Imatges de pàgina
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the distant near, as just at hand. I never wish to look at eternal affairs as a great way off. A man should not be so anxious about the last stage of the journey; he is just at home. Alas, for us, we look at eternal things with eyes of flesh. I am at the threshold. It is a favor to see what God has preserved us from, and how he has prevented us from playing the fool, as he did David in one instance by sending Abigail, when he would have cut off Nabal's house; by his meeting her, he was preserved from many a cutting hour. Our passage to heaven is all paid for, and our wedding clothes are all found us."

Before I close up this brief review, I shall notice another spot in this kingdom which I have recently visited. It is Harwich, on the coast of Essex. Harwich is a small, neat town, and lays close to the water-side. Here is a steeple-house,' an Independent, a Wesleyan, and a Particular Baptist chapel, where I preached, which is a neat, comfortable place of worship. Mr. Soper was formerly the stated minister: Mr. Mote, the well known itinerant in gospel truth, has laboured much in this place; and for the last two years, Mr. Geo. Norris, has been the settled pastor. But, oh, dear me, it made my very heart to ache to hear of the state of things. You may hear of anything, and everything (but spirituality and prosperity in the things of God. I went into the pulpit with a heavy heart; I was led to speak of such things as distinguish between the election of grace and the world; but I had not spoken long, before one of the members of the church jumped up, and run out of the chapel, I suppose highly offended at something I advanced; I felt a little damped; but right under my nose stood a man, who fixed his eyes on me, lifted up his head towards me; and opened his living countenance to receive all I had to say. I felt I was feeding his poor soul; so I laboured on, finished my discourse; had a word or two with the deacons, and left the chapel with the feelings of the poet where he says

Oh, Zion, afflicted, with wave upon wave,
Whom no man can comfort, whom no man

can save.

Really, I tremble for the cause at Harwich. Poor brother Norris's work there appears to be done; whether the Lord of the vineyard has another messenger to send; or whether he will leave them destitute, is not for me to say but I fear there are not many who would stand in the ranks of a free-grace, experimental gospel. Clouds and darkness are round about. C. W. B.

Are Women to be allowed to preach? ME SSRS EDITORS.-On reading the 19th page of this month's Earthen Vessel, I came to the following announcement by your correspendent Numerist:" "On Thursday evening, at our Bethesda, we were favoured with

a sermon from Deut. xxxii. 10, 11, by Mrs. Hardwick, from Malton, who gave great satisfaction," &c. Can Mrs. Hardwick, or your correspondent Numerist,' present the readers of the Earthen Vessel with some account of the authority or divine call and mission of Mrs. Hardwick to engage in the public ministry of the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ? I presume this enquiry will not appear unnecessary, because you are aware that female preaching is not usually acknowledged by the churches of the faithful who maintain the truth according to the order of the gospel. It certainly does appear to me to be objectionable upon plain scripture ground. However, as your correspondent Numerist' says Mrs. Hardwick's preaching gave great satisfaction to those who heard her speak on the occasion referred to, I would not hastily come to a conclusion. At the same time, I feel convinced of this, that if the Lord has called her to this important work, she doubtless has had many scruples and severe exercises of mind concerning this thing. It would, I conceive, be in perfect agreement with the desire of many readers of the Earthen Vessel, to find in some future number, a testimony from Mrs. Hardwick, as to how she was induced to engage in the business of publicly speaking in the name of the Lord. ELIHU.

Brabourne.

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Balm in Gilead.

From head to foot, corrupt, diseas'd,
No wounds bound up, no pains are eas'd,
'Till God the Holy Ghost is pleased
To 'ply the Balm of Gilead,
Isaiah's cry befits me well,
With lips unclean indeed I dwell,
A tongue oft set on fire of hell.
But there's a Balm in Gilead,
Eyes full of vanity and lust,
Oft drawn by objects of disgust,
Yet for a cure, I sometimes trust,
There is a Balm in Gilead.
These oft in bondage bring my soul,
And oft my fleshly powers controul,
Like Baruch may I eat the roll,

Which holds the Balm of Gilead.
What other power can healing bring?
Healing must come from 'neath his wing.
T'endure the curse, remove the sting,
Was sent, the Balm of Gilead,
Seek, then, my soul, by prayer and faith,
To find a healing in his death,
Who, in the scripture record, saith,

