This conversion of sinners is essential to the continuance and extension of the Redemer's kingdom. In two cases, lately, yea in more than two, I have been privately asked to try and remove the pastor of the churches where I laboured, simply because there were no additions by the ministry; consequently, the causes were sinking, the funds were declining, the congregations were dissolving, the deacons' hearts were aching, the ministers had hung their harps upon the willows; and instead of seasons of refreshing and days of rejoicing, all things were gloomy; and what to do none appeared able to say. The second great object of Paul's ministry, was the planting of churches. In this he was successful. He could say, "I have planted, Apollos watered, Gou gave the increase." And having been instrumental in the calling of many souls, and in planting many churches, his third great desire was that these churches might be healthy, peaceful, and prosperous. How pure and truly good is that exhortation of Paul's to his favourite church, the Philippians; "Only let your conversation be as it becometh the Gospel of Christ; that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the Gospel.' There is nothing more positive than the sweet direction in Psalm cxxii. "Pray for the peace of Jerusalem; they SHALL prosper that love thee;" there is no resolve more indicative of a healthy state of soul than the words so often sung: "My soul shall pray for Zion still, While life or breath remains ; There my best friends, my kindred dwell, In the prosecution of these great designs, Paul put a negative upon three natural powers; and an absolute positive upon three spiritual powers. "We preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord." "Who is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed?" A man may stand six feet high; in person he may be beautiful; in voice he may be sweet; but men, (as men in this work of saving souls) are nothing. "Nor by works of righteousness which we have done;" "By grace are ye saved, through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God. Not of works, lest any man should boast." God hath ordained that his people should walk in the good works of faith, hope, love, obedience to the Gospel principle and ordinances; and in constant and earnest prayers, but the salvation of the soul is of the Lord alone. Again-natural, moral, benevolent, and professional gifts are nothing in this great work. Pure love to Christ, love to the whole Gospel of Christ, love to the souls of the people; this charity is the great moving power, without it all persons, all works, all gifts, avail nothing. The absolute positive lies in the great powers, ELECTION, REDEMPTION, and SANCTIFICATION. When the Gentiles heard Paul and Barnabas preaching salvation by Christ alone, they were glad, and glorified the Lord, and "AS MANY AS WERE ORDAINED TO ETERNAL LIFE BELIEVED." All these things are concentrated in few words in that remarkable chapter Hebrews x. where the text is found. There the apostle puts together the church's portion which she has in Christ; and also, what her proper behaviour towards Christ ought to be. His indicative words are "having," and then, "let us," &c. And having drawn up the two lines of possession in Christ, and of propriety of character for Christ, he calls for an increasing intensity, a progressive and onward earnestness, by saying, "And so much the more as ye see the day approaching.' Read the will, first, to ascertain the portion, the treasures bequeathed. Then, read the exhortations as indicating the pathway of Christian life and labour while here below. The will of God, the work of Christ, the witness of the Spirit, and the way of the true believer, are themes upon which Paul speaketh plainly in this great piece of inspired theology. On First, then, the Church's portion in Christ, or what she has. her side, and in her favour, is, first, the sovereign will of God. Paul referring to his Lord and master, and shewing his infinite superiority over all the priests and offerings of the old dispensation, says --" Wherefore, when He cometh into the world, he saith, sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me." God could not delight in those sacrifices, nor would He any longer require them; seeing the time was come, when the great Anti-type should Himself appear. Hence, it is added, "In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin, thou hast had no pleasure; then said I, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God." * "By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ, once for all." God's sovereign will of purpose, and of command, was, and is this, that through the offering of the body, or whole person of Jesus Christ once and for ever, all for whom he came to die, should be sanctified, or set apart for the worship, and for the kingdom, and for the glory of God for ever; and thereby so set apart, that nothing in life, or in death should ever be able to alter the counsel, the conduct, or the consummation of that will whereby they were from everlasting appointed, not to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. It is in this that Paul takes his stand in his triumph to the Romans, "If God be for us, who then, can be against us? Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? (seeing, according to the will of the eternal God) It is Christ that died; yea, rather that is risen again; who is even at the right hand of God, making intercession for us." Thus the Divine will looked to the great sacrifice; and the great Sacrificer obeys the Divine will; therefore, the closing query comes in with much authority, and with great propriety, "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Seven of the greatest adversaries are then marshalled before the mind's eye of the apostle, "Tribulation, Distress, Persecution, Famine, Nakedness, Peril, Sword." Seven dark and dreadful enemies to look at, and to endure; but in all, and through all these things, we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us. For several weeks this two-fold subject has been on my mind. It appears to me to comprehend all the fundamental parts of our salvation; and is so full of consolation to the believing family, that I will, as quickly as possible, complete it in the pages of THE EARTHEN VESSEL, and if to any of the seeking seed it proves a word in season, I shall be happy to hear from them. My life, my everything, I leave in the hands of the Lord. If He pleases, this subject shall be continued next month. C. W. B. In Memoriam. THE DEATH AND BURIAL OF MR. ELI WHITING. TWENTY-FIVE YEARS PASTOR OF THE BAPTIST CHURCH AT NEEDINGWORTH, HANTS. YES! our brother is dead! Who would have thought it? That massive frame is lifeless; that boanergean, stentorophonie ministerial voice is silent among us for ever; the melancholy news came startlingly unexpectedly upon thousands, with a secret shrill voice, “Be ye also ready.” How he will be missed at our anniversaries, at our Sabbath school festivals, and not least when Mr. Spurgeon visits any part of the country, for they were always together like Jonathan and David. He had been ill for about two months, only having preached one Lord's-day at his chapel during that period, but no one thought of his dying; no, nor himself, till within a few days of his death. Spasmodic affection of the heart, producing violent pain and sickness, was his last complaint, which terminated Friday night, March 27th, about a quarter to nine o'clock. He has left a beloved widow and only daughter to mourn his loss, having been settled at Needingworth for a quarter of a century, if he had lived till next November. The funeral took place on Wednesday, April 1st, 1868. Soon after three o'clock in the afternoon, an immense number of people were gathered round the house, including above a score of ministers of various denominations, and persons of high respectability, not in the least connected with his cause. The ministers preceded the corpse to the cemetery three abreast, as also those before referred to who came to show their great respect for him; a vast number followed the mourning relatives. Having arrived at the grave, Mr. Robinson, of Staughton, (his pastor) read part of 1st Corinthians, 15th chapter; Mr. Ashby, of Whittlesey, engaged in solemn prayer. The corpse was then lowered into the grave, whilst his pastor leaned over it and wept, saying with great emotion, “I had arranged that my dear brother should have performed this last office for me, but my heavenly Father has again taken His pen and scratched out my appointments." After delivering a touching address, the service there ended by Mr. Leach, of Swavesey, engaging in prayer, and Mr. Robinson pronouncing the benediction. In the evening at six o'clock, the new chapel (which has only been built about seven years, and for which our brother laboured so arduously) was literally packed with people. Mr. Flanders, of Swavesay, gavg out the first hymn, 183 Denham's, Mr. Shaw, of Over, read the 5th chapter of second Corinthians, Mr. Willis, of Somersham, prayed, Mr. Howlett, of Willingham, then gave out 538 Rippon's, after which Mr. Robinson commenced his sermon by reading as his text 2 Tim. i. part of 12th verse, I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day." The preacher said, this text is not your choice, it is not my choice, but the choice of our dear departed brother; last time we met it was summer, now it is the wintry blast; trials are the portion of God's family, but He weighs and measures them, and strength is proportioned. A child of God in his heavenly Father's arms, has no more occasion to fear being lost than the immortal spirits before the throne; the apostle and our dear departed brother seemed to have an unshaken confidence in the Lord; Jesus Christ was the very centre of his soul. Many have doubts and fears because they dwell in the cellar, they stand on the lower rounds of the ladder, we live too low, we want to climb where Moses stood, and view the landscape o'er. Paul was a good climber and a great diver; he dived after greater riches than ever the Royal George contained, and cried, "Oh the depths both of the wisdom and knowledge of God," &c. Our brother knew and loved Jesus, His word, promises, invitations, doctrines, blood, righteousness, forbearance, grace effected; loved Him as the man of sorrows, God-man, the God of the universe. Matthew Hale says, the knowledge of Jesus Christ is the best of all sciences, a knowledge of Jesus leads to a trust and confidence in Him, trust Him with anything and everything. Now you know some you would not like to trust with your purse, much less with your title deeds; and those you do not know, you would not trust with them; but our brother