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groaning under the burden of our sins, and prostrate in the dust. There Jacob preached three gospel truths. First, the cause of Christ's humiliation-'he saw the rest was good.' Secondly-there is the voluntary surrender of the Lord of life and glory-he bowed his shoulder to bear; Thirdly, there is the end he had in view- he became a servant unto tribute.' You, my dear brother, may feel somewhat hurt, at the first, to think that the holy and righteous, the pure and perfect Lamb of God should be prefigured by that of a strong ass; But let me explain to you a little if I can: And, in the first place, asses, especially white asses, were esteemed by the people of the East, as being the most noble beasts; and they certainly were so. Deborah gives us to understand (Judges v. 10.) that those who sat in judgment rode on white asses; and she commanded them to speak and to declare the counsels of God. Besides, the word which is rendered 'ass'-(as the learned tell me,)meaneth' one that is sure in the tread,' a sure-footed creature :—and I know you will agree with me, that what Moses sware unto Joshua, is true in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ- Surely the land whereon thy feet have trodden, shall be thine inheritance; and thy children's for ever. (Joshua xiv. 9.) Our most lovely, faithful, and Almighty JehovahJesus has never yet made a false step; his feet have never slidden backwards. With his feet he walked through the whole counsel of God; through the whole covenant of grace; through the whole of creation; through the whole election of grace; and all that land has been given to him. All things were made by him, and for him: as the apostle wondrously sums it up Of him, and through him, and to him are all things; to whom be glory for ever. Amen.'

Our glorious Issachar was strong; he is strong and his tread always has been, it always will be sure. There was no failure in him. For the elect's sake, he went to the end of the law, and magnified it; to the end of God's wrath, and endured it; to the end of sin, and cancelled it; to the end of the kingdom of darkness, and conquered it; to the end of the Father's purpose, and accomplished it; and he is, by the gospel, accompanied by the power of the Holy Ghost, going to the very ends of the earth, to take out of all nations a peo

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ple for his name;' (Acts xv. 14.) The destroyer of the gentiles (saith Jeremiah,) is on his way. Yes; the devil, as a devourer and a destroyer, has long been on his way: but Christ, as the Redeemer and Restorer of his own elect is strong-yea, stronger than the strong man armed. He will say [and, oh, what power is there in his voice! His voice broke up the fountains of the deep in my soul; bis voice dispelled nature's darkness from my mind; his voice snapped assunder the bands of death, entwined around my heart; his voice raised me from the sleep of death, into the newness of eternal life. The voice of the Lord, says David, is upon the waters; it is powerful; it is full of majesty; it breaketh the cedars of Lebanon; [and that is no easy task, the Philippian jailor to wit:] the voice of the Lord divideth the flames of fire; shakes the wilderness of Kadesh-(that is the whole church of the living God; for she is a wilderness of herself; but Christ shakes her to the very centre ;)-the voice of the Lord maketh the hinds to calve, and discovereth the forests;' (that is, as my soul is led to find, he maketh the barren woman (the poor desolate heart of the child of God) to keep house; and to be a joyful mother of children;) and in this way he goes on until, as the psalmist concludes the story-' IN HIS TEMPLE DOTH EVERY ONE SPEAK OF HIS GLORY:' for] 'he will say to the north, give up and to the south keep not back: bring my sons from afar; and my daughters from the ends of the earth. Truly, in every sense of the word, Issachar is a strong ass.

It has been said- but the ass, though a noble creature, was deemed by the Levitical law, unclean; true; and yet it was predicted of Christ, and literally fulfilled by Christ, that he should come riding upon an ass: five days before his death, he entered into Jerusalem riding upon an ass; and many spread their garments in the way: and others cut down branches off the trees, and strawed them in the way: and they that went before, made this wonderful proclamation-Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; blessed be the kingdom of our father David, that cometh in the name of the Lord, Hosannah in the highest.'

Was there any meaning in all this? I do believe there was indeed. Look at these three things; and consider―(1.)

The ass. Was it not in the east a noble creature, and yet unclean? Did not this prefigure man as the noble workmanship of God, but as having fallen under the curse, through the power of the devil? Did Christ ride upon the ass? Did not this shew that it was the sin and uncleanness of the church that brought him down to this low estate, down to persecution, temptation, agony, bloody sweat, and death? Did Christ send

and take this ass-was it not his own? Did not this declare the great gospel truth-' He that knew no sin, was made sin for us?'

