Imatges de pàgina
PDF
EPUB

ness, and almost deaf to every call: but Christ will have one more fling at his conscience. He fires a shot into his very soul: Thou art the man! Down he falls; then comes confession, restoration,

his Lord. Did not Christ get a name by this? Yes! Read Psalm xl. 1-3: Many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the Lord."

66

Look at Jonah. Look at Peter; and as you go through the land, you may find old Ben the sailor, old Harry the ploughman, and thousands of poor old sinners who have found Jesus and delight to preach his holy and blessed name.

my life and death. Why, did you ever see or hear of such a man before; No man ever made such a noise about Christ as this converted Saul. Truly, Christ's name became great in Israel, through his running about and preaching. You and pardon; and a holy triumphing in must not say that Paul was a feather-bed soldier of the cross; nor that his courage could easily be daunted. No; no. A man came to me one day, and wanted much to go and preach; but when the opportunity was given him, and he found he should have to walk a few miles, he would not go. Some parsons, now-a days, must be fine gentlemen, and have everything very smooth and easy, or they won't preach at all. But Paul, in preaching Christ, got some sound thrashings; he was beaten with rods, stoned, shipwrecked; a whole night and day in the deep; often weary, hungry, cold, and naked. Enough to make any ordinary man give up preaching. But Paul was a chosen vessel to bear CHRIST'S NAME unto the gentiles;' and therefore he must suffer many things; and many things he did suffer; beside which he suffered the loss of all (temporal) things: but he never lost Christ; nor Christ never lost him. He was one of the greatest instruments ever employed to make Christ's name great in Israel.

It hath pleased his most gracious Majesty, too, to give me something to do towards making his name great; and better employment I never found; but most of the labourers who have been in the vineyard many years, have very hard thoughts of me; and certainly, I cannot blame them; for the old lion that still lurks about the vineyard, made such a desperate attack upon me once, and so tore me, and wounded me, that I ran clean away from the work; and expected nothing but that I should have been reserved in chains and darkness until the judgment of the great day. I will not here enter upon my miseries. It is to me a solemn wonder that ever I should be again sent to the work; but the Lord of the vineyard once spoke in me these

Look at Bunyan, a notorious, swearing tinker in the streets of Bedford. Christ calls him! What is the consequence? Why, through John Bunyan's preach-words-The hands of Zerubbabel have ings and writings, the precious name and fame of Jesus Christ has been made great in the souls of thousands of sinners; and I have no doubt, but that God the Holy Ghost will put honour upon what Bunyan has left behind down to the end of time. The same may be said of Whitfield, Huntington, Gadsby, and a mighty host beside, whose work has been to make Christ's name great. I know there are plenty of counterfeits, who, while they profess to be after making Christ's name great, are, in reality, only aiming to exalt themselves. But every man's work shall be tried of WHAT SORT IT IS! So let them beware.

I observe his name is great in Israel in restoring poor, fallen, backsliding, children, and bringing back poor guilty sin

ners.

laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also finish it, and thou shalt know that the Lord of hosts hath sent me unto you.' Well; this precious promise has been fulfilled in my poor ministry again and again; and with all the powers of my soul, I am resolved, in his strength, to do all I can to make his name great. Some of the people tell me not to make such a noise about it, and I often wish I could be a little more steady and quiet, but when his name is poured forth into my heart, I cannot help shouting it out aloud, though it sometimes shakes me all to pieces.

Tell ye what, my brother; there are other workmen, who have something to say for the Lord Jesus, in this month's Vessel; so I add no more at present. Expect to hear from me again, if spared, next month. Farewell,

I don't think you can imagine three more dreadful cases than I shall mention. Look at David-not only guilty of murder and adultery, but sunk in hard-6, Pagoda Terrace, Bermondsey New Road,

CHARLES WATERS BANKS.

The Word of God,

AND THE TESTIMONY OF JESUS.

with Christ, who is heir of all things; 'Who was made for us, and who made us for himself.' Blessed be his name for ever the Lord is the portion of mine inheritance and of my' cup, thou main

:

I, WHO also am your brother and companion in tribulation, and in the king-tainest my lot, and the Lord's portion dom and patience of Jesus Christ, am now in Banbury, for the Word of God, and the testimony of Jesus Christ, sendeth greeting. Grace, mercy, and peace be unto you from God our father and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the son of the Father in truth and love.