There yet is Balm in Gilead.
His mercy throne, that welcome place,
Where Jesus gives recovering grace,
And cur es the utmost desperate case,
Himself the Balm of Gilead.
I've oft' been there; go there again!
Thou shalt not seek this balm in vain,
A soothing cordial for thy pain,

Is he, the Balm of Gilead!
Seek then his skill in all thy ways,
Thou'lt need his aid thro' all thy days,
And in the sickless land thou'lt praise,
That healing Balm of Gilead.
Wandsworth,
J. P. BLACKMORE

The Ordination from heaven described-Men-made Ministers cautioned.

ful it may be, the watchman must first be
arrested by the strong arm of justice, and its
mighty grasp shall hold him so tight, and
his sins shall so witness against him that he
shall have no hope of deliverance; yea, des-
pair shall enter into him, from the repeated
application of the words, 'Pay me what thou
owest.' In this state, he will say, what is my
Oh,
hope? Oh, that I had never been born!
that I had not sinned! For sin is charged
home as his own wilful act and deed; and
as to the door of mercy, Jesus Christ, (while
in this state) there is not a particle of him
to be seen: no; God's immutability, law,
and wrath, sin and death, are all a poor man
has to look at.

It is with considerable reluctance that we give place the watchman had to eat; and however painto any further communication relative to the late Ordination, at New Church Street, Bermondsey, because we have no wish to wound or offend any good man; but we dare not withhold the following weighty, (and well calculated to be useful) epistle. The work of the ministry is of too much importance to us; and the solemn distinction between the servants of God, and the servants of men, is so great, that we feel compelled to point out the difference between the clean and the unclean, between the living and the dead, leaving the consequences with God. We are not to be frightened with the contempt, abuse, and opposition which a certain class of ministers are levelling against the "Earthen Vessel." We began without either their support or their countenance, and by the good hand of our God upon us, we have been helped with a little help, and continue in peace and prosperity to the present time. But sooner than the " Earthen Vessel" should be obliged to cringe and bow to ministers and men whose standing is more in pride and presumption, than in the power of God, we pray it may be buried in everlasting oblivion. If

we can be an humble instrument in pointing out the Christian's, (sometimes,) dark and thorny path-if we can, in some measure, publish glad tidings of good things-and if we can lend a helping hand to some of our poor brethren in the ministry, and to the destitute churches of our land, then we are in our glory; in such work as this, we can, and do labour by night and by day; and, bless the dear Lord, he is giving us plenty of it to do. But, if you proud Eliab's think you are going to drive back poor little David, because he comes against Goliath-you are sadly mistaken. We are for peace; but we shall never be at peace with error, nor with them who broach it. We say again, rather than the "Earthen Vessel" shall be shackled by the fear of man, it shall fall to the ground; but there is no prospect of that at present, Be careful how you oppress us; remember "the more they were afflicted, the more they multiplied

and

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To the Editor of the "Earthen Vessel." DEAR SIR-My object in writing to you is to beg for information respecting the ordination held at the chapel in New Church Street, Bermondsey.

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But here comes the blessedness :-Jesus steps up to stern justice, and says, What is it you require of this man?” The answer is, a perfect obedience and payWill you ment of this debt.' Jesus says, accept a bond from me?' 'Yes,' says the 'Then, says Jesus, law, 'I will take it.' 'let this poor fellow go.' So off he goes, and Jesus is caught in the thicket. Thus, a man learns his emancipation from this dark prison house of lamentation, mourning, and woe; and he knows right well that it was effected by the interposition of the dear Lamb of God; and that it is through Christ alone, he receives beauty for ashes, joy for mourning, sweet for bitter, and salvation instead of destruction. When a man has been made to eat the truth this way, and to know that he has thus got his deliverance from the Son, why, then he knows it is all of grace from first to last; by this process truth gets into the inward parts and in the hidden parts there is wisdom known. Thus a man is indeed made a witness for God and his Christ. This is the man that shall talk about the dew of Hermon, the garden of Gethsemane, the priest's hall, and Calvary; a well ordered covenant, election, predestination, redemption, final perseverance, and eternal glory; and these are a few of the things which we expect to hear of as being wrought in the soul that is truly called by grace: these are the things God worketh in every living soul more or less; and he only that hath eaten these with his belly, and filled his bowels with this roll, is a living witness for God. (Read Ezekiel iii. 3.) Such a man knows feelingly what it is to travail in child-birth, The principal features of a living, vital and what is meant by this word, it is the experience, and a call to the work of the time of Jacob's trouble; but he shall be ministry, as set forth in the book of Ezekiel, saved out of it.' Ob, blessed portion! when is entirely left out. Remember, the watch- it came to my soul, it was indeed, like man saw the hand and the roll therein; also,' apples of gold in pictures of silver.' But, that within and without was written lamen- to pass on to notice the instructions given to tation, mourning and woe; and this roll this watchman at Bermondsey. We like a

