many fears arose in my mind that I acted presumptuously in so doing, which led me to examine the word of God, and my own heart, as to my motives: and I could appeal to God, that all that I had in view was his glory, and the good of sinners; not to live an idle life, nor for the sake of filthy lucre. lawful calling, which would bring me into | had respecting my having preached; and reproach, as well as the cause of God. And further, I thought I was justified in abandoning all thoughts of the ministry, because I felt no heart for it, neither had I been favoured in reading and meditation as heretofore. Thus I came to a conclusion, that I would never attempt to preach again; and was much pleased with the idea, that II could not fix guilt on my conscience for had got rid of a burden which had so sorely tried me. I now pleased myself with the thought of being a hearer, and anticipated much pleasure in hearing Dr. Hawker and others, that might fall in my way. "Now all appeared right. I was going to have comfortable Lord's days-hear the word with my wife, and talk over the things of God at home-have spiritual refreshment and rest for the body after the fatigues of the week, and be quite ready for the toils of the next week. This was my golden dream; but it was painted in water colours, and it soon washed out. I attended chiefly on Dr. Hawker's ministry at this time, whose word had been much blessed to me in former times, as I have stated; but alas! I could seldom hear him now with any sort of pleasure he appeared to me to be a different preacher to what he had been; he dwelt much upon the great and precious doctrines of the gospel, as the doctrines of the Trinity -the person of Christ as Mediator-his complete atonement for the sins of the elect -the saints' glorious union with Christ, and their completeness in him, the head; all which I approved of, for I had tasted their sweetness. But his ministry was not adapted for me at this time; neither do I think that his ministry, generally, was calculated for those whom the Lord sees fit to try as by fire. "After I have heard the word, I have met in the churchyard with many I knew, and they used to be delighted with what they had heard. Many of those persons, I have not the shadow of a doubt, felt the power of God under the Doctor's ministry. Some, then feared, were rejoicing in his light; for their general conduct was not becoming the gospel; and my fears were confirmed subsequently. The Doctor sowed good seed, and the enemy sowed tares. I was at length so provoked and tried with my barren hearing, and the people's general rejoicing, that I determined to stop and speak to no one, if I could avoid it. Sometimes I used to get so angry with the preacher, as if I must leave the place: then, again, I used to think, if God had sent me to preach, I could preach better than he; and after that I used to be reproved for my pride and presumption. Thus my golden dream all vanished; and in this state of silence, rebellion, and misery, I continued the best part of one year. "During this period, many thoughts I having preached; for I concluded, that if it is a moral duty for every man to do good unto his neighbour, it was the duty of every saved sinner to speak to his brother of the things which God had taught him by his blessed Spirit; and if it was right to speak of Christ and his precious name to one it was to twenty, when urged by his brethren, according to the ability that God giveth. I am still of the same mind on that subject; but let every brother in Christ wait till he is called upon. 'A man's gift maketh room for him." "I was now in a great straight, for I was cut off from preaching, and had no pleasure in hearing, neither did I enjoy that anticipated pleasure in solitude at home which I dreamed of. I felt now in a worse condition than ever; and in this state, my heart,often fretted against the Lord. But no one knew the sore trials of my mind; I had learned that it was a vain thing to fly to creatures for help. "One Lord's day, as I came out of church, a man, who had been a preacher with myself, in the villages, but who had now declined preaching, came up to me, and seemed highly pleased to see me. After a few words had passed, he said, 'So you have given up preaching, as well as myself, I understand!' At his remark, I paused, while I felt the fire burning within my bones; and as soon as I could adjust my thoughts I said, 'No, my friend; I am laid up just to refit, but I shall preach again yet, and as long as I have a tongue capable of speaking." He appeared astounded, and left me. After I had replied to him, I began to think what could induce me to speak so positive to the man ; but I could not account for it; it was the impulse of the moment; but I was determined to watch the result. During the week my mind was more comfortable, and I was more fruitful in meditation; and before the next Lord's day, I received a pressing invitation to preach, and refuse I could not. Thus, God's hand appeared to me in a most conspicuous way. I had God's approbation in preaching; nor have I been in silence from that day, when called upon to preach, if I had health." (To be Continued.) [Many interesting particulars connected with HENRY FOWLER'S Life and Ministry, will be found (D.v.) in future numbers.] FEELING a growing desire to render the Earthen Vessel increasingly useful, we purpose to give, from time to time, the testimonies of acknowledged ministers of Jesus Christ, concerning their call to, their usefulness in, and their trials arising out of, the Ministry of the Gospel. Perhaps some of our readers, who are persons of research, will render us a little assistance in this department of our work. We commence by giving SAMUEL LANE'S CALL TO THE MINISTRY. Samuel Lane in his work, entitled "An Ambassador of Peace, from the Prince of Life to the Citizens of Zion," tells us that he was born on the 9th of September, 1773, at Whapload, near Holbeach, in Lincoln, of poor but