I

96

is his people, and Jacob is the lot of his inheritance, but we hasten further onward. 'Let us go up and possess it at once, for we are well able, a land that flows with milk and honey:' Oh, the blessedness! He brought me into the banquetting house, and his banner over O! what an unspeakable mercy that me was love. Hear his sweet speechsuch sinful, sinning and worthless worms I in them, and thou in me, that we of the earth, owl and dragon-like, often may be perfect in ONE;' one in love, moping in the dark, hooting in the ruins thou hast loved them, as thou hast loved of Adam's old fallen house, and wailing me; one in date, thou lovedst me before like dragons in the ruins of Jerusalem. the foundation of the world;' and blessed, say, what an unspeakable mercy that thrice blessed be his name, We love we (who are thus, by nature, in this time him because he first loved us.' One in state, unmended, and unmendable,) glory; 'Be astonished, oh, heavens! the should be brought to know, realise, and Lord hath done it, the glory thou hast experience joyfully, our most solemn, given me I have given them; that they glorious, and ineffable personal stand- may be made one as we are one.' See ing in the person of Jesus Christ, the here, 'ye owls and dragons, ye shall Lord of life and glory, who was dead, honour me, saith the Lord, because I and behold he is alive for evermore, give waters in the wilderness, and rivers the Alpha and the Omega, the first and in the desert; to give drink unto my the last, one with the Father and the people, my chosen; the winter is past, Holy Ghost, the one Lord God of Israel, the rain is over and gone, arise, arise my as it is written, 'The Father, the Word, fair one, come away, come away my fair and the Holy Ghost, and these three one. One in death, I am crucified with are one.' Now the Word was made flesh, Christ;' 'buried with him in baptism God manifest in the flesh, as it is writ- into death; one in life, 'raised up toten, 'Because the children were par-gether with Christ, made to sit together takers of flesh and blood he likewise, took part of the same:' thus we are bone of his bone and flesh of his flesh, no longer twain, but one flesh, and he that is joined to the Lord is one spirit;' this is a great mystery, I speak concerning Christ and the church; furthermore hear this blessed testimony, 'I ascend to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God; now, mark, in this glorious, indissoluble union, is that Scripture manifest, Predestinated to be conformed to the image of his Son that he might be the first-born among many brethren:' Oh, blessed conformity! None like it! The glorious image of his Son! I shall behold thy face in righteousness; I shall be satisfied when I awake with thy likeness.' This, sir, is the efficient cause of our adoption, as it is written, 'Predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself. Mark that, to himself, to GOD; hence we are heirs of God, and joint heirs

[ocr errors]

with him in heavenly places; again, dead to the law by the body of Christ, alive unto God, through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who hath abolished death, and brought life and immortality to light by the glorious gospel; he is the light of life, and our life is hid with Christ in God; and when he who is our life shall appear, we shall appear with him in glory. And sure am I, when this glorious gospel is preached, the same glorious effects are produced, and always will; for my word shall accomplish that which I please, it shall not return unto me void, it shall prosper in the thing whereunto I send it. I will work and who shall let it?' Therefore, my brother, be steadfast, immoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch, as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. The Lord of peace himself grant you peace always by all means: the Lord be with you all. Amen.

Banbury.

D. LODGE,

THE CONVERSION AND EXPERIENCE

Mrs. Sarah Callow,

Of Crowborough, Rotherfield, Sussex.

or the Lord would strike me dead in his anger; and I was brought down in a very low state of mind and body. One Friday, the devil tempted me to suicide; he first tempted me to do it, and then accused me for having the temptation. I was in a very low state of mind all day Saturday and Sunday; felt myself to be such a sinful wretch; thought every one could see what I was; I said to my husband 'what wicked hearts we have.' On Monday morning I dreamed that satan was with me, and tempted me, and said he would have me; I threw a great deal of water over him, till I thought I had drowned him; and the temptation in my dream ceased. When I awoke, I was like a distracted person, and got up between five and six o'clock in the morn ing, and walked to and fro the house wringing my hands and begging for mercy through precious blood. I never was brought to such a place before. The enemy of souls told me I had sold myself to him. This was my greatest temptation; but this temptation ceased before I was delivered. I cried to the Lord till I could cry no more; then I went into my neigbour's house and sat down in a chair, with hell in my conscience; and something said to me, 'you must be more diligent in prayer.' I thought to myself what can I do more than I have done? I then repeated the Lord's prayer as the last thing I could do; which I had often repeated before to quiet conscience. I then was obliged to give up all works; I proved that when the strength of God's people is gone, and there is none left, then the Lord appears. I then got up to go to my own house, and took up the Bible, but before I got out of the house, I fell down upon the Bible; and upon being helped up, I said three times The Lord has delivered me.' I then felt for the wrath of God, and for my sins, but neither could I find. I felt pardon and mercy flow into my soul, and viewed God as my reconciled God and Father in Christ Jesus. I felt as though I was in a new world: I was so happy: I returned to my house, singing hallelujah! and continued to sing hallelujah all the day long: my neighbours sent for my parents, thinking I was going crazy; my parents came, and I tried to tell them something of my deliverance, but my head was so confused that I could not. The surgeon was sent for; he knew nothing about my de

