerned about his children in the event of his dying, desiring the Lord to bless and take care of them, together with his wife and dear parents. He was also very anxious about his brother, and seeing his mother writing to him, he said, Tell him I hope the Lord will keep him on the watch, as the devil has many traps to catch a poor sinner."

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His death was a triumph over the power of intense suffering; for the Lord the Spirit by the revelation, and shedding abroad of the love of Christ, carried him above it. About five or six weeks before dying, he said to his brother, "I would not for any consideration lose my affliction and sufferings, if I were also to lose the comfort and consolation I enjoy. A little feeling sense of the love of God is better than all this world can give. I would not part with all my sufferings to go back into the world again." To an aged friend, who visited him, he said, "The Lord is so good to me that as my affliction increases, and my sufferings abound, so also my consolations increase and abound. I have lain here in excruciating pain for two and three hours, but the Lord was so near, so

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