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whom "Men shall call you the ministers | rather more than sixteen years with a

of our God, in their glory shall ye boast yourselves." What did Jesus say?"Blessed are they that hear the Word of God, and keep it." The glory of the Holy Spirit's ministry will fill the souls of those that hear it, which is an internal evidence. There will be a spiritual reception of it in the hearts of those that know the Lord from time to time. It will not be a dry, formal, ministry, but "their souls shall be as a watered garden." There will be living springs ever and anon watering the heritage of God. And unless this living water flows from the pulpit to the pew, death is there depend on it. If, therefore, the Holy Ghost is not at the bottom, foundation, and beginning of a person's ministry, there will be no comfortable going on, or ending in the Spirit: but where such an one began, (namely, in the flesh, which it must be, if not in the Spirit,) such will end in the flesh. And what is that? Let the conduct of many testify and

answer.

and

One principal cause of death famine in the land is, I think, because "They that were full have hired out themselves for bread." Now the Lord's service is with the whole will, heart, mind, and affections set on the Lord, and one with the Lord, bottomed in love. All national and false churches have carried on a great trade in the things of God, on other principles: they have sold their sermons and prayers, and attention to the Lord's house for GAIN: and made the Gospel a mart for business to a most awful extent. See how the holy zeal and indignation of the Lord burned and was manifested in the temple, when overturning the tables of the money changers." Matt. xxi. 12, 13: and go too, at certain times into some of the vestries of our chapels: they more resemble the counter of a bank than an house of prayer Can such expect power of the Holy Ghost in their ministry, when these, and other of the like abominations are present: or the Spirit to bear witness to what he condemns? Strange to say they do pretend to expect it--but "How readest thou ?" we would

say to such,

the

It is with very great pleasure we now refer to Mr. GEORGE ABRAHAMS, who has been testifying of the Lord's goodness to his soul in the metropolis, for

good measure of success. And in him we behold the distinguishing and separating character of the grace of God, and his faithfulness towards the ancient house of Israel, that remnant dispersed among all nations, the Jews. Mr. ABRAHAMS is from this circumstance signally distinguished, and stands in a very prominent position. Such instances of the grace of God from among these people do indeed, cause the pulsation of spiritual feeling and life, to beat high. I would desire to adore the rich grace of God in having such witnesses in these days, and with more than ordinary pleasure introduce such who have borne an honourable testimony to that name his ancestors crucified with the title affixed over his all-glorious person—“ Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews."

From Mr. ABRAHAMS's own testihis poor bound and fettered soul was mony; it is now twenty-two years since released from the law of Moses, and brought into the liberty of the sons of God in the gospel: we heard him state that when the Lord brought him into this liberty, in the streets of Exeter, that he lost his way to the place he attended for religious worship, and his feelings could only be expressed thus-"I charge you, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, by the roes, and by the hinds of the field, that ye stir not up, nor awake my love till he please." We heard him once state, that if he was called to visit his own country and friends, who are all Jews, and violent opposers of the gospel, on any of their fast days, as the time of the Passover, when they eat unleavened bread, he would do the same, and conform to their ceremonies-but NOT on the same principles. "I have liberty in Christ: eating unleavened bread makes me neither better nor worse." After this, he fully explained the glorious liberty there is in Christ, and the mighty deliverance it is to the poor soul under bondage. "Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." There is, says he, "A vast deal of difference, to a child of God taught by the Holy Ghost, in hearing of God, and from God. O, to have a religion brought into the conscience; and for God to put his fire in Zion and burn up the dross. I would not talk of corruption if it was not for exalting Christ.

him to stand on his watch-tower looking after the spiritual interests of the church, crying the time of night, and what he sees.

Our worst part must come. Glad should I be, to say of him, as was said "of a certain priest, named Zacharias, and his wife, they were both righteous before God; walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless." I once heard a dear old servant observe at the Lord's Supper, "I always admired that aged couple, they were an honour to the Jewish house

There is not a soul in this chapel could have a more bitter enmity to God's truth than he who now speaks to you." Mr. Abrahams is an experimental preacher he speaks much of the hidden mysteries of the human heart; and much to those who are buffeted and cast down by the way; who have the law of sin in their members warring against the law in the spiritual mind, bringing into captivity, continually crying out, "O, wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?" On this subject, Mr. Abrahams occupies much ground, shew-in those days." We cannot say Mr. ing the killing power and spirituality of the law, and the uneasy warfare where, in its power, it is experienced.