"Was it for crimes that I had done,
He groan'd upon the tree?
Amazing pity, grace unknown,
And love beyond degree!"

Surely, here was the strength of his eternal Godhead, in that he who thought it not robbery to be EQUAL WITH GOD, made himself of no reputation, but took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: HUMBLED HIMSELF! and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 'Christ's appearance was very mean, he was sitting upon an ass; a creature made not for state but for service; not for battles, but for burdens; slow in its motions, but sure, and safe, and constant. There was a peculiar significancy in all this! Zion's King comes riding, not on a prancing horse, which the timorous petitioner dares not come near; or a running horse, which the slow-footed petitioner cannot keep pace with; but on a quiet ass, that the poorest of his subjects may not be discouraged in their access to him.'

The spreading branches of trees denoted the certain victory which he would attain unto; and the acclamation-' Blessed be the kingdom of our father David that cometh in Hosanna in the the name of the Lord. highest,' declared who he was: the whole spiritual kingdom of God's elect was in him and with him. In the coming of Christ, came the whole kingdom of grace and eternal glory. Our spiritual Issachar was strong in condescension-strong in possession-and strong in victory.

I find it impossible to trace this part of the subject out further now: the Lord permitting, you shall hear more of Issachar and Zebulun next month. I am thankful to inform you that my soul is in peace. I find that Scripture very blessed indeed-'In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietress and in confidence shall be your strength.' Trust in the Lord, my brother; and believe

A View of Christ on the Cross.

WHAT means that massy cross of wood,
That stands on yon conspic'ous ground?
And what, that stream of vital blood,
Which, from it runs in torrents down?
Alas! I see it downward flows,
From some poor victim's bleeding wounds;
How poig'nant seem his dying woes!
How full of agony his groans!

I'll nearer stand, that I may view
The myst❜ries of this solemn place;
And see if I can fathom who

Is hanging there, in such disgrace.
Of what foul nature, is the deed,

For which he's doom'd to suffer there?
His bursting, tortur'ing heart strings bleed;
His mournful groanings pierce the air.
The earth and rocks are rent in twain,
He cleaves them with his piteous woe;
Look yet again, his flesh is maim'd,

And his pure spirit's wounded too.
I'll turn and ask my conscience, now,
The name of this poor dying man ;
What is the cause of all his woe,
And what the crimes his hands have done?
I've learnt. And oh! I blush to tell,
It is my Jesus' piercing cries;
To save my sinful soul from hell,

The great Creator bleeds and dies,
More precious in the sight of God,

Than heaven's bright hosts-is my poor soul; Since he could freely shed his blood,

To save it from the lowest hell.
High in the heavens, he pleads my cause,
Before his Father's glorious throne;
He sympathizes for my woes,
And makes my grievances his own.
If but one single sin remain'd,
Lest that should my poor soul undo,
He'd pant to come and die again,
And all his former griefs renew.
Not one is left-no, not a stain:
They all upon my Saviour lay;
My Jesus dried his ev'ry vein,

To wash the frightful sum away.
What tongue is adequate to tell,

The merits of that blood, divine,
Which hath redeem'd from death and hell,
The worst of souls, yea, even mine?
Not all the tongues of angels, bright,
Nor seraphs that surround his throne;
How, then, can I praise him aright,

Who am, at best, a sinful worm?
Dear Lord, it will not, cannot be,

While in this wilderness I live;
I scarce can raise a thought to thee,
Much less a song of praise to give.
O, could I flee above the skies,

And soar beyond the orb of day!
I'd cease not, then, to sing thy praise,
Nought should my happy song allay.
HELLEN MARIA CAREY.

CRITICAL REMARKS ON THE

me a lover of poor Zion, and a willing la- Ordination Service of Mr. J. L. Meeres, bourer in her vineyard,

CHARLES WATERS BANKS.

6, Pagoda Terrace, Bermondsey New Road,

New Church-street, Bermondsey.

Letters from different parts of the country have reached us, expressing much dissatisfaction at the insertion of a brief notice of Mr. Meere's ordination. Now, the fact is, our correspondent who

furnished the report of that service, had made some passage of Scripture mentioned, that killed excellent notes on the very points which have given him under the law; nor any spot pointed such offence; but both our hands and our pages were full at the time; and we were under the ne- out, where he lost his life, his legal life under cessity either of abridging the report sent us, leav- the law; not one passage of Scripture brought ing out the author's critical remarks, or of aban-forward to shew how he was raised up by the doning it altogether. We certainly had much better have adopted the latter course, but under the circumstances, we couldnot. Theta" has cur thanks for his plain dealing; and the substance of "Old Sincerity's" letter we here subjoin.