I was born in the parish of Rotherfield,
Sussex, October 7, 1792. My parents
were church-going people, and I was
brought up to attend the Church of
England; I was sprinkled by the priest
in infancy, but never submitted to the
popish ceremony of confirmation by the
bishop. My father was a swearing man,
and consequently, his children learned
to swear also. No regard was paid to
our morals. I used to swear oaths as
long as I can remember. When I was
about eight or nine years of age I was
very much tried and tempted to suicide;
when I heard of any one committing it,
I was afraid I should do it; and that that
would be my end, as it was of Judas. I
had at times great fears of death and
Judgement was before me; but these
convictions wore away. At fifteen years
of age I went to service; my master was
a professor of religion; and used to go
to chapel. I also attended; I then
thought nearly all persons good people
who went to chapel: I was stopped from
swearing; I thought it was through at-
tending the chapel, and the housekeeper
checking me of it; however, I can say,
a bridle was put in my mouth, that I
could not swear; I then tried to be very
moral, and to please God; and attended
the chapel.
I had legal convictions,
and went on in legality, striving against
sin, and striving to be holy, and appease
an angry God, till a few years after mar-
riage. I went on sinning and repenting
and had great fears of death and judg-
ment before me. As my family increased
my soul-trouble increased; and not
knowing the way to be saved, I strove
and worked hard under the law, endea-
vouring to please God by legal works. I
viewed God as an angry judge, and felt
assured if I was cut off by death, hell
would be my portion. As I was not able
to read, I used often to get a neighbour
to read the Bible to me; my distress of
mind was great, but no comfort could I
find;
I earnestly desired to know
whether I was born again; for I was
sure I must be born again or lost. I
continued in this state of mind, till after
the birth of my sixth child, and tried
hard to subdue my evil temper. I felt
myself to be such a sinner, that I feared

[ocr errors]

liverance; he said if I laid there preach- | about this passage- He that is born of ing I should want a straight jacket. The God sinneth not." I knew I had sinned: devil then set in and told me the deliver- but the Lord shewed me afterward, the ance was not from the Lord. These meaning of it. It is the flesh that sinwords from the Lord sounded in my soul neth; the Spirit of God in the child canfor weeks and months, The LORD has not sin. Sometimes I had no hope at delivered me.' The devil continued to all that I was born of God, and at other tempt me to believe it was not the Lord's times I could see my interest in Christ work; that I was like Lot's wife, and clear, and the Lord is pleased sometimes like the five foolish virgins, I had got the to give me full assurance of faith. Somelamp but no oil. times I feel my heart hard, cold, and dead; and then the Lord breaks in again and softens it. But to return :—

The temptations of the devil, together with the rejoicings of my soul, brought on mental derangement. I was obliged to have a straight jacket on. My child was three or four months old, and was taken from me; and I was taken care of by two persons for about a fortnight. I was then taken to Rotherfield poorhouse, where the surgeon attended me, and allowed me plenty of nourishment and medicines, but he could not cure my mind; none but the great Physician could heal my mind. When my food was brought to me, I received it with gratitude, and blessed and praised the Lord while I was eating it, and shed tears of gratitude over it; I often used, I thought, to fight severe battles; but, as I was deranged, I knew not who I fought with, but since, I have seen it was the fight of faith with the enemy of souls. I often fought till my strength of body was gone, and my mind very weak, and was often picked up blessing and praising the Lord. I was used very ill by persons who had the care of me, and this Scripture followed me It were better that a mill stone, were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than he should offend one of these little ones that believe in me;' also-'Fear not little flock, it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.'

After I returned home, I had not the opportunity of hearing truth very often. About twelve years ago, I first heard Mr. Raynsford from these words-' And they sung as it were a new song before the throne; and before the four beasts, and the elders; and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand which were redeemed from the earth.' I was weak both in body and in mind. He opened the passage; set forth who the characters were, who could sing that song and who could not. The song was redeeming grace; blessing and praising the Lord for what he had done for their souls. The Lord blessed it to me: I was much strengthened: I could sing that song: and I felt a rejoicing in my soul for what the Lord had done for me. The next day I felt more of the power of it. I had never heard such a minister before. I heard him once more, and then I did not go to hear him again for about two years, on account of false reports being raised against him, which prejudiced my mind. I was exercised again; I had inward trials: and trials in providence: and wanted another manifestation of Christ to my soul: so the Lord led me to hear him again. I went several times, and I was twenty-five years of age, when felt some rebukes, some cuttings down, my deliverance of soul came, After I and was humbled in my soul; but did was a little better, by the blessing of not receive any satisfactory evidence of God, I returned home to my husband and my interest in Christ till the Lord's set children. After I returned home I de- time was come, when I heard him preach sired my neighbour to read the sixteenth from these words 'Jesus rejoiced in chapter of Judges, not knowing there that hour, and said, I thank thee, O, was anything in it for me. When my Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that neighbour read as far as the twenty-thou hast hid these things from the wise second verse-' Howbeit his (Samson's) hair began to grow after it was shaven,' I was then led to see how the devil robbed me of my comfort, and this gave me relief. I often thought that I could not be a child of God, I felt such abomination in my heart, and was much tried

