Imatges de pàgina
PDF
EPUB

saved at all. He has striven to the utter-feelings of his heart, are so expressly told most of his power to be righteous, but he to him; and its coming not in word only, finds he can no more keep himself from as he had been hearing it for many Sabbaths, sinning than he can wash the Ethiopian but with power, he could not resist it. It is white. He feels himself utterly lost, and evident the Lord has begotten him again to cries out from agony of soul-' God be mer- a lively hope, yet he has not had the evidence ciful to me, a sinner.' This is not the mere of the pardon of his sin; never had his capconfession of the lips, it is the heart that is tive soul fully set at liberty; never had re speaking. Watch him on his knees, in his lationship spoken to his heart; never been closet! in the cellar! in the workshop! See able to call God his Father. No; he is the tears falling from his eyes! Follow him helped with a little help. My brother, to the house of God; see his fixed attention though you have got no further than this, to the words as they fall from the mouth of you have been made obedient to this comthe minister, to whom, God, in his provi- mand of your God. This is the obedience dence, has directed him! Behold his grave of heart I have spoken of; and I will pledge countenance! which is the true index of his my soul for your's, that if you have expeheart. How personal is this obedience of rienced 'only this first part of the work of seeking the Lord's face! This poor soul is the Spirit on your soul, you shall shine forth as much concerned about the salvation of his with the saints in glory, for ever and ever. own soul as though there was not another I want you to bear this in mind, till I come soul to be saved. How sincerely does he ex- to the means of this obedience. And I do claim O, that the root of the matter may also beseech you to bear in mind, that, so be found in me! O, that I knew that Christ sure as you have felt this first part, so sure died for me! O, that I could call God, my you shall have the blood of sprinkling apFather! O, that I could say, He loved me, plied to your conscience. and gave himself for me!' His song is :

"The Lord will happiness divine,
On contrite hearts bestow,

Then tell me, gracious Lord, is mine
A contrite heart or no?"?

:

The Lord, perhaps, directs his servant to
some very consoling sentence, to be spoken
to this poor soul, whereby he is encouraged
to seek; such, perhaps as the following: :-
'Wait on the Lord; be of good courage,
and he shall strengthen thine heart; wait, I
say, on the Lord. The minister describes
his exercises better than he could describe
them himself; indeed, just as if some one
had told the man of God all about it; and
the Lord attends the word with a little
power, so that the poor soul cannot help
taking comfort from it. He leaves his pew
with a hope that God will appear and deliver
him. But, perhaps before that day is gone,
the devil tells him that he has taken that
comfort that did not belong to him. It
was spoken to some of the children of God,'
says he.
'Ah!' says unbelief, 'so it was;
I have deceived myself.' From which, this
obedient one sinks down into despondency;
still he cannot help seeking, waiting, desiring,
and crying for mercy; being fully satisfied
that there is but one way in which a sinner
can be just before God; which is by the
blood and righteousness of the Lord Jesus
Christ.

[ocr errors]

But these obedient ones do not always stay in one stage of experience; they are sometimes upon the ascent to the top of the mount; sometimes in the valley; sometimes in a state to need restoration; sometimes in a state to require quickening; sometimes in a state to need cleansing: indeed, their souls go through many changes. But let us follow this hoping one a little further. The world, perhaps, charms; zeal waxes cold; carnal propensities become strong; and the thing gets into that state of mind which nothing but the power of God can reach. Now comes the set time to favour him :-He is brought to the very place, to hear the very sermon which God has, from all eternity, appointed to be the means by which his soul was to be set at liberty. Probably such a sentence as this- Son be of good cheer, thy sins which are many, are all forgiven thee.' All guilt is removed from the conscience; fear is cast out by perfect love. What humble views has he of himself, now! Why hast thou loved and redeemed me, (says he,) who am so base, so vile, yea, the most vile? Can it be possible? Yes; this power that I now feel working in my soul, constrains me to say that He loved me, and gave himself for me. I now feel that his blood cleanseth from all sin. O, my God! thou art my God, and Father! O, my precious Jesus, thou knowest that I love thee!' Here he exclaimsThe Lord meets with him again, perhaps O, how precious art thou now to my soul !' by the ministry of the word, and says Now his soul is in the enjoyment of that Fear not, thou worm Jacob.' Well, what heavenly peace, which springs from the blood does this poor doubter say to this? Ah! of sprinkling applied to his conscience, this is not for me. I will not take it to myself this time: no; that I will not.' But his character is so clearly depicted by God's sent servant; the longings of his soul, the