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TO THE EDITOR OF THE EARTHEN VESSEL." Dear Sir:-Far be it from me to Make a man an offender, for a word.' Nevertheless, we are commanded to 'believe not all words that are spoken.' And, although there are some good and sound words spoken in the ordination service of Mr. Meeres, there are others which appear as dead flies in the ointment of the apothecary; causing it to send forth a stinking savour to those whose senses are exercised to discern good and evil.

I have read the Earthen Vessel from its commencement, with much pleasure and profit, promoted its sale wherever I could, and hope to see it prosper in the hands of the Lord to his own glory, and the soulcomforting, and soul-establishing of his poor afflicted people. And I highly esteem the chief manager of the periodical, and some others connected with it; and I am aware of the difficulty a manager of such a work has to satisfy all correspondents and readers. But I am not cavilling merely for argument's sake, nor from any prejudice against the preachers at the above ordination; for I know nothing of them as preachers, only from that which is before me in the Vessel, and as 'charity hopeth all things,' I would hope they are gracious men; but, if we are gracious men, we may have some failings, and must not spurn at admonition, especially when we are admonished in love; and indeed I mean nothing more; for, I love all good men of God, though I often hate my own life. But, as I desire to see the Vessel prosper, I could wish to see it continue a clean Vessel, with salt in it. 'Have salt in yourselves, and peace one with another.

Passing over many things in this Ordination Service, (and indeed I do not think much of ordinations by men,) there appears nothing in the Experience and Call of Mr. Meeres above the common place calls of mere moral lecturers of the day, calling themselves gospel ministers. Yea, many Arminian preachers will give you much the same account; and perhaps, go further. Conviction and conversion are distinct; many are convicted who are not converted to God. But in this account of his call, there is nothing clear, nor satisfactory; he does not mention one passage of Scripture brought to his mind through the power of the Spirit, in his conviction, conversion, call by grace, or call to the ministry. Not one

Holy Spirit of life, unto life, peace, and joy in God, through the power of the Holy Ghost; no light spot shewn where the Spirit of life lifted him out of the dunghill of self, and self-righteousness, into the life and righteousness of Jesus Christ, the Son of God; no account of his marriage day to Christ; nor of Christ being revealed in him the hope of glory; only that he had impressions at a Sunday School; forsook the theatres; wandered from place to place, from chapel to chapel; and his eyes were opened to see Baptism, and was enabled at last to cast in his lot at brother Milner's.' It certainly is a very vague account, and does not amount in the detail, to the common-place experience of a private christian, and is most certainly a shallow account of a minister of the gospel.

As for Mr. Moyll bolstering the man up, by saying, 'he could read his own calling in this account, it being very similar to this,' I know not what sort of a calling Mr. Moyll has had; but if this be his judgement I, think he has never read much of his own heart, nor the lessons which the Holy Spirit teaches, when souls are called by grace, or to the ministry.

Mr. Meeres' call to the ministry is more vague still. 'Himself and some others took a place in Ratcliffe Highway, for sailors to meet, and hear the gospel.' 'Himself!' who knows but that it was but HIMSELF?' There are many young men who get a notion that they can preach, and hire places to hear themselves talk in rotation; learn to harrangue a few people; and then persuade themselves they are sent to preach; because they can talk about the Scriptures.

The country at this day is full of preachers. Teachers are heaped up on all sides now, 'having itching ears.' They themselves begin to preach, and their ears begin to itch, hearkening in every direction to hear their own fame; and if any ignorant person will scratch their ears, by saying, 'I heard you · well, you can preach; you are called to the ministry; the work is done; and the preacher is pleased, and satisfied from the sanction of man, and perhaps, can give no satisfactory account that God has called him, ordained him, or consecrated him to that solemn work, though he may have called himself, and be called by others, and ordained a preacher by men. Let all preachers who cannot give a satisfactory account of their call to preach the gospel, go to Northampton, and hear the awful account, and confession, and recent death of the preacher Briggs.