Are the readers of the Vessel to conclude your correspondent gave you a fair sample, as noticed in your July number? We would favourably hope he has acted quite the opposite to the instruction given to the living in Zion, which is, ' Cast the bad away, and put the good into vessels."

According to the account you gave us, we must say, we see no clear call to the ministry; for, dear sir, the teaching of the Spirit, the revelation of Jesus, the application of his precious blood, (the alone bulwark against sin, law, and wrath,) is not so much as once adverted to.

6

thee before them. Now therefore, go, and I will be with thy mouth and teach thee what thou shalt say.' Exod. iv. 12. Jer. i. 17.

But to the history of these two men. The first we shall notice is Zadok, son of Ahimaaz, he said to Joab, after witnessing the death and burial of the king's son, who was pierced to death while hanging on a tree, Let me now run.' Here is a desire to bear tidings; and who can say it was not from right motives? but who will dare to say he was called of God to the work? David said, he is a good man, and hath tidings,' but David was mistaken; for as soon as he attempted to speak, God shut his mouth. He could be a deacon, or a messenger under

watchman to be a citizen, an honest man, | vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, ruling his own house well in the fear of God, and to have a good report from those that are without; also that he should receive the word at the mouth of his employer the Lord of hosts. But with this sentence, we know not what to do; viz. Beg, borrow, and steal, any how, so that you get something for the people.' No man must be made an offender for a word; but here is a whole sentence, one that shall not, that cannot, live in a clean, tender, conscience; nor stand before a holy God; and we say of the man that follows such advice, and works with materials so collected, God shall take thee by the neck, and shake thee until every whit of thee is manifest-Kushi; but as soon as he assumed a posi"Woe to him that increaseth that which is not his; and to him that ladeth himself with thick clay, to set his nest on high, (even in a pulpit) shameful spewing shall be on all such glory; and then a stone shall cry out, mene; mene; thy days are run out, and now thou art found wanting.' Oh, man! then shall thy belly tremble, thy lips quiver at the voice of him out of whose mouth goeth a sharp sword; rottenness shall enter into thy heart and bones indeed, and thou shalt feel the awful weight of this sentence, woe to him that buildeth a town with blood, and establisheth a city by iniquity.' (Read the 2nd of Habakkuk.) Stolen waters may be sweet to some persons, and bread eaten in secret may be pleasant to others; but to us they become stumbling blocks, for we know that the dead are there; and that the guests are in the depths of hell. (Prov. ix. 17.)

Now as regards the signs of ministerial qualifications. We are told that God's call of his ministers, lays in inspiring in them a desire, from a right motive. Good desires, and right motives are very good things; but what saith the Lord about the possession of these good qualities? Doth he say, such a man is called to preach? We have two accounts in the Word which treat of two good men full of desires; and I think upon examination it shall be found that to be a good man, is no sign; good desires are no sign; good motives no sign; no, nor is the encouragement which a man of God may receive from a real prophet of the Lord, any sign. Some may be ready to say, ' What is a sign? Let a man be fully persuaded in his own mind, that he is appointed to that office by the mouth and word of God,' and then he shall experimentally know what is written of Jeremiah, 'Say not I am a child; for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee; and, behold, I have made thee a brazen wall, and an iron pillar, and a defenced city; thou, therefore, gird up thy loins, and arise and speak unto them all that I command thee; be not afraid at their faces, lest I confound

tion whereunto he was not called, he said to all around him that he was a fool, (Eccles. x. 3.) The other account is king David. God approved of his materials, of his motives, and of his desires; but not of his person; and even Nathan was deceived; for he encouraged David, and said, 'Do all that is in thine heart, for God is with thee;' but the Lord gave him to understand he was in error in that respect; and therefore even Nathan had to go and tell David he must desist, 'Thus saith the Lord, for as much as it was in thine heart to build an house unto my name, thou didst well that it was in thine heart, nevertheless thou shalt not build the house.' 1 Kings. viii. 18. 2 Sam. vii. 3.