[ocr errors]

'That peace which passeth all understand ing.' He has joy which is unspeakable, and full of glory. How doth he sing, My soul doth magnify the Lord, my spirit doth re

But again see what all this further proves. It shows your relationship to God; for as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God; it is the spirit of adoption. It is the Spirit whom the world cannot receive, you have received it, there

joice in God my Saviour.'-' Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the Lord, O, my soul and forget not all his benefits; who forgiveth all thine iniquities, who healeth all thy diseases, who redeemeth thy life from destruction, who crowneth thee with loving-kind-fore you are not of the world, But more; ness and tender mercies, who satisfieth thy mouth with good things, so that thy youth is renewed like the eagles.'

"Ah!' saith the poor christian, who has got no further than a hope, could I attain to this blessed assurance, I should be satisfied.' Well, so you would for the time it lasted. But, I tell you, as I told you before, if you have only experienced the first part of this obedience, as the Lord liveth, you shall have this blood of sprinkling applied to your soul sooner or later. You have been made willing, or obedient to seek God; this you cannot deny. And you are exclaiming—‘O, that I knew where I might find him!' Well, then I want you to pay particular attention to the antecedent of this word obedience, as it stands in the sentence: namely, through sanctification of the Spirit.' Here, then is the means of this obedience. You know that you were not concerned about the state of your soul prior to this impression being made on your heart. And you also know that you could not beget that hope in your soul, which you received under that sermon, or from that passage of Scripture. Then, who did it? I declare that it is the sanctification of the Spirit of God. Have you not desires for spiritual things? Can you not say that you desire communion with God more than all the world calls good and great? Would you not live as holy as God is holy? Let conscience speak. And does not sin in your nature cause you more grief and sorrow than all things else beside? Was this the case when you was dead in sin? Then it is evident, that that which is born of the flesh is flesh, that is, it is sinful, carnal, and devilish. But these desires of your's are not sinful; they are not the works of the flesh, but the fruits of the Spirit. This proves that what you have experienced is the Spirit's work of sanctification in your soul; which is the effectual means of this obedience of which I have been speaking. Yea, my brother, God has begun this good work in you, and he will carry it on and finish it. Christ said, 'If I go not away, the comforter will not come.' He has come into your heart; then it was through the meritorious work of the Son of God. My dear brother, it was through the vicarious sufferings, the expiatory death, and atoning blood of the now exalted Saviour, that the Holy Ghost deposited this divine principle of light and life in your soul, which shall never die, while Christ lives, for it is his own life.

he shall abide with you for ever. Do not think this is too great for you. May the Holy Ghost, himself apply these feeble remarks to your poor heart, and then you will be able to rejoice with him who said 'it is enough.'

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

Then look into the preceding clause of
our verse; see that your election is also as
sure in evidence. 'Elect according to the
foreknowledge of God the Father, through
sanctification of the Spirit unto obedience,
and the sprinkling of the blood of Jesus
Christ.' So that if you had not been elected
you would not have been made willing in the
day of God's power. 'Elect unto the obe-
dience,' &c. O, glorious election! Chosen
of God the Father, in Christ; given to him
for your preservation, with all the blessings
you have, and will be the recipient of,
through life; preserved in him, that he may
present you, without blame, before the
Father, in love;' eternally united to him.
The Father promises all these blessings upon
oath, to the Son, for you. Yes; he has
sworn to him, and said,My covenant will
I not break; nor alter the thing which is
gone out of my mouth.' His word endureth
for ever; and he must cease to be God be-
fore he can falsify it. O, the divine certainty
of the blessings of salvation! Say no more,
then that you are not elected; for your call-
ing is the effect of your election. But, there
is one particular evidence of your interest
in these things which just strikes my mind;
which is, you cannot believe my mere word
for this. No; nothing will do for you, but
for your sentence to come forth from God
himself; it must come to you with power.
Is this the case, my brother? If so, I po-
sitively affirm that you are an elect vessel of
mercy. For, your faith doth not stand in
the wisdom of men, but in the power of
God. Then see what you are elected to,
an inheritance which is incorruptible, un-
defiled, and that fadeth not away,' but re-
served in heaven for you. Yes; in that
blessed paradise, there is a vacant seat for
you which another can never fill; a golden
harp; a glittering crown; and a palm of
victory.