industrious parents. His Christian Experience is detailed with clearness and certainty. He has been for many years, and still is, labouring in the town of Hull. Of his call to preach the Gospel, he says, work; and the only comfort I could gather as a support against the awful apprehensions that were applied to my conscience from the latter part of the above passage, (together with that mentioned in Acts xx. 26, 27.) were, that God was able to uphold me, and willing to supply me, (if he intended to suited to the greatness of the work; nor had make me a minister) with wisdom and matter I a moment's ease in my conscience while I kept back from relating to others the work of God upon my soul; and still when I thought of going forwards I was equally harassed with such thoughts as the following: You are not called of God to the either by God or man; your ministry will work; your message will never be accepted, never be useful; your friends, who profess to know God, will despise you; you will become the butt of ridicule; the ministers who are called of God, will have nothing to do with you; seeing all such have the Scriptures unfolded to them at one view, so that it is impossible for them to err; many passages you are ignorant of, and will be permitted to better give up all thoughts of going forward go mad in studying their import; you had on such an errand of importance.' arguments had a considerable weight on my mind, and I have frequently determined to think no more about it, concluding, that if God intended me for the work, he would not suffer such things to crowd in upon my mind, to keep me back, yet do all I could against it; and all that the devil could do to persuade me from thinking about it, I soon found it impossible (either for the devil, the corruptions of my own heart, or the fearful apprehensions that continually troubled and perplexed me.) to do anything against the truth. These "The first powerful impressions on my mind, relative to engaging in the work of the Ministry, arose from a feeling sense I had of the Lord's gracious dealings with my soul, or the work of his grace felt, known, and enjoyed in my heart; slaying its carnal enmity; subduing its rising corruption; binding the old man of sin; destroying the power of unbelief within me; breaking off the fetters of darkness from my mind; giving me a discovery of my nakedness, and the wounded condition of my filthy soul; applying the "Another thing that strongly impressed my blood of Christ to my sin-burdened con-mind with a necessity of entering into the science; administering to my heart a sweet sense of his pardoning love, and enabling me gratefully to acknowledge his grace-goodness towards me, I felt a strong inward inclination to tell others what God had done for me; feeling, at the same time, a great backwardness, lest I should run before I was sent; and God should say unto me, 'Who hath required this at your hands?' "I had now great strugglings within, concerning the work of the ministry; I viewed it as a work of the greatest solemnity and of the most awful importance! I trembled at the idea of touching the ministry, and yet could not help secretly wishing to engage therein; yet, whenever I thought of going forward, that portion in Ezek. iii. 18. always presented itself to my view; and I have frequently been alarmed at my seeming presumption, and have entreated the Lord that he would remove all such thoughts from my mind, if so be he had not intended me for the ministry was, from a view I had of the opposition to the real truth, which I discovered in those persons who professed to know the Lord and believe the gospel; I evidently found that the religion wherein they trusted was only a form without the power. I was truly grieved to hear the Divinity of Christ denied; electing love despised; imputed righteousness scoffed at; eternal justification called eternal nonsense, and represented as a dangerous doctrine; the final perseverance of the saints laughed at; so that instead of the doctrines of the ever blessed gospel, every doctrine repugnant thereto advanced and insisted on, such as universal redemption, freewill (or power in man to turn to God whenever he might think proper), progressive sanctification (or inherent holiness), moral obedience to the law of God, (or justification by works); a possibility of finally falling from grace, and the duty of all men to have faith in Christ. These, with such like erroneous tenets, were continually sounded in my ears, which grieved and vexed my soul, knowing and being inwardly assured that God was against them; his word refuted them; his people, who knew him, hated and detested them; and all who were savingly acquainted | with the opposite to them, would openly oppose them, and publicly expose them. I, therefore, again entreated the Lord of the harvest to enable me to say something publicly in defence of those truths so much despised by the enemies thereto; and so much loved and enjoyed by the believers and lovers thereof who, through the happy influence they have on the minds of such, cannot fail to speak of them to the glory of their author, in the face of men and devils. "About this time I had the first visit from God, in the night season, relative to my call to the ministry. grace-goodness, in thus protecting and preserving me from falling into the bottomless pit of eternal misery. By the sun shining so very bright at the end of the rough road, represented the glorious brightness of the Sun of Righteousness shining both upon me and the work I should be engaged in. The bull represented the devil in his malice and implacable hatred to, and the determination against the work I should be called unto. The broken hedge represented the broken body of Christ, which is a sure and safe retreat for all the elect, from the rage and malice of the roaring lion. The elevated path-way I believed to be the path for the hypocrites to walk on, as it is evident they know nothing about the rough travels