plain as it was. Well, my brother, I be- | tribe of false professors are fighting, either openly or in disguise, against the real heavenborn and heaven-bound saints of the living God. But, in the circumstances, you see Abijah comes up with an army of valiant men also against Jeroboam. Abijah's company is but just half the number of Jeroboam's; four hundred thousand chosen men.' But the margin says Abijah 'bound them together;' and he stood up upon mount Zemaraim, which is in mount Ephraim; and there he challenged, and warned, and reproved his adversaries in a most powerful "But as for us, the Lord is our God, and we have not forsaken him; and the priests, which minister unto the Lord, are the sons of Aaron, and the Levites wait upon their business; and they burn unto manner. the Lord every morning and every evening burnt sa.. crifices and sweet incense; the shewbread also set they Abijah boldly affirms that the Lord God in order upon the pure table; and the candlestick of Israel gave the kingdom to David for of gold with the lamps thereof, to burn every evening; for we keep the charge of the Lord our God: ever, and to his sons, by a covenant of salt. but ye have forsaken him. And, behold, God himself He charges him with having risen up and is with us for our captain, and his priests with sound-rebelled against the Lord, (as satan and the ing trumpets to crv alarm against you, O children whore of Babylon have done ;) he acknowof Israel, fight ye not against the Lord of your ledges that Jeroboam's was a very formidable army; that he had cast out the priests of the Lord, the true sons of Aaron, and had made himself priests after the manner of other nations: as all the enemies of God and truth are still doing. fathers, for ye shall not prosper." This word by degrees stole upon my mind: and it seemed to branch out into such glorious things, that my poor frame almost sunk down under the heavy and ponderous weight with which this word laid on my soul. I walked away to the place, crawled up into the pulpit, and secretly besought the Lord to bless me with his presence. But before I got up to preach, my mind was filled with feelings of enmity to the place and people. I thought to myself 'I will soon run away from all this, for death and misery seem to be here.' They finished their second singing; and up I was obliged to get. I said, whether I shall be able to preach or not, the Lord only knows. However, I read the above text out of Chronicles; and such soft, but certain gales of the blessed Spirit blew upon my soul, that I felt great boldness and freedom; and I spoke of the words something after the following manner. I said, I will endeavour to notice I. The circumstances connected with, and the speaker of these words. II. The two-fold declaration herein made: 'The Lord IS OUR GOD: and we have not forsaken him.' Now, Abijah, whose name signifieth 'the will of the Lord;' and 'the Lord is my father,' stands here as a most wonderful type of the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the revealer and accomplisher of the Father's will, and his well-beloved Son. Abijah stood up upon mount Zemaraim which is in mount Ephraim. This Zemaraim, (signifying the pith of trees,) is like unto the heart of an elect sinner, broken down under convictions of sin, and the terrors of the law. How sweet to my soul is this, that this mount Zemaraim was IN mount Ephraim; that is the true church of Christ; and, depend upon it, every poor broken and convinced sinner, is a member of the mystical body of Christ; as Hannah preached of old: "The Lord killeth and maketh alive; he bringeth down to the grave, and he bringeth up.' Well-it is here-in this broken heart, that Christ takes his stand. It is here he III. The four-fold typical description here defies Satan; charges the kingdom of darkgiven of the Old Testament saints. ness with all their wickedness; and makes known the adulterous and rebellious acts of the Babylonish whore, the Arminian, Unitarian, and infidel crew. Reader! Has King Jesus entered into thine heart? Has he there proclaimed war against thy sins and deadly foes? If so ; it is well for thee. Think over these things; and examine thyself. II. Come to the declaration: here is a declaration of divine relationship, and of faithful allegiance unto the true and living God. This is the substance of all that Christ says and does in the hearts of his own elect. -'As for us'- Christ and his church are one-both he that sanctifieth, and they that | First: it is evident they are the subjects of are sanctified, are all of one; for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren. 