"There you shall bathe your weary soul
In seas of heavenly rest;
And not a wave of trouble roll

Across your peaceful breast.

But, mark the original cause of all this. Why did God elect his people? Because of any goodness he foresaw in them? No; for he saw that there would be none that would

do any good; no, not one. It was the ever-
lasting love of a triune God, which is here
set forth in this sentence by the words, Ac-
cording to the foreknowledge of God the
Father; that is, his foreknowledge of them
as the objects of his eternal love from ever-
lasting. His choice was founded upon his
own mere love-'We love him because he
first loved us.' Mark, also, that this love
of your God is not a mere passion which
needs a lovely object to excite it; no; it is
one of his perfections; it is part of his divine
nature; therefore, he must change in his
nature, before he can cease to love you. It
is eternal love; it is immutable love.
May you live in much enjoyment of it
shed abroad in your heart by the Holy Ghost.
Thus, have I endeavoured to show you a
little about cause and effect; though, per-
haps, I do not take the same view of these
words as many of the children of God do.
I have tried to show that this obedience of
your's is the effect of the operation of God
the Holy Ghost, and that this operation is
the effect of the work of Christ, and that
the work of Christ for you is the effect of
your eternal election, and that your election
is the effect of God's eternal love to you.

And I further add, that the two principle ends he had in view in all this, was your happiness with the the rest of his people, and his own glory.

Your fellow traveller in this path,

Stepney.

GEORGE ELAN.

human means of recovery, either in self, or in others. We look at the past with sorrow, the present with despair, and the future seems hopeless. Yet this is the very person God has promised to bless; and the blessing he has promised is, the kingdom, with all the blessedness connected therewith. This promise includes three special blessings which I will just mention, they are life peace, and plenty. Life. This the Son of God came from heaven to give, that we might have it more abundantly; and this is eternal life, to know thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom he hath sent; this knowledge is by the unctuous teaching of the Holy Spirit, who alone can lead us into all truth, shew us our own vileness, and the exceeding sinfulness of sin, and then lead us to the Lamb of God, who washes the soul from all pollution, removes guilt, and purges the conscience; making it whiter than snow. The Spirit of Life enters in regeneration, and the soul begins to be alive from the dead: there is a felt consciousness of guilt, and a cry gushes from the heartGod be merciful to me, a sinner!' Rest is impossible, while the arrow of conviction is in the man's heart; but when Christ is revealed in all the beauty of his Person, work, and worthiness as my Saviour; and says to me 'live,' as he passes by, then live I must for ever; and reign in glory without sin or sorrow; having received life eternal as his own free gift; to whom be all the glory. Peace is another blessing; this comes to us through his own blood. What a price! He hath made peace by the blood of his

What the Christian wants: What the cross; now the question is, has he made

Believer has.

peace in our hearts, by the sprinkling of that
precious blood? The man that is taught of
God will find plenty of soul trouble, but, in
Christ he shall have peace; and that peace
God hath said, shall never be removed. Isa.
liv. 10. It is the free gift of heaven which
we poor beggars receive from the Prince of
Peace. The other blessing is plenty, which
completes the heaven we are to enjoy to all
eternity. Life and peace are not enough;
for a man might have these, and yet be
ready to die with hunger, but Christ is so
great a storehouse, full with the richest and
most suitable provision, which is laid up for
his beloved; and it hath pleased the Father
that in him should all fulness dwell!' Oh,
that the Lord the Spirit may draw us to this
heavenly storehouse. May we come empty,
and often, to receive of these spiritual bless-
ings; so that out of his fulness we may
receive, and grace for grace.'