Thus it is shewn that the man of good materials, of good desires, most forward, and most willing, may not be the man. The work is special, and the persons are nominated by God- Separate me Paul and Barnabas for the work whereunto I have appointed them.' However mortifying this may be to flesh and blood, the counsel of the Lord must stand. So we see there is a difference between Cushi being called, and Ahimaaz saying, 'send me, howsoever send me; let me run:' which he did: but he had to stand aside, and give place to the man, the roof of whose mouth was like the best wine, that goeth down sweetly, causing the lips of the ancient people to speak; 'his belly is like a heap of wheat, his navel is like a springing well that wanteth not liquor.'

Out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water-water that confirms the land which the Lord careth for, even when she is weary. The land of Egypt may be watered by the foot of him that begs, borrows, and steals; but the vineyard of red wine shall be watered by honest men; for they that know God, hate robbery for burnt offerings; and know that he is against the man who steals his words every one from his neighbour, and that trembles at this sentence- Thus saith the Lord, the prophet that shall presume to speak a word in my name that I have not commanded, that prophet shall die.'

May we drink water out of our own well, and so speak of things we have tasted, felt, and handled of the word of eternal life; let our waters be dispersed as rivers in the streets, but let them ever be our own, and not strangers with us, for the ways of man are before the Lord, and his eye is upon the faithful of the land that he may dwell with him. We trust these remarks will stir up no angry feeling, but a diligent enquiry. Let us see, ere long, a piece in the Vessel from Mr. Meeres' own pen, containing his call by grace, and to the work of the ministry. May grace, mercy, and truth preserve us from all evil, and supply us with all good, until we get to that place where sin, the world, self, nor the enemy, can wrong us any more. So prays,

THEOPHILIS CELETUS.

Little Faith and Great Faith.

DEAR SISTER IN THE EVERLASTING ALMIGHTY SAVIOUR:-I this moment rise from my knees, having been favoured with a degree of sweet and close communion with the ever gracious Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; and to his dear praise, I do in form you, an unusual spirit of prayer was imparted to me, on your account; and also on behalf of others in Cambridge. I do desire to feel thankful for a spirit of prayer, when I can feel the unction of the Holy Ghost on my soul, and a drawing out, and a going up of my heart, my whole heart to my Lord. I wondered on my knees how he could so favour me, seeing and feeling as I do so much sin and vileness still in me; but he seemed to take no notice of that; held me to himself, and poured in the influence of his love, faster, (for one thing after another) than I could pour out. Who is like unto thee, O, Lord?' It is, my sister, the way he always takes, to make me sick of self and fond of him. 'Lord increase our faith!' (Luke xvii. 5.) is much on my mind.

"Faith is a precious grace!"

A little is a great gift, but great faith is better. I will tell you why I think so. Christ is the author, object, and finisher of it. Faith proves me in him. No faith in Christ, no union to him and when I see him by faith it is all right. I have read of a man, who was so delighted with looking at the sun, that he thought he was born on purpose to behold its beauty and glory. Now I do believe that we are regenerated, and blessed with the eye of faith, for the very purpose of seeing, feeling, and enjoying the very great grace and glory of the wonderful Sun of Righteousness;' of all sights, feelings, and enjoyments, the most delightful: then it is, that we see light in his light.' Little faith

has to do with the same object as large faith; only little faith don't look so long, cry so strong, plead so masterly, ask so nobly, seek so resolutely, expect so fully; a frown frightens it, a delay frets it, a cloud grieves it, a cross tries it, sin seriously hurts it, but blood feeds it; God himself keeps it alive, the devil can't kill it, the child that has it can never lose it, though of't he thinks he never had it. Great faith sees a large, a great Saviour, great love, great promises, great fulness in the Mediator, great virtue in his name, fame, blood, righteousness, strength and salvation. Beholds the greatness of the Trinity in the Unity; adores Jehovah in the plurality of personality, and gathers daily renewals of life, love, and hope from the names of Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Being chosen of the Father, redeemed by the Son, quickened, released, renewed and restored by the Holy Spirit. Here great faith, you see, does great things, and comes with becoming boldness, making great use of the Lamb of God, his will, work, and power before God and the Father; satan cannot stand it, he is overmatched. The law cannot condemn: great faith says-'In my dear Head, the law views me and Jesus as one.' The world is beneath its feet; sin raging cannot be damning; self is out of sight; and love, the love of God, being shed abroad in the heart by the Holy Ghost, causes

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the soul to cry out, How great is his goodness, and how great is his beauty!' Zech.

ix. 17.