of God's Israel; having all things smooth and easy for them. "On the night following I had the same "I thought I was led by a female, on a dream again, only with this difference, there very long road, stone blind; and when I was no bull on the middle bank, but in lieu came to the end thereof, was immediately thereof, was a vast number of sheep-one restored to sight; I then took a survey of my half dead, and the other half alive! being compast journey; the day appeared beautiful missioned by a person who then and there beyond description, the sun shone in its made his appearance, to raise the dead ones meridian, and I had a clear view of the path up, I did so; and as fast as I lifted them up I had come on, which was very rugged, much they became alive! I continued in this exresembling a stiff clay road, trod on by ercise until wearied, and much fatigued was horses, immediately after a steeping rain, and obliged to desist; nor do I remember lifting then frozen hard over. On the left hand side the whole of them up. This confirmed my was a bottomless ditch, on the right hand a former views of the dream the night before, pleasant elevated path way; but it was my as I considered the sheep to be the sheep of lot to walk in the middle of the rough un-Christ; (John ix. 15,) the green bank being comfortable road. I then looked forward, and was forcibly struck with the appearance of three lofty green banks, the middle one appearing rather more pleasant than the outside ones: I began to pursue my journey on the middle one; but behold a bull, of a very powerful and savage aspect, made his formidable appearance, coming, apparently, with all fury and madness to destroy me: this alarmed me, and I began to fear all was over with me, but I was, on a sudden, directed to the bottom of the right hand bank (or hill) where was a broken part in the hedge, when the moment I got into it, I was immediatly safe, and my safety was as soon made known to me, so that I was enabled to rejoice in my security from the rage and madness of my adversary. "Here I awoke, and the first inference I drew from this dream was, that God was determined to call me into the work of the ministry; and in order to prevent my refusing to go forward, kept me in the dark, respecting the roughness of my first travels, that he might bring me by a way that I knew not. See Isaiah xlii. 16., and as I did not fall on the road, so neither will he suffer me to fall short of accomplishing my journey in the said work, however rugged my path-way may be and that when I had got a little way on my work he would open my eyes to behold his under-working providence and the green pastures; (Psalm xxiii. 2,) and my helping them up, to represent the preaching of the gospel. "Soon after this I had another dream, to the following effect: I thought I was sitting in a comfortable room, by a very large fire; when I looked down by my side, I saw two sheep-one standing by the fire, without inthereof; the other appeared dead and mojury, having apparently overcome the heat tionless, seeming as though the heat had overcome it; I readily stooped down to raise the latter one up, when the poor fire-scorched animal immediately revived and became active, though very weak and feeble. I then took it by the head and directed it to the door, the sight of which greatly cheered it, and it walked out joyfully, and appeared remarkably strong. "When I awoke, the following interpretation came to my mind, The room I was in was the house of God; the sheep were his people; the fire was the law; and the door was Christ; and I was the person appointed by God to direct his Sinai-scorched sheep to Christ, the only door of hope. I had several others of a similar nature, which had an equal tendency to impress my mind that I had a call from God to the ministerial office, one or two more of which I shall hereafter mention." (To be continued.) Joy in Tribulation, FROM THE CHAMBER OF AFFLICTION. pel of his dear Son, as a God of love, rich in mercy, and abundant in goodness and truth; for thus saith the MY DEAR BROTHER GARRARD.-I take faithful and true witness." "God so my pen into my hand to write to you loved the world that he gave his only these few ill-written lines. But, I take begotten Son"-" For God commendeth encouragement from that which the his love towards us in that while we were Lord said to Samuel- "Look not on yet sinners Christ died for us." We may the outside, for the Lord looketh at the therefore bless God and take courage; heart;" but I fear sometimes that mine and oh, how are we indebted to the riches is a very bad one, that it will not stand of divine grace, if we have been brought the piercing eye of my God. But, my to love Christ because he first loved us." dear brother, I read that it is good and I hope, through grace, I have been profitable to record the loving-kindness brought to know him "whom to know, of my God; and I look back with the is life eternal," and have some evidence liveliest feelings of gratitude, on his in my soul that I love him; and am gracious dealings with me, a poor un-enabled to say from past and present worthy sinner, that he should have experience "it is good for me to be laid mercy on me all my life long, when I knew it not, and up to this present hour, especially in seasons of affliction and trial; in which I have often experieneed that "Behind a frowning providence, on this bed," where I have laid all the "My Father, God, how sweet the sound, Could so delight mine ear." Such delightful seasons have filled my soul with joy, and my lips with praise and I think I can say with the poet— ; At And I have proved, to my happy experience, that he is "a very present help in time of trouble." For, I have been afflicted ever since the 6th of last August, twelve months, which seem a long time but I can say that "it is good for me that I have been afflicted; for before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep his testimonies;" and may I feel the