and prudent and has revealed them unto babes; even so Father, for so it seemeth good in thy sight.' He drew a line of discrimination between the characters of the wise and prudent, and the babes. He shewed us the character of babes; he set forth the trials and experience of the

babes in grace. I then had a satisfaction | they are the children of God: then I re

given me that I was one; but my prejudice was not all knocked down yet; 1 thought he was a man of God. I went again the next time he came to Rotherfield; for he came once a month. He took his text from Luk xiv. 'But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, and the blind.' He said, a person may be born lame and blind; but they cannot be born maimed; that is something done after birth; a wound or a bruise; I felt myself to be a maimed character; I had received a wound in my heart; and the Lord had healed it. He set forth the path I had travelled, in the exercises of my soul; and the Lord blessed it to me. I had a manifestation that I was one of those maimed characters, but that the wound was healed by the Lord blessing his word to my soul. I heard him the next time he came, from Acts xvi. 14, 'And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us, whose heart the Lord had opened, that she attended The to the things spoken by Paul.' Lord opened my heart, the word of the text came home with power to my soul, my prejudice was all knocked down, I received him as a sent servant of the Lord Jesus Christ; my soul was knit with spiritual love to him. I told him the next time I saw him, that I heard him well from that text. Then the devil told me my experience was not real, he said 1 was after the man, when the words came home to my soul-' He that says he loves God and hateth his brother, is a liar, and the truth is not in him; the enemy was then gone for a time, and the words followed me-(1 Kings, xix. 20,) 'for what have I done to thee ?' It was not the man had done it, it was the Lord who had cast his mantle of love over me. I hope the God of Elijah may never leave me and that I may never leave the servants of God.

I was tried afterwards whether the work in my soul was real, when I was led to hear Mr. Burch, from Cranbrook. I dont remember the text, but he gave us the evidence of a true token of being a child of God. He that receiveth one of these little ones, receiveth me, and he that receiveth me, receiveth him that sent me. He said that a true token of the love of God in the heart, was love to the children of God, because you believe

ceived an evidence, with power, that I had the love of God in my heart: I loved the children of God, and the servants of the Lord.

I have passed over many things I have experienced. This is just a sketch of the experience of poor SARAH CALLOW.

The Faith of God's Elect.

'Tis faith unites the soul to Christ,
And brings us near to God;
By faith we're saved from sin and guilt,
Through Jesus' precious blood.

Faith is the Father's gift in Christ,
From everlasting given;
And 'tis by God the Spirit wrought
In ev'ry heir of heaven,

This living faith will bring the soul,
At Jesus' feet to bow;
Acknowledge him, the Lord of all,
Jehovah, just and true.

Faith will sustain the sinking soul,
That is by sin oppress'd
Nor will it leave the soul, until
She's brought, in Christ to rest.

Temptations too, faith triumphs o'er,
Of ev'ry shape and name;

Draws fresh supplies of strength from Christ,
And glories in his name.

Besetting sins faith will o'ercome,

Shall them, of power bereave,
To rule, as they before have done;
Faith will the vict❜ry have.

'Tis God supports this faith alive,

Though often smother'd o'er ; Satan and sin in vain shall strive, 'Tis God's almighty power.

In worst afflictions, faith believes,
What God has promis'd true;
I will not leave, nor will I fail,
But courage will renew,

In Jordan, faith will be the stay

Of ev'ry blood-bought son; In glory, safely land the soul,

And then her work is done,

More of this faith, dear Lord, impart,
May I, by faith, thee view;
Unite, dear Lord, my roving heart,
To love and fear thee, too.-A. MILLER.

It is not

It is

"The Lord hath taken away.' by accident; it is not the result of hap-hazard; it is not to be traced to storms, and winds, and the base passions of men. the result of intelligent design, and whoever has been the agent or instrument in it, it is to be referred to the overruling providence of God. Job traced the removal of his property and his loss of children at once to God, and found consolation in the belief sided over his affairs, and that he had rethat an intelligent and holy Sovereign premoved only what he gave."-Albert Barnes.

« AnteriorContinua »