I know nothing of Mr. Meeres, only by [thing among men but Jesus Christ, and him the communication, through the Earthen crucified.' Christ is all and in all.' Vessel, which is no satisfactory proof that he is called to the ministry; for there is no account of God's calling him to the ministry either by the voice of the Lord the Spirit in his soul, or by any particular word of God spoken to him; and I believe that ministers called to that solemn work are moved both by the Spirit and the Word conjointly, and can give some account of their call to the work. But, Mr. Meeres says 'he took a place, took a text, and took to preaching; and once he trembled because a critic was before him.' Many lecturers have trembled when rising to lecture on politics, or any other worldly topics; fearing they should not acquit themselves cleverly, and afterwards have had great freedom in speaking.' But as soon as this critic, before Mr. Meeres, expressed his surprise and satisfaction at the word spoken, Mr. Meeres gathered therefrom, the Lord had sent him to preach!!! Mr. Meeres, is this your proof and satisfaction, that you are called to preach the gospel? It appears like man's work altogether; you were afraid of the man lest he should not approve of your preaching; and then you were satisfied of your call to preach as soon as the man applauded you. I know nothing of you, Mr. Meeres, nor of the people of your charge; but if you are called to preach, I would advise you to seek for a more satisfactory proof of it; for, depend upon it, if there are any spiritual people among you, they are not all satisfied with your testimony, if you are yourself.

"Give me Christ, or else I die."

O, my soul now saith, 'Give me Christ, and you may have all else beside.' Surely, friend Milner, it was an unadvised slip of your tongue; was it not so ? But you go on to say, Be diligent; beg, borrow, and steal; any how, so long as you get something for the people.' What! Are the feelings and pleasures of a people, (what sort of a people are they?) to be valued and sought after above the glory of God, and the honour of his Christ? What! is a preacher to borrow and steal, any how, from other men's brains, sermons, books, and commentaries, to get something for the people, rather than the immediate word which the Spirit gives him for the people? 'Behold, I am against the prophets, saith the Lord, that steal my words every one from his neighbour.' Jer. xxiii 30. When God sends his word in the power of the Spirit, in a minister, it is hammer and fire, that melts the soul down into the love of Christ, consumes the wickedness from the souls of his people, and makes us joy in God, through our Lord Jesus Christ.

And to conclude, I am not a little surprised at Mr. Milner, (having heard a good account of him,) that he should ordain a man from such a testimony. But really the note taken from Mr. Milner's charge to Mr. Meeres, lowers my opinion of him exceedingly, if he really means what he says in some of his expressions; such as the following: -'Some persons say you must preach Christ; never mind what they say.' What! never mind what they say about preaching Christ? What is a minister of Jesus Christ to preach about but Christ? A sermon without Christ, is like a system without a sun; a confused dark chaos, without light; a shadow, without a substance; the white of an egg without salt; a dead body without a soul; yea, put all good works, and bad works; good words and bad words of men together; all your wisdom and knowledge; and all your sermons and sayings together; yea, gather every fragment of the material, intellectual, moral, and visible creation together, and it would make but one dismal hell of misery and confusion to a heaven-born soul; if Christ is not there, the only light, life, and glory of my soul is left out. Paul was determined to know no

July 6, 1847.

OLD SINCERITY.

[We cannot, upon the whole, regret the in-
sertion of the ordination service; for in
the first place, it clearly shows, how
quickly a man is put into the ministry in
these days. And, secondly, it has given
"Old Sincerity" an opportunity of writ-
ing an honest, straightforward letter upon
the subject. We certainly do most deeply
regret the insertion of Mr. Milner's ad-
vice to his young Timothy-'to beg, bor-
row, and steal, any how.'
This one

sentence has seemed to thrill with horror
through the souls of all honest men who
have read it. But is not that one sentence
a key which unlocks and lays open much
that is mysterious about many ministers ?
'How do ye account for it' (says a friend)
'that many men, are manifestly destitute
of spiritual unction, life, and power; and
yet they stand for years, dealing out gos-
pel truth; and get a people to support
them? How do ye account for it? Why,
read Ezekiel xvii. 3-6. That eagle re-
presents an unclean presumptuous man
who crops off the tops of other men's
branches, carries them into a land of
traffick (the professing church, who are
selling Christ and the gospel by whole-
sale now,) and plants them in a fruitful
field, that is natural talent, where they
grow, and become spreading vines. We
are inclined to hope, however, Mr. Milner
did not really mean what he said; but
more of this next month.]

