BREAD FROM HEAVEN;

OR,

FOOD FOR THE SOUL.

BY THE

REV. JAMES SMITH,

CHELTENHAM;

AUTHOR OF GOOD SEED FOR THE LORD'S FIELD,"
EARLY AND LATTER RAIN," ETC., ETC.

66

•BODI

A

HALIFAX:

MILNER AND SOWER

SIMPKIN AND MARSHALL, LONDON

1857.

141. d. 418.

PREFACE.

THE soul needs food as well as the body. But while multitudes pay much attention to feeding the body, they neglect the soul. This proves the power of sin, and displays man's folly. The soul must be fed, or it will starve; and the man that starves his soul, will enjoy but little real comfort. The inward craving felt by some, and the depression felt by others, indicates that the soul needs food. Some try, like the prodigal, to feed the soul with husks; but it will not do, it must receive the food convenient for it. Food suited to its dignity and immortality, adapted to its state as a sinner in the sight of God, or a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, is required. This food is plentifully provided in God's word, and is offered to us without money and without price. What Jesus said to the hungry multitude once, he still says to us, "Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you; for him hath God the Father sealed."

What then is the design of this little book? It is an attempt to break the bread of life into pieces, and to present it in different portions to the sinner and the saint, the seeker and the happy believer, the sick and the healthy, the young and the old, the healthy and the dying. Here is something for every class, something suited to every condition, and something which, if the Holy Spirit bless it, will counsel or comfort, direct or deter, advise or admonish, reprove or encourage, as the case may require. May the Holy Comforter convince the sinner, comfort the seeker, encourage the disheartened, direct the perplexed, cheer the desponding, and deliver the tempted, through the instrumentality of this little work. Reader, pray before you read, and pray while you read, that the Holy Spirit may render it a blessing to you; and when you have read it, lend it to a

friend, or give it to a relative, and pray that it may be made a blessing to them. O that Jesus may be honoured, God glorified, and souls be benefitted by this effort, for the Saviour's sake!

Cheltenham, April, 1857.

JAMES SMITH.