MY DEAR CHRISTIAN FRIENDS IN THE
GOSPEL OF CHRIST :-You will begin to
think that I have forgotten my promise, in
not writing before this; but I have been
much engaged; I wrote to Mr. and Mrs.
Bream first, because I had a few lines from
her before I left. I do hope that the dear
Lord will go on to bless you with the dew of
heaven, and much of his blessed favour,
power, and love in your poor souls, which I
doubt not, is at times, as dry as the parched
ground in Suffolk, in the summer season.
One thing I know, he has promised to bless
the poor in spirit. Then the question is
am I the character?' For upon this hangs
the important matter. To be poor in spirit,
is to be in great spiritual want. I want
riches, bread, water, righteousness, house,
light, comfort, healing, life, light, strength,
grace, mercy, peace, truth, love, power, and
Christ to be my Prophet, Priest and King.
To be poor in spirit is to be made to see and 4, Soho-street, Reading, June 28, 1847.
feel that we are dead, dark, blind, polluted,
vile, destitute, and in DEBT, without any

Your's in the Gospel of Christ,

C. H. COLES.

The Harvest truly is Great; but the Labourers are Few.

DEAR BROTHER in the bonds of an Lord ?' 'Yes, even thee; (was his re

everlasting covenant, well ordered in all things, and sure to all the seed:-About fourteen years ago, the Lord, in infinite mercy, rescued me from the pleasures of sin, in which I delighted, and in which awful depth I was sunk far beyond many of my companions; the most narrow escapes has there been between me and death oft'times; yet, as soon as the danger was over, as soon did I return to my folly, more like a child of the devil

than before.

Judgments or mercies ne'er could sway,
My roving feet to wisdom's way,
Glory to God I could not rove
Beyond the limits of his love.

Fenc'd with Jehovah's shalls and wills,
Firm as the everlasting hills.

But amidst all, that truth has been ful-
filled in me, the bodies of the saints are
immortal, till the soul is born of God.'

ply) be not faithless, but believing.' Yes, dear brother, I can point to the very spot, the day, the hour, where my God richly manifested himself to my soul; I believe I shall never forget it. Well, for a time, I went on smoothly; but after a while, was developed such hidden evils that I verily thought would never again appear; a host of temptations without; a host of corruptions within, I soon afterwards found the way to the kingIdom to be a sword-in-hand conflict all through the weapon of all-prayer may for a while be laid aside; but necessity will soon bring it out-a daily crossa thorn in the flesh-an evil heart-an ungodly world-a tempting devil-vile affections-wandering thoughts- cares and perplexities need something more than past experience, past deliverance, or past manifestations. The provision of yesterday will not suffice for to-day; but daily and hourly, yea, every moment, I need what my covenant God has promised-I, Jehovah will keep it and watch over it every moment;' and my cry must, from necessity be Give me this day, my daily bread: I am weak, poor, and needy. I cannot live, walk, or move in the ways of Zion, only by him in whom my life is hid.'

No

I was led to witness the ordinance of Believer's Baptis:n; so sunk in my spirit was I, that the most obscure seat was my choice, where, as I thought, I could neither see or be seen; but oh, the word I heard echoed from the pool!-A power which laid me low, brought all my past follies in a moment before my eyes, and I could only cry- I have crucified the Son of God afresh by my ungodly deeds, and put him to an open shame-no hope Very shortly after the dear Lord thus for me-no mercy for me'-a fearful look- liberated my soul, I felt an anxious deing for of judgment, and fiery indigna-sire to become of some use in his church. tion, was, for many months my lot; hell I was easily induced to become a tract staring me in the face. I could only distributor; and to work I went. feel it was my just desert; but oh, the mercy that released my burdened conscience! About twelve years since, when one of the dear Lord's sent servants, (now in glory) was speaking out precious truth, (the portion he spoke from was a portion for me,) unbelief strove My mind about this time was deeply hard against it; satan told me it was impressed that I should be called to lanot for me; my own heart said- not for bour in the gospel vineyard, having felt me: it followed me through the dark those words so powerfully impressed watches of the night; it followed me in upon my heart-Son of man, I have the morning; yet did I strive most made thee a watchman; son of man thou mightily not for me; it can't be for art not sent to a people of a strange me; still, the power of God the Holy speech, or of an hard language, whose Ghost came with the word: then, like language thou canst not understand, but Thomas, I was obliged to cry- My to the house of Israel: thou shalt give Lord, and my God!' What me, Lord? them the word from my mouth, whether A vile, sinful wretch, like me?' Yes; they will hear, or whether they will foreven thee; fear not; I have redeemed bear.' thee; thou art mine.'

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

What! me,

sooner had I begun than the sight of gospel truth revealed to me that nine tenths of the Society's tracts were full of the deadly poison of Arminianism. I was compelled to give up all my tracts for conscience sake.