THE DYING MOMENTS OF

William Janeway and his Son.

ABOUT the middle of the seventeenth century, there sprang up in the county of Hertfordshire, the family of the Janeways; a father and five sons, the whole of whom are spoken of as men of much fervent zeal, talent, and usefulness, in the ministration of the gospel in those dangerous times. An interesting account of them is given in the seventh volume of Nelson's Puritan Divines. There is in the following extracts, something so illustrative of the dark conflicts, as well as the glorious manifestations of heavenly light and love, which often attend the dying moments of the Lord's people, that we feel persuaded they will not only be read with the deepest interest, but are calculated to be useful to fearful souls. Our first extract is concerning the death of the father, Mr. William Janeway. Stand, reader, for a moment, beside the bed of this dying servant of Jesus Christ! See what death sometimes is even to the christian. The writer saysBeing under dark apprehensions of mind in his last illness, he expressed himself in the following manner to his son:-'Oh, John! this passing into eternity, is a great thing; this dying is a solemn business, and enough to make any one's heart ache, that hath not his pardon sealed and his evidences for heaven clear. And truly, son, I am under no small fears as to my estate for another world. Oh that God would clear his love! Oh that I could say cheerfully, I can die; and upon good grounds be able to look death in the face, and venture upon eternity with well-grounded peace and comfort!' His son, after making a suitable reply, which, however, did not restore his peace, retired to solitary prayer, earnestly imploring that his beloved father might be filled with joy in believing, as a token for good in leaving the world. These intercessions were manifestly heard and answered by a very bright beam of the divine countenance. Upon returning to his father, the son inquired how he felt himself. No answer was given; but the departing saint, though little subject to such emotions, wept for a long time, in an extraordinary manner, till at last he broke forth in the language of impassioned exultation-Oh, son! now it is come, it is come, it is come. I bless God I can die: the Spirit of God hath witnessed with my spirit that I am his child. Now I can look upon God as my dear Father, and Christ as my Redeemer: I can now say, This is my Friend, and this is my beloved! My heart is full; it is brim full; I can hold no more. I know now what that sentence means, 'The peace of God which passeth understanding.'

1 know now what that white stone is, whereon a new name is written, which none know but they who have it. And that fit of weeping which you saw me in was a fit of overpowering love and joy, so great, that I could not for my heart contain myself; neither can I express what glorious discoveries God hath made of himself unto me. And had that joy been greater, I question whether I could have born it, and whether it would not have separated soul and body. Bless the Lord, Omy soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name, that hath pardoned all my sins, and sealed the pardon. He hath healed my wounds, and caused the bones which he had broken to rejoice. O help me to bless the Lord! He hath put a new song into my mouth. O bless the Lord for his infinite goodness and mercy! Oh, now I can die! It is nothing; I bless God, I can die... I desire to be dissolved, and to be with Christ.'

FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD.

It is recorded of William Janeway, (the son of the elder, before spoken of,) that he was most remarkable for retirement, meditation, and prayer. Observing his constant practice of retiring either into the church, friends,) I once hid myself that I might or some solitary room, (says one of his bosom take the more exact notice of the interhim and God. But, oh! what a spectacle course that I judged was kept up between did I see ! Surely a man walking with God, conversing intimately with his Maker, and Jehovah. Methought I saw one talking with maintaining a holy familiarity with the great God:-methought I saw a spiritual merchant in a heavenly exchange, driving a rich trade for the treasures of another world. Oh, what a glorious sight it was! Methinks I shine! Oh, with what a lovely countenance see him still. How sweetly did his face did he walk up and down; his lips going, his body oft reaching up, as if he would have taken his flight into heaven! His looks, smiles, and every motion spake him to be very confines of eternal glory. Oh, had but one known what he was then feeding world knew not of! Did we but know how on! Sure he had meat to eat which the welcome God made him when he brought him into his banquetting house. That which one might easily perceive his heart to be most fixed upon, was the infinite love of God in Christ to the poor lost sons and daughters of Adam. To use his own words:- God,' said he, holds mine eyes most upon his goodness and promises, which are most sure and firm in Christ. His love to us is greater, surer, fuller, than ours to ourselves. For, ourselves, he loved us so as to save us.' when we loved ourselves so as to destroy

upon the

Oh that there was more of this real doing

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