'As for us the Lord is our God, and we have not forsaken him.' Every act of divine grace in the heart of a regenerate sinner declares, and is a proof of these two things:-first, that the Lord is your covenant God; secondly that by virtue of the eternal hold which Christ has of you, and the vital union you have to him, it is impossible that there ever can be any final departure from the Lord your God. fervent prayer unto God: they burn unto the Lord every morning and evening burnt sacrifices and sweet incense.' Reader! this is a true feature of divine life, but I leave it with the Lord and your own soul. Secondly, they' SET THE SHEWBREAD IN ORDER UPON THE PURE TABLE.' This is, from first to last the work of the Holy Ghost, in the conscience of the sinner; and I know of nothing that seems, in a figurative manner, more clearly and blessedly to define his work, than doth this sentence- they set the shewHas Christ come in? Has he enlightened bread in order upon the pure table. The your understanding-quickened and made table must be made pure; that is the heart spiritually alive your soul? Has he enlarged must be changed by sovereign grace, and your heart, cleansed your conscience, com-made clean, honest, upright and sincere beforted and revived your spirit? By all these fore God. This being done, the Holy Ghost acts of sovereign grace, he says 'The Lord will, in the sinner, set this shew-bread in the is your God,' your covenant God-your sin-right order. pardoning God; your faithful God; and neither things present nor things to come, neither life nor death shall ever be able to separate you from him. Oh, surely this is a glorious mercy for the church of God; In his everlasting love, in his covenant of grace, and in redemption's work, he is a wall of fire round about her and the glory in the midst of her. See how all the persons in the Trinity agree in this one glorious point. The Father says of the covenant made with the Son: My covenant shall STAND FAST WITH HIM. My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my mouth. So the Son says of himself and of the church in him, (when speaking of the heavy sufferings he endured for her,) All this is come upon us; YET HAVE WE NOT FORGOTTEN THEE; neither have we dealt falsely in thy covenant.' This can only be said by Christ for the church; but, this is said, and it is true. So also speaketh the Holy Ghost. Read it in Jer. xxxi. 33, 34: and Ezekiel xxxvii. 26-28. Oh, glorious testimony! May the eternal God thus be our refuge; and then underneath will be the everlasting arms, and neither earth nor hell shall wrest us from his love and power. Now we read, (Lev. xxiv. 5, 6,) that the shew-bread consisted of twelve cakes, which were made of fine flour, and set in two rows, six on a row. I believe there are twelve essential doctrines, every one of which must be received by the election of grace. There are instances where these are not really received into the judgment and understanding; such as in infants, and persons who may be quickly taken home to glory, as the thief on the cross; but the virtue of them are implanted in their souls. So there may be instances where these glorious truths are received into the judgment, while the virtue of them is not found in the soul, consequently no real union to Christ can be there: but in those who grow up into Christ these blessed truths are received and fed upon. What are they? There are three in God the Father; his everlasting and electing love: his predestinating purpose; and his putting the sinner's iniquities upon Christ, imputing his righteousness to them, and thereby joining Christ and the church together in one bond of union that can never be dissolved. There can be no salvation without them. There are also three essential doctrines in the Son. His taking our nature into union III. Here are four terms-Old Testament with his own. His fulfilling and magnifying terms, by which God's elect are set forth, as the law for us: and his making that one regards their spiritual character: they are offering for sin, by which all the Father gave priests, they offer up spiritual sacrifices unto him, were perfected for ever. What a solemn God, and by faith, they present and plead weighty scripture is that, Heb. x. 14, 15; the precious blood of the Lamb, as the only 'By one offering HE HATH PERFECTED FOR ground of their acceptance before him: they EVER them that are sanctified. Whereof the are the sons of Aaron, real, living branches Holy Ghost also is a witness to us.' Who of Christ the living vine; they are fruit-bear-are sanctified? Them that from everlasting ing branches: they are not Nadabs and Abihus, but Eleazars, and Ithamars. They are also Levites, being joined unto Lord in heart and soul: and they are waiters upon their business. Each of these are full of news! matter, descriptive of the real children of God; but I must not enlarge. Come IV. To notice the nature of their business. were set apart in Christ. What of them? Why, they ARE PERFECTED FOR EVER! How? By Christ's one offering; by his finished work on the cross. Oh, glorious Perfected for ever! Let men and angels join, This wond'rous theme to tell;' There are three essential doctrines in the Holy Ghost: regeneration, or the new birth: effectual calling, or an inwrought sanctification: and preservation unto the heavenly kingdom. So are there three distinct essential doctrines in the living sinner. He must have faith in God: he must have pardon by atoning blood: and he must have love to Christ by the Holy Ghost which is given unto him; for if any man love not our Lord Jesus Christ let him be accursed. Reader! have these twelve loaves been set upon the table of thy heart? If so, you will take the candlestick and the lamps; by grace divine you will keep the charge of the Lord and God himself will be with you for your captain. 