Abrahams is blameless in walking in christian ordinances, however much he may justify his conduct in the liberty The ministry of Mr. Abrahams lays he has in Christ by faith. Highly as very much in the illustration of jewish we esteem him as an honour to the rites, customs, and ceremonies. On christian church, his practise is not this point, he has not his equal. It is honourable as regards the ordinanalso needless to say, he is well versed in ces of the Lord's house. In this the Hebrew, being his own native matter we should be glad if Mr. Abratongue: he often expresses approbation hams and others could lay aside Mr. of the faithfulness of the English trans- Huntington for the unerring standard lation, but will occasionally shew the of Jehovah the Spirit, particularly force of the original. Once in referring Mark xiii. 3, 31, 34.—viii. 34—vii. 7, 8. to the terms, "Abba, Father," we heard-xvi. 16. If the New Testament is him say, "Romaine says, ' Abba reads not strong enough for confirmation on backwards and forwards the same;' but, this point, there is that learned, well(said he) this is not all, it is "my God taught man of God, Dr. Gill, whose from everlasting, and my God to ever- attainment in Jewish literature, stands lasting." unequalled in modern times; whose The style of Mr. Abraham's preaching criticisms: we would advise that this almost every page abounds with Jewish is by no means studied. He has been preserved from fashionable divinity. witness should be consulted in preferSome of the servants of God are like ence to Dr. Owen, whom we heard Mr. Abrahams quote so much on the subthat want a great deal of pumps pumping before the water comes clear. Mr.ject of Baptism, &c. Dr. Owen is a great Abrahams will declare generally how he favourite with moderns as a scholar. came by his text; whether by conver- He was the brightest ornament of the sation, reading, praying, walking, or as University of Oxford, and for several the case may be, and of the savour he years successively was vice-chancellor himself tasted in it. This simplicity is there, and great in rabbinical learning. in accordance with the gospel, though Yet, it is said of him, when asked by not much noticed. We may affirm that Charles II., "how he, being so learned, his is a pure Jewish style; and that Mr. could sit and hear an illiterate tinker Abrahams is an original, having his own prate? He replied, "May it please your peculiar phrases and dialect to charac- Majesty, could I possess the tinker's terise him as a Jew; "whose praise is abilities for preaching, I would most not of men." We indulge the hope that gladly relinquish all my learning."he is but in the vigour of his ministry; Bunyan's Life. and that it may please the Sovereign Disposer of his days to continue his labours; increase his usefulness; preserve him in his fear and truth; bless his ministry to Zion at large; keep him from being at ease; and enable WE have in former numbers of the

"Burning seraphs round thy throne,
Beyond all brightness bright;
Bow their bashful heads, and own
Their own diminished light."-Hart.
H. W.

Earthen Vessel, briefly noticed a series of Mr. ABRAHAMS' sermons now in the course of publication. We have before us Nos. 6, and 7 of that series. No 6, is "On the exclusion of creature boasting." A sermon by Mr. GEORGE ABRAHAMS against pride! We make an extract or

two.

:

that minister who fails to observe the two as joined together by our Lord, is not walking in the commandments of the Lord, blameless. We fearlessly assert, that for a man to reject a plain positive command of the Lord Jesus, because there is nothing saving in the observance of it, and to be constantly ridiculing unto it from the best of motives-we and condemning those who do attend

Mr. A. is sound to the very core. He In the great essentials of the Gospel says:—

“I tell you, friends, there is devilish pride even in imitating deep sinking. I tell you there are many who would be William Hun-say-such conduct is inconsistent, and tingtons, and put on other people's garwe do not wonder at all, that "dear ments, which is all pride, as they think they children of God, who have heard him shall not be so useful to God's family with a long time, being driven to say (as out a deep experience. But the experience Mr. ABRAHAMS says some have said)— of a child of God, smitten, wounded, killed "I will hear him no more." We are in five minutes, is tantamount to a seven grieved at our very hearts to find such years' law-work. Many think they have no a discrepancy in such an acknowleged reason to speak well of the Lord, or praise minister of the Lord Jesus Christ. his holy name, because they have never had a vision of faith, which some boast of in the pulpit, and so seem to account all the Lord has done as nothing. But is not this pride? "I have seen the pride of a Jew going up "The redemption that is in Christ Jesus with a very high head and sitting himself on cleanses a sinner from his sins, washes him what the dear Lord calls the highest place from the filth of sin and makes him beautiin the synagogue, with his face towards ful, and so he is acquitted before the law. Jerusalem and they will give any money Justification is that which causes him to for this seat. And I have seen those called stand before God as righteous as God rechristians going up and boasting of being quires him to stand before him. Justificachristians by baptism, and christians, tion is simply this, as I understand it; God through being members of a church. Oh, has determined by blessed, wondrous, electthe devilish boasting of all this before God! ing grace, to cause his people to appear I have a reason for all this, and you shall before him in glory, holy and unblameable hear it to-night if you have patience. I close before him in love; holy, as though they up my first question: this is a most singular had never, in one single instance, infringed question may God search your hearts. on his holy law: for the law was given for Well, say, you, there is no need of all this, this very purpose, that Christ might be exwe are not Jews nor Papists, we are not de-alted in fulfilling the law and making it pending upon any outward ceremony, and honourable, for with him God is well pleased therefore there is no necessity for your address. I do not know whether this is all true. A dear child of God who had heard me for some time, said, I will hear him no Now I will talk simply before the living God. Is it not a sore evil that a poor child of God should be wrapped up in a mere outward ordinance that will not save a soul, and be so offended at my speaking what I have a right to speak, as to turn his back on the truth is it not boasting, think you? Besides, they say that it is a door into the church, and exclude other people. If this is not boasting, I know nothing of the matter at all."

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This is talking simply indeed! The fact is, it must be admitted by all unprejudiced and honest readers of the New Testament that there are two ordinances therein recognised and commanded by the Great Head of the Church Baptism and the Lord's Supper and

for his righteousness' sake, for he hath fulfilled the law and made it honourable."

Mr. ABRAHAMS's stated ministrations

are as follows: at Regent-street Chapel, City Road, on Lord's Days, and Thursday evenings; and at Jewry Street Chapel, City, on Monday evenings.

The Death-bed of Samuel Medley.

WE love to see and to know how it is a Christian, and especially a Christian Minister dies: not that the circumstances connected therewith are at all times to be viewed as unerring tests of their state before God; but, as in life, so in death, there is generally something that declares the existence of the grace of God.

It was on the 6th of June, 1767, that

SAMUEL MEDLEY first became pastor | depart, and to be with Christ, which is of a Baptist Church, at Watford, in far better.' Hertfordshire. In April, 1772, he removed to Liverpool, where he laboured as a successful minister of the gospel, for nearly thirty years. The following is an authentic account of his dying

moments.

:

"His children now asked him if he wanted anything. Want!' he replied, I want heaven and eternal glory." On the evening of this day an evident change took place, and he lay for several hours in a stupor, so that it was "His valuable friends then came in, not expected he would ever speak again. whom he cheerfully welcomed, and to But, at two o'clock on Wednesday whom he said, 'You see me now on my morning, the 17th, he revived, and with dying bed; and a sweet bed it is to me. a serene and smiling countenance said, What mercies am I now enjoying in it! Look up, my soul and rejoice, for thy Thanks be to God, I have now little or redemption draweth nigh.' He then no pain. What blessings I have in my added, 'I am looking up to Jesus-but family! all my eight children a comfort a point or two more, (alluding to the to me, and so affectionate, they would, compass), and I shall be at my heaif it were possible, lay down their lives venly father's house." His children for me. With respect to myself, I am now asked, 'Do you know us, dear full of comfort and consolations, and father?' With great earnestness, he able yet to recollect God's precious replied, 'Know you! yes, sure I do.' word. The promises are like an army He then took a most affectionate leave of soldiers; when I have done with one, of them all, and several friends, who another suitable portion presents itself. surrounded his dying bed. Being asked, I never saw so much of my unworthi- what shall we say from you to the ness, or so much of the excellency, absent parts of the family, mentioning glory, and suitableness of Christ, as an them all by name; 'Send my dear love all-sufficent Saviour. I would wish, to them; and tell them, I am going had I strength, to speak of him till I home in peace to my dear Jesus.' He die particularly to my young friends, was soon after very restless, and frewhom I always loved to address. As to quently cried out, Help, help me! my sentiments, he continued, 'I am no One grain of creature-mercy, Lord!' ways altered. The doctrines I have His friends tried to help him, and said preached, I am fully persuaded, are of with tears, We cannot help you.' 'No,' the truth. They are now the support said he, help from above. When he and consolation of my mind. That saw his children weeping round him, he Jesus, whom I have so long pro- said, 'For shame! why will you weep? claimed to poor sinners, is my only am I not in my own Almighty Father's comfort in my dying hours. His salvation is perfect and complete.' After recovering from a fainting fit, he said, "I am thinking on the laws of gravitation the nearer a body approach to its centre, with the more force it is impelled; and the nearer I approach my dissolution, with the greater velocity ITake courage, my soul, take courage: move towards it.' A friend who stood why art thou cast down? why art thou by, said, 'dear sir, Christ is your centre.' disquieted within me? Hope thou in Yes, yes;' he replied, he is, he is.' In God, for I shall yet praise him.' Through another visit from this valuable friend, the whole of his agonies, which were he said, 'It is hard work to pull up an sometimes extreme, he was not left to old tree by the roots. My dear family, murmur. Once, when violently agimy relation to the church of Christ, over tated, he said, 'It is hard work: I shall which I have been so long time an un- die, I shall die, and go to glory.' Then, worthy pastor, and my numerous con- with his eyes stedfastly fixed upwards, nections, are like so many strong roots he added, Are they not all ministering in the earth.' But some time after he spirits? (Heb. i. 14.) I am coming, I added, "They are all got up, and this am coming.' Pushing the bedclothes world is now nothing to me; I long to with his hands, he said, 'Take it away,