knew Jesus and trusted in Him, he was persuaded this was as an holdfast to his soul, a bond of union, persuaded of the ability of Christ. What poor creatures we all are; why you could not keep that dear child alive, that dear wife, that dear husband, that dear pastor, not even ourselves, bodies or souls, but Jesus can. I hope Jesus will rise in your opinion! Some of you are going down the other side of the hill, I hope the south side, the sunny side; I trust there will be seen abundant crops of grace growing now; Luther says, God's mercies came into the world on the back of the devil's temptations. Christ has become the Christian's castle, shield, sword, helmet, breastplate, yea, Christ alone, above all other objects precious. Our brother doubtless committed his soul and body to Jesus, his dear wife and only daughter (ah, the bond is broken now and for ever) also the church, congregation, deacons, and poor of the flock, until that day when the world shall be on fire. Are you well insured, and in the right office? for some you know break, look to it that you are not self-deceivers. Our dear brother was well insured, he enjoyed peace in his soul and died happy, though Satan did not altogether let him alone; there was quite a conflict one time, but he exclaimed "God is my salvation, He is become my salvation." Now our brother is gone, your pastor is dead, his voice is silent, you are destitute as a church, dwell in love and peace, and God will eventually enable you to make a suitable choice of another. I suppose the widow cannot hear me, being deaf, but I would tell her in her great loss to remember Jesus; and to the daughter, my child, remember your father's God, and may He be your guide even unto death. Mr. Edwards, of Sutton, then gave out 986 Denham's; Mr. Haines, of St. Ives, prayed, and the choir then sang "Vital Spark," and Mr. Robinson pronounced the benediction; thus terminated this very solemn meeting. There have been only four pastors to the cause at Needingworth ; a marble tablet on the left of the pulpit going in shews the first Mr. Ladson, who, after a pastorate of fifty-two years died there, aged eightyseven; also Mr. Sheroad, who has a tablet on the right, who departed this life among them after fifteen years settlement, aged fifty-eight; then Mr. Wallis was there for about seven years, and then went somewhere fourth else; and the last, Mr. Whiting, near twenty-five years, in the fiftyof his age. April 8th, 1868. year R. G. EDWARDS. MRS. ELIZABETH ARMSTRONG. [We have read the following memoir with solemn and softened feelings, sorrow and joy together mingling. To young and happy Christians, this little paper furnishes a lesson of great value. In leaving her father's house, she appears to have turned out of the way. Years of affliction followed; seas of grief must have washed over her soul; but they are over now. We ask Christian parents to read this to their children.ED.] The subject of this brief memoir was born at Rugby, on the 3rd of January, 1793. Her maiden name was Flavel, and she was a lineal descendant of the worthy John Flavel, a Nonconformist divine and author, who lived in the early part of the seventeenth century. Her parents were for many years consistent members of the Established Church, and in connection with which her early years were passed. Her father, though highly esteemed for the strict principles of morality which governed his conduct, was a stranger to divine life, but was brought into the glorious liberty of the Gospel in a somewhat remarkable manner. It so happened a Baptist minister had come into the neighbourhood where they resided, and though much pressed to hear him, he refused to do so for fear of being called a Methodist. One Lord's-day morning, however, he made his way by a back street to the place of meeting, and there the Lord met him. To use his own words, "he had not been under the sound of the Gospel five minutes, before he was convinced he was wrong altogether, his babel building shortly fell to the ground, and he returned home a changed man." And what is very remarkable, her mother heard the same minister in the evening of the same day, and was also called by grace under his ministry. Her mother died shortly after and left a good testimony behind her. Almost her last words were, "Come, my dear Jesus, from above, And fill my soul with heavenly love." Her father lived many years after his beloved partner, and was a most exemplary Christian; a deacon of a Baptist church for many years, and a bright example to his children, and to all who knew him. At the age of twelve years, Elizabeth became the subject of divine grace, her eyes were opened, and she saw in Jesus "the chiefest among ten thousand and the altogether lovely." The Word of God became exceedingly precious to her, and being gifted in prayer she would often be called upon to engage with the family in turn with her father, and also at gatherings of friends together. She was baptized at the age of seventeen, received into the church, and partook once only of the Lord's supper at that time, nor was she again favoured "to eat of that bread and drink of that cup" for many years. Her father having married again, and feeling uncomfortable at home with her step mother, she obtained a situation in London; and leaving her best friends behind, formed herself among professed friends and ungodly companions. For a |