2 Chron. xiii. 12. Thus, Brother Skelton, I have laid this matter before you. Weigh it, if you can, in the balance of God's word, and in your own soul, and see where it comes from. Grace be with you, prays your brother in the peace of the gospel. CHARLES WATERS BANKS. 6, Pagoda Terrace, Bermondsey New Road. THE DEATH-BED EXPERIENCE OF The late ISAAC BRIDGMAN, WHEN it was announced that ISAAC BRIDGMAN was dead, an old disciple stepped forward, and in a most impressive manner, asked-"HoW DID HE DIE ?" No one present could answer. MR. BRIDGMAN had stood many years as an acknowledged minister of the truth as it is in Christ and it is beyond dispute that many souls had been called in, and many who stand as believers in the Lord Jesus, had been blessed and comforted by his ministry; but there had been a declension, if not a mixing up of error with truth; and some that had heard him to profit, declared his ministry had become useless to them. These things are common enough, even where the ministry wears well; especially in London, where new chapels and fresh ministers are ever rising up; and after whom many will run. Under all circumstances we were glad to find that "The Dying Experience of MR. BRIDGMAN" was published, and from which we make an extract or two. far as a dying testimony is concerned, it is To us, as abundantly evident that he has left the troubles of the church militant below, for the glories of the church triumphant above. "The late ISAAC BRIDGMAN, seventeen years Minister of St. John's Chapel, West Street, Walworth, Surrey, departed this life 5th July, 1846, in the 57th year of his age. His complaint was a disease of the heart. His sufferings were frequently very great, so much so, that at times he labored for breath in the most distressing manner, making it exceedingly painful for him to speak. So favored, however, was he with the presence of God, and so unwavering was his faith, throughout his illness, that the blessed things, which he was enabled to speak, will be remembered many days to come. "He mentioned to his wife that on the 11th June, in a bower in his friend's garden, he had a very gracious manifestation of the Divine presence, and a sweet foretaste of that heaven to which he was soon going; for two hours was he thus engaged with God, and from that time his heavenly-mindedness, peace, and joy in God were great. In relating the circumstance to her, he said, 'My meditation in that bower was chiefly on the glories and joys of heaven, with an assurance that I should soon enjoy its blessedness for myself, accompanied with a very good time in prayer for you and my children, I saw many roses in that garden full of bloom and beauty, but none equal to the Rose of Sharon, whom I saw at that time for myself, blooming in the beauties of his love, and condescension, pity, grace, and faithfulness to my soul; and round about that garden I saw many a tree stately and fruit-bearing, but none equal to on both sides of the river of God's city, here Him who is the Tree of Life, which is planted for the life of believers, and there for their full enjoyment.' before me. be better to-morrow, and that will be well: I Seeing his wife in tears, he said, 'I may may be worse to-morrow, and that will be of God is in me, and the heaven of God is well; the hand of God is on me, the love ligion; without it I should be like a wild What a mercy to have true rebull in a net, struggling to be free. What a picture is that of my corrupt nature, (withthanks be to God who has given me the out grace) how rebellious would it be; but victory, through our Lord Jesus Christ.' "Mrs. B. asked him if he had any anxiety morsel, for temporal things to me are noof any kind on his mind, he replied, 'Not a thing: and as to you, my dear wife, you are in the hands of my heavenly Father. I long haste, I would neither linger nor leap, God's to be in heaven, but do not wish to make time is the best.' On one occasion he said, "If Satan were Christ, I would tell him, that he is a liar!' to-day to tell me, that I never loved Jesus for I have loved him, I have believed in him, and built on him, and clung to, and hid myself in him and now my life is hid with Christ in God, and when he shall appear again, I shall be with him in glory, no more to see him as through a glass darkly, but face to face. I wish I could say a thousand things to his glory. I want to magnify Christ by my death if I die, or by my life if I live.' "His complaint not allowing him to rest, he said, 'I want rest, but I have rest in Christ, and medicine in Christ. I should like to bathe my body in water, and my soul in the ocean of Christ's love; my week's work is done, and I must go home and rest: I must go up higher, and as to-morrow is the longest day in the year, so shall I go to a long rest. I have no trouble; none at all but my affliction. Oh! for the wings of a dove to flee away and be at rest; but I am willing to stay, only let me have grace equal to my day.' "He began to take leave of his friends, as he could bear to see them, and to each he gave a word of advice and consolation, very touching to the hearts of those who were addressed, and not soon to be forgotten. "He asked his wife to read to him the hymn that begins, 'Oh! sovereign love that first began,' &c., when he said, 'I thank God I can go through all that hymn, and praise the riches of his divine grace for what he has done for me. "To a friend he said, 'Here we are on this side Jordan; how soon we shall be on the other side we cannot tell-as it regards my entrance into another and better world, I have a good hope, and look for that far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; I am a lost sinner in myself, but saved in Christ: the Gospel I have preached to others is my solace now. When we have delivered all the messages God has given us to deliver, he will say, 'Come up higher;' adding, 'I stand on the borders of the heavenly land, and have done with earth; waiting must be my posture; I want to see more of God's salvation, I have had strength equal to my day, and I trust I shall to the last.' "Referring to the manifestations of God to his soul, when a young man, he said, 'The light of God then shone upon me, and he was to me a glorious Sun of righteousness; every day I used then to ride to Hackney Wick, to bathe, of which I was very fond, and often I meditated upon those words: There is a river, the streams whereof make glad the city of God.' I preached a sermon from them once. Those where what the poet calls Halcyon days;' for in his light daily I walked-a child of light. Afterwards he said, Lord, get me quite ready, and take me to thyself.' · "On a friend asking him how he was, he replied: If it is well to be looking to Jesus; if it is well to have him in our hearts; to be abiding with him; and to be hastening to his home, as I trust I am, 'it is well.' I shall not go to Heaven's gates demanding entrance by right (as in my natural state), but present myself there in the name of Jesus, humbly acknowledging my fallen state, but shewing my credentials; that I had believed in Jesus, worn his robe of righteousness, received and walked in his spirit, and now humbly ask admission into heaven, through the blood of Christ. "On a friend remarking, I hope you have had the Lord's presence?' he replied, I have had it most powerfully and pleasantly. He has given me patience to wait his time.' When I was first laid by, the Lord spoke to my soul most powerfully; 'Servant, thy work is done.' I find that the same hope, and way, and end, I have preached to the people, I can live and die by now. Grace and peace have followed me.' "He said, 'My final testimony was delivered on the last day of May, 1846. 1 preached in the morning from the 48th Psalm, 12th and 13th verses, 'Walk about Zion, and go round about her: tell the towers thereof,' &c. In the evening I preached from 28th Genesis, 20th and 21st verses, And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, if God will be with me, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on, so that I come again to my father's house in peace then shall the Lord be my God.' Remarking, 'I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ; with its light I am going through the valley, and I hope the light will shine more and more; and the enemy has not attacked me yet.' "Referring to the vicissitudes of his life, he said, 'I have had a stormy voyage, but it will be a safe one-we are to fill up our measure of the sufferings of Christ in our flesh-he was made perfect through sufferings and he knoweth how to deliver-Jesus can deliver me; satan is not permitted to trouble me at all. 'Go to that fountain, and see if our sins are not all washed away; they are all wiped out.' "Approaching nearer to his dissolution, and his weakness greatly increasing, he said, 'I want a guide now to lead me in my thoughts-to guide me in my affections, to keep them where they ought to be.' 'Have you been enabled to realize the beauty of Christ?' He replied, 'I have, in measure, by the power of faith, which God has given me; as he is my life, I breathe in him; as he is my light, I walk in him; as he is my Saviour, I shall live with him. At "July 5th.