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SOME ACCOUNT OF EBENEZER

BLACKSTOCK.

WHO FELL ASLEEP IN JESUS, NOV. 23RD, 1861, AGED 27. (Concluded from page 304.)

"July 4th.

"I often have melting seasons in my own soul in reflecting on God's great and boundless mercy to me. I remember praying, at the end of last year or the commencement of this, that I might not live another year in sin, that I might be born again this year. It is not a vain thing to wait on the Lord; blessed be His holy name, He waits to be gracious. What shall I render unto Him for all His mercies to me?

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"Chosen not for good in me,

Waken'd up from wrath to flee;
Hidden in the Saviour's side,
By the Spirit sanctified;

Teach me, Lord, on earth to show,
By my love how much I owe !'

'I sometimes think there is not another so largely indebted to a Triune God as I am. My poor powers are utterly unable to praise Him as He should be praised. Oh that He would accept every breath I breathe, as a silent tribute of gratitude to Him.

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'The Shepherd sought His sheep,

The Father sought His child;
They followed me o'er vale and hill,
O'er deserts dark and wild.

They found me nigh to death,

Famish'd and faint and lone;

They bound me with the bands of love,
They saved the wondering one.'

"I think H—

is seeking the kingdom of God and His righteousness. May she, through the

precious influence of the ever-blessed Spirit, soon

find them.

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"E. B."

"July 11th.

I account it an especial mercy that I was preserved from such a snare. The Lord knew what I was shortly to pass through, and protected me; blessed be His holy name for ever! Much cause have I to speak well of His gracious Majesty for this God is our God for ever and ever. He will be our Guide even unto death.

I am sensible of a change on my spirit, for there are many things of a deadening tendency; yet I ardently long at times for my Beloved to come again into His garden, and eat His pleasant fruits. O blessed Plant of Renown, whose leaves did heal my soul, may I sit under Thy shadow with great delight, and may Thy fruit be pleasant to my taste! I long again to hear that still small voice to guide, instruct, and bless. O sacred voice, it is the voice of God! What condescension to visit so poor, sinful, and polluted a worm as I am. 'Lord, what is man, that Thou art mindful of him, and the son of man, that Thou visitest him ?'

66 6 Oh, more than all the world to me,

To know that I am one with Thee.'

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"E. B."

The Saviour, in all His covenant characters and offices, was exceedingly precious to the heart of this young and loving disciple; but, when contemplated as the " Plant of Renown," whose leaves healed his sin-sick soul, and first brought pardon and peace, every nerve seemed to thrill. He loved the song of Mason's, beginning

"I've found the Pearl of greatest price."

He read it aloud; and we shall never forget the tone of deep emotion and tearful eye that accompanied these lines:

"My Christ, He is the tree of life,

Which in God's garden grows;

Whose fruits do feed, whose leaves do heal;
My Christ is Sharon's Rose."

"July 23rd. "I am dry and barren in soul, but am often overcome with a sense of God's great mercy towards me. I know He did set His love upon me in eternity, and did choose me in Christ Jesus; and I know that my blessed Saviour did bear away my sins, and that as far as the east is from the west, so far hath He removed my transgressions from me; and I know the ever-blessed Spirit did reveal His great salvation unto me; and these things are the joy and rejoicing of my heart. A few weeks back I heard Mr. Abrahams from Hosea xiv. 7; "They that dwell under His shadow," &c. We stand in need of renewals and revivals. If I could but get a glimpse of Him through the lattice, I should rejoice. I know He is beyond compare. "His head is as the most fine gold, His locks are bushy, and black as a raven. His eyes are as the eyes of doves by the rivers of waters, washed with milk, and fitly set."

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No wonder a poor sinner is captivated by, and enamoured of such beauty.

"E. B."

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"I do not appear to grow in grace; mine is a retrograde movement. I sometimes have sensibility enough to bemoan my own slothfulness, and mourn the dearth of fruit upon my branch; still I know I am grafted in the living Vine, and the Heavenly Husbandman will not cut me off and cast me into the fire. I long for a fresh visit from my adorable Saviour, for I find without Him I can do nothing. That would set all to rights, dispel all anxieties, repinings, and regrets. I know He will come again; it is sweet to yearn and feel love-sick for Him; inexpressibly sweeter still when He brings us into His banquetinghouse, and His banner over us is love.

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"I cannot report any improvement in my health, and am very unwell and unable to attend the house of God. I earnestly desire your prayers.

and

has informed Mr. and Mrs. Abrahams of the Lord's goodness to me; at which they expressed great pleasure, and Mr. Abrahams said he would call and see me, if I could not go to him. With regard to coming to you, dear Eit is at present impracticable, although it would afford me great pleasure to see you and dear R the children. We must leave it with the Lord. May you and your husband enjoy much of the presence of Immanuel, and may He that said, "Suffer little children to come unto me," incline the young hearts of C and L- towards Him, so that they may known Him whom to know is life eternal. With kindest love, I remain

"Your affectionate brother,

"E. B."

During the period comprised in the preceding letters, Ebenezer was sucking honey from God's Holy Word, Hart's and Mason's Hymns, and Erskine's Sonnets, also Mr. Abraham's ministrations. The Thursday evening's services were, he said, peculiarly sweet and solemn; they were types of the eternal Sabbath of rest to which he was hastening. He regretted much when exceeding weakness confined him to the house, saying with a sad voice, "In some past years I did not attend public worship when I could have done so, and now I am unable;" but his desire was to say in all things," Thy will be done."

The withdrawal of the manifested presence of His Saviour was a heavy trial to him. His affections had been so drawn out by the display of the matchless love of Christ to his soul, that he panted after Him as the hart panteth after the water-brooks, and seemed sometimes to overlook the solid peace he enjoyed-the hope which remained firm as an anchor to his soul-so eagerly did he desire another powerful manifestation. He seemed to be where the Psalmist was when he wrote (and the words he appropriated), " I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with Thy likeness;" nothing less could content his soul. He would frequently burst out with deep emotion, Oh, my Saviour, do come again!" and sometimes add, “I do love Him!"

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His cough and expectoration became fearfully bad, and his throat and mouth so sore, that it was torture to swallow, therefore he could not talk much; but the blessed Spirit helped him now and then to give a testimony that "what God doeth shall be for ever"-his faith was maintained unshaken. On various occasions he said, I have nothing to trust in but the blood and

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