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WILLIAM

How the Gospel becometh the power of God unto Salvtion.

JOHN

CHARMAN (A SINNER SAVED BY SOVEREIGN GRACE)-TO FREEMAN (A DESPISED, BUT FAITHFUL SERVANT OF CHRIST.) TO WHICH IS ADDED JOHN FREEMAN'S ACCOUNT OF HOW IT WAS THE LORD CALLED HIM TO KNOW, LOVE, AND PREACH THE GLORIOUS GOSPEL OF THE EVER BLESSED GOD.

[The following correspondence has been sent to us by old master Raynsford, of Horsham, with a very urgent request that we would insert it. At first, we threw it aside, without reading it, believing it impossible to make room for it: but, after many days, we were compelled to take up this packet, and as we began to read, the fire began to kindle. We felt a sweet union of soul both to William Charman, and to John Freeman; and believing their letters to speak forth the praises of a triune God in the most decided terms, we send them forth, beseeching the Lord to appear for his servant John Freeman, in the opening for him an effectual door.]

my

ingly to know that I am interested per-
sonally in that blessed, perfect work of
redemption, which he hath accomplished
for his own elect family, his church, his
beloved bride. Ah, my dear sir, he hath
brought me out of a state of ignorance
and enmity, into a saving knowledge and
reception of his blessed truth in the love
thereof; so that I can, now, I trust, in
some humble measure, say, that those
things which I counted gain, aforetime,
I do now count but loss, and dross, and
dung, that I may win Christ and be
found in him, is now the very ultimatum
of my soul's desire. Oh, that my languid
heart might glow in ardour all divine!
in aspiration after Jesus, who is the chief
among ten thousand and the altogether
lovely. And I do desire to bless the
Lord that I can say with dear Mr Hart,

I love the Lord with mind and heart,
His people and his ways.

DEAR SIR:-I feel constrained to address a few lines to you; but, being a stranger to you, I suppose it will be but for me to tell you, in the first place, a little as to who and what I am. Well, then, I am a poor sinner, lost, ruined, and undone, helpless and hopeless, in, and of myself; born in sin and shapen in iniquity, and in sin did my mother Well, dear sir, seeing that this is the case, I do love those who are made conceive me. This, sir, is a true account of my original. But God, who is rich manifest to me as those who love the in mercy, for his great love, wherewith Lord. But, I have been taught this by he hath loved me, even when I was dead painful experience, that not all those in trespasses and sins, an enemy to him who profess to love the Lord Jesus Christ, by wicked works; and saying, in do so in reality; but, oftentimes, I do heart, depart from me, I desire not the solemnly believe the greatest enmity to knowledge of thy ways; even when in the real truth of God is covered up under this state, I say, God, in mercy looked a mask of religion. Again, I do love upon me, and that with a look of love; those dear, called, taught, sent servants quickened me into life, giving me to of God, who are sent forth to declare the whole truth, whether men will hear see and feel my wretched, lost, and ruined condition, and, like a poor brother or forbear; and who are enabled to study publican of old, to smite upon my breast, not to please men, but God, whose serand from my inmost soul to cry, vants they are. But, dear sir, such men be merciful to me a sinner!" Well, I do affirm are few, few, few, in comcannot now give you a detailed account parison to the great bulk of preachers, of my experience in these matters; suf- and false prophets. There are an abunfice it to say, after a long time of begging, whereas he hath not sent them, dance who say the Lord hath sent them: sighing, crying, longing, desiring, hop- and nay, yea and nay, yea and nay, ing, and fearing, the Lord did, in mercy, sounds forth, go where you will, in abunvisit my soul with some sweet tokens for dance Oh, how my poor soul has been good, he did give me to see that grieved, pained, and hurt, to hear such men get up in the name of the Lord, and speak such God dishonouring things; things indeed, congenial to proud

None but Jesus'

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God

Can do helpless sinners good.
And not only so, but he gave me feel-
OCTOBER, PART XXXIII. VOL. III.

2 D

Yea

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