6

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hands? and he will take care of your
poor old father.' He often lifted up
his hands and said, 'My God! my por-
tion! my portion!' then, clasping his
hands together, added, 'I am looking
up to Jesus.' Frequently his struggles
were violent.
He would then say,

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take all the world away, all but Christ.' His struggles were again violent, and again he cried, for one grain of creature-mercy, Lord! one grain!' then, lying more composed, he said, 'Well, this is a mercy;' and continued, 'I wait for the Lord, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope!' laying a peculiar emphasis on the last sentence. About four o'clock in the morning he turned, and said, 'One more farewell, my dear children!' and affectionately embraced them all. From this time he

continued quite still and composed, looking tenderly on his surrounding family and friends, and repeating many portions of Scripture, which could not be distinctly heard. 'Sweet gospel,' often escaped his lips. No alteration took place further, till about half an hour before his departure, none of his family expecting to hear his voice more, when he opened his eyes, and with a smiling countenance, said, 'Dying is sweet work! sweet work! my father! my heavenly Father! I am looking up, I am looking up to my dear Jesus, my God! my portion! my all in all!' then with a dying voice he continued, 'Glory, glory! Home, home!' till his voice failed, and with a smiling countenance, he yielded up his spirit into the hands of his heavenly Father, without a struggle or a groan, about half an hour before seven o'clock in the evening.

He had just completed his sixty-first year, had been in the ways of God thirty-nine years; thirty-three years had been a minister of the gospel; five years pastor of the church at Watford, Herts., and twenty-seven years pastor of the church at Liverpool.

By Samuel Cozens. We come again to notice this little messenger of mercy; and as we have been twice stopped at the threshhold with prefatory remarks; we are resolved on this occasion to dip into the work itself: and as we have spoken for our brother Samuel have heard the sly and envious taunts which we will now let him speak for himself. We have been thrown at him by shallow-minded ones; but we are glad to find Samuel's ministry is well received by old, sturdy, and well disciplined believers. "Cozens will do," say they. And so say we only let Samuel "take heed unto himself;" let him labour

hard in God's word, and at God's throne; and let him "study to shew himself approved be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of unto God-a workman that needeth not to truth;" and then we have no fear but that much real prosperity will attend his ministry. Our extract this time must be short. He says at page 7, speaking of his first convictions of sin

'I believe in my very soul that I had broken the law of God into as many atoms as Moses did, when he came down out of the mount, and let the tables fall; but though I I was the subject of strange emotions of drank in iniquity as the ox drinketh in water, soul, such indescribable horror would sometimes seize me, that I could not bear to be alone, or in the dark; sometimes when I have been in company, the thoughts of death would rush into my mind like an impetuous torrent, and sweep all my pleasure and vanity away in an instant, and make me pace the room like a maniac. I also was sorely tormented with horrible dreams, one of which was that infernal spirits used to meet every night at the further end of my father's cellar: and my father being a publican, he used to send me to this part of the cellar sometimes when he was busy, and it was really like sending me to hell in my feelings, for I very often fancied I saw them; such a cold damp and shaking would come over me whenever I went to that part, that I could scarcely move. This dream was as peculiar as my sleep for two or three years, and I believe it so impaired my nerves that I shall feel it as long as I am in the body; it is only while I have the sensible enjoyment of God's love in my heart, and can see and realise my eternal interest in God's salvation, that I am free from these fears. * * There are many others which I could relate which made a deep impression on my mind, but still there was not power enough in them to separate me from sin, though they often spoilt the pleasure of it. O! the solemn obduracy of an unsanctified heart! I am satisfied that neither dreams, visions, men, angels, or devils, are sufficient to remove man's natural obduration, and give a felt "The Lost Found or the Rebel Saved." hatred to sin; and I am further satisfied that

Christian Reviewer.

WE have before us two new periodicals: the first is called "Christian Converse," by William Giles, of Seacomb: this introductory number is filled with letters of a more private and family character; only interesting to the parties concerned. The other work is called The Spiritual Wrestler:" and we expect is in some measure under the management or editorial direction of our brother W——, of Robertsbridge. It is a nice little tract for a penny; and is calculated in some measure to be useful to "Zion's children in the Wilderness." We wish the Spiritual Wrestler" God-speed.

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