Frequently has the dear Lord

[ocr errors]

'ceive him-prayer meetings, I am most shut up, almost resolved to go no more; vile insinuations, strong temptations, and solemn accusations, like fiery darts, thick and thin are hurled: a fine figure you would cut in the pulpit,' says the old foe.

powerfully broke in upon my soul with a portion of his word that I have worked preaching, walked miles preaching, and most blessedly has my mind been lost in the glorious realities of his eternal truth. Oh, how have I longed for a door of utterance when my soul has beenI can hold you so fast now, what would filled with love, fired with zeal, and over- you do then? Let but the Lord speak! whelmed with divine goodness! Never Let my God rebuke him! Let but the have I opened my mind to any man upon Sun of Righteousness dart one ray of the subject before I sent you my last his glorious beams! Let but the Spirit's scribble; and now, with much fear, weak-power be felt!-My darkness is in a moness, and trembling, I will again. The ment turned into mourning-sorrow into ice is broken; a door from me to you of rejoicing-sighing into singing-satan communication is open; though at the fleeth-his armies disappear-his fiery present not from you to me, but by the darts are quenched-my soul, in a moVessel. Use no means to find me. Let ment triumphant, mounts on the wings the Lord speak, and Samuel will be sure of faith and love at the voice of my Beto hear; let Samuel lie in his place, and loved-' Behold he cometh, leaping upon Eli judge if the Lord calls, lest it be of the mountains, skipping upon the hills;' man; if of God it cannot be overthrown. I hear him; I know his well-known voice. Yes; he is precious to my soul. Yes

His purposes will ripen fast,
Unfolding every hour.

Oft'times I fear it is only the emotions
of pride and presumption; and that I
shall one day run unsent of God. But
If he has bid me go,
Why do I tarry here?
If he appoints a work to do,

Why should I yield to fear?

Satan has been often let loose upon me,
and tried me sharply, when with the dear
saints of God I have had sweet liberty of
soul at their prayer-meetings, and been
melted down under the sweet and blessed
unction of the Holy One; so that heart
and soul, and all my powers have been
lost in the fulness of Jehovah's love,
blood and grace; but as soon as the
sweet moments have passed, in satan
comes as an angel of light: 'Well done;
(he says) what a parson you would make;
you are almost on the pulpit stairs.' Then
looking round, I see and abhor my own
vile heart; and am constrained to cry
out, 'Search me, oh, my God, search me
thoroughly; prove me: and know my
thoughts; see my heart, oh God, thou,
and thou only knowest; hear my cry;
and lead me in the way everlasting.'
Then again, the old foe rallies on me,
and says I am the proudest hypocrite in
Zion, and my prayers are a fair show in
the flesh; and sends forth such a cloud
of darkness, that he is permitted almost
to blind my eyes; the face of Jehovah's
throne is held back; I walk in darkness,
and have no light, yet am alive; where
can I go? I fly to his word, but see
him not-means of
grace, I cannot per-

He is precious to my soul,

My transport and my trust;
Jewels to him are gaudy toys,
And gold is sordid dust.

Blessings for ever on his eternally glo-
rious name, he has always been as good
as his word. Strength has always been
given equal to the day-most given
when most needed: and though needs
have been sorely felt at times for many
years, yet, never one good thing has
failed of all that he has promised con-
cerning me. Should he open a door for
me, then may I rest upon his- So I am
with you alway, even unto the end of the
world. Oh, that his dear will may be
made manifest, the mind of the Spirit
ascertained, and you be enabled to give
a faithful word in season, to

YOUNG TIMOTHY.

THE CHRISTIAN SOLDIER'S SONG OF PRAISE.

To Him, who sits upon the throne,
Who makes his truth and mercy known,
Be endless honours giv❜n.
Tell of his love, ye blood-wash'd host,
You that have cause to praise him most,
And have had most forgiv'n,

With you, dear saints, I'd take my seat,
And at those dear once pierced feet,

My tears should ever flow.
The chief of sinners sav'd,' I'll cry,
'Through Jesus' blood and agony,

And brought his love to know.'
The faithful saying, gospel sound,
Fain would I tell to all around,

What God has done for me.-
He sav'd, he call'd, he pardon seal'd,
In me he hath his Son reveal'd,
And shall I silent be?

« AnteriorContinua »