liveliest gratitude to the bountiful giver of all good, whose "goodness and mercy hath followed me all the days of my life." Yet how prone am I at times to question his love, and unbelievingly to construe the tokens of his favour as "O Lord, I would delight in thee." marks of his displeasure, and to say But it is not always thus with me. with Jacob "All these things are times I feel my soul cast down within against me." Thus I am sometimes led me, and doubts, and fears, and suspito view the afflictive dispensations of cions, have occupied my thoughts, that divine providence in a wrong light, for- I never did love the Lord at all; yet, I getting that "whom the Lord loveth he have to adore and bless God, that in my chasteneth;" and even when reading darkest seasons, when my faith was such passages as these, the unbelieving weak and my foes were strong, I would thoughts will intrude upon the mind. not have given up my humble hope of Can God a pure and holy being, who an interest in the dear Redeemer for all hateth sin and iniquity, love such a sinful this world could afford; but have sent and ungrateful wretch as I feel myself up my cry to the throne of mercy as the to be? The thought seemed too over-poor publican did; and I rejoice in knowwhelming, that a God of such infinite ing that whatsoever changes I may majesty, power, and glory should con- experience in my own mind, I know that descend to love creatures so immensely. Christ is still the same. The thought would overwhelm me in despair, were it not for the gracious revelations of himself in the glorious gos. During my indisposition I have had time to read and study, (when I am able) with more attention, and I hope G with profit. It is my privilege to have | can we recognise as bearing marks and evidences of that inestimable blessing- many books to read, in which are many precious truths, and some I am forced to throw away; but of all the books, I have not had any like the Earthen Vessel for truth; it has been such refreshment and encouragement to my mind; and especially those pieces from the "Watchman on the Walls," which caused me to" the men of Cyprus aud Cyrene." Acts take the liberty of sending these few lines; but I hope you will excuse all blunders and mistakes, for I am a poor ignorant girl. But the "May Flowers' and "Rose in June" are most sweet dear pieces. Reading the Vessel often brings tears from my eyes and I then think and feel the religion of Christ a divine reality, and that it is faith in him alone that can support the trembling soul, amidst the ills of life and the fears of death. And now my dear brother, I hope you will be blessed with seals to your ministry, and souls for your hire, and that there may be a revival among you; and a crying among many "What must I do to be saved?" Dear brother, I am going to tell you that your coming to Tunstall was not in vain in the Lord; for I often hear of your name mentioned and one of my friends says if she could but hear you once more she would not care. But I hope and trust we have a faithful man now amongst us, (Mr. W. Day,) he seems so at any rate, for he seems not to fear the frowns nor court the smiles of mortals, and they are the men for the pulpit. Dear brother, if here is anything worth your reading, I hope you will favour me with a few lines, if not consume this in the flames. I have had it on my mind sometime to write to you, but dared not do it, fearing that I could not do it as I ought to do it. But one day feeling a little revived, I laid musing, and I was constrained at last to do it; for you do not know how the Lord hath made out a way for me to take the Vessel, for he has sent one and then another friend when perhaps I have been saying that I could not buy one, but I bless God that I have up to the present. And now may your labours be owned and blessed is the sincere prayer of MATILDA BURROWS. Tunstall Common, Decr. 29, 1846. State of London Churches. No. 5. IN casting an eye over the number of chapels in the metropolis; how very few xi. 20. And of these men it is said— "The hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord." The hand of the Lord here means that power given with the word, making it effectual in turning many from themselves to the Lord. This then, was an external manifestation of the power of the Holy Ghost. This hand is still with the real "Ambasadors for Christ," in measure, giving testimony to their message, and thereby fulfilling his own declaration concerning them (Mark xvi. 19-20.) Another evidence will be given by their abiding and continuing in the word and doctrine of Christ, under the anointing of the Holy Spirit. The apostle says "Take heed unto thyself and unto the doctrine, continue in them, for in doing this, thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee." The seed which "fell in stony places," had no deepness of earth; no depth of humility for it to root in; no deep sense of unworthiness felt, as by the Lord's real servants who minister in his name; no deep heart sighings and cryings to the Lord for the perpetual dew of his presence and power. This ground, another Evangelist says, lacked moisture, the moisture of the Holy Spirit; and need we wonder then that the precious seed of the word should be called dry doctrines both to him that speaks and those that hear! And need we be surprised to find so many as we do, leaving their ministers they possibly may have been called under because of this dryness in the ministry they sit under? Persons may preach the truth systematically, they may preach christian experience, sin as an heavy burden, and what is gospel in theory, having systematically learned it, but if not under the power of the Spirit there is no "still small voice" heard from one year's end to the other: as Christ said "It withers away" withers away in feeling: withers away in not being fruitful: in short, nothing comes of it. But this brings me to a third evidence of a ministry being of God, and of those |