-The morning of his departure, he addressed those of the family who were present and said, 'I commend you all to the tender mercies of our God and Saviour.' two o'clock, he raised his head from the pillow, and reached towards his wife, gave her three kisses and said, ' God bless you.' These were the last words he uttered audibly, and at three o'clock his happy spirit winged its way to realms of everlasting day-not a sigh or groan escaped his lips-his end was peace." [The work from whence these quotations are made, is beautifully printed; and is published by Jackson & Walfourd. The price too high.] [61] STATE OF LONDON CHURCHES.-No. 6. ZION CHAPEL, WATERLOO ROAD. MR. ARTHUR TRIGGS fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding." Is there not a cold setting down in Gospel doctrines, and the name of Christ, without the mind, likeness, and image of Christ, awfully manifested? Satan can shift his quarters. If Popery won't do, Puseyism shall; and if Arminianism won't, Calvinism must. But it must be in name only, not in power. And what does it all signify, if nothing but worldly mindedness is seen? So there is a false spirituality as well as true. 1 John iv. i. 1 Cor. xiii. 1, 2. 2 Cor. xi. 13, 14, 15. 66 THE 34th chapter of Ezekiel is entitled "A reproof of the shepherds," and begins thus: "And the word of the Lord came unto me saying, Son of man prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God unto the shepherds: Wce be to the shepherds of Israel, that do feed themselves, should not the shepherds feed the flock? Ye eat the fat, and ye clothe you with the wool; ye kill them that are fed; but ye feed not the flock. The diseased have ye not strengthened, neither have ye healed that which was sick, neither have ye bound up that which was Oh, that the Lord would lay the interests broken, neither have ye brought again that of Zion indelibly upon the hearts of his which was driven away, neither have ye people "TO PRAY for the PEACE of Jerusa sought that which was lost; but with force lem." They shall prosper that love thee." and with cruelty have ye ruled them," &c. REAL VITAL PRAYER; HOW LACKING IN And the Lord goes on charging upon the NEARLY ALL THE CHURCHES OF CHRIST! shepherds the scattering of his sheep, who Oh, that the blessed power of the Spirit were "scattered because there was no shep- might come among us, and help our inherd." These shepherds loved ease and firmities! The church is far from healthy; fleshly gratification; they understood not many are weak, feeble, and sickly, and have the nature of their office, but acted like hire- no ear for the practical truths as set forth in lings, who care not for the sheep; (John the Gospels, and the Epistle to James. It x. 12, 13. ;) eating the fat from them; cloth- was a weighty sentence to my soul, I once ing themselves with their wool which was heard from Mr. BANKS, referring to the forbidden in God's house; indulged them- character of many resting in mere doctrinal selves in what they pleased, and by their con- light, unaccompanied with humility of soul, duct fouled with their feet, or perverse walk-"Take heed that the doctrines of the gospel ing, the clear waters of the sanctuary, and this muddy drink they gave the sheep-" As for my flock they eat that which ye have trodden with your feet, and they drink that which ye have fouled with your feet." It is time for the sheep to cry out against such shepherds, when this ruling" with force and with cruelty" is apparent. How gloomy is this picture! but who dare deny that this is not true now; and is a description to the life of very many who are in office? Do we not witness a trampling under foot the holy and sacred injunctions of the Bible? Are not the precepts of the word esteemed a very light thing by the conduct of many who should be ensamples to the flock, and explained away by others? Do we not witness a violation of what is spoken by God; at the same time shielding themselves under the bulwarks of promise for defence, as a sort of palliation; promises for the poor and needy? Where is that meek and lowly spirit gone? Where must we look for the "sons of Zadok," who keep inviolate the charge of God, when professing Israel in streams go away in "the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth?" We ask, "Where shall wisdom be found? and where is the place of understanding?" For "the VOL. III. are not thunderbolts to you: instead of being chariots of mercy to take you home in." But, I wish to come to a point without being thought abusive; I intend these re marks, rather as warnings, and that to those whom I believe are of the church militant. The warnings, reproofs, and rebukes of the Bible, refer to the Israel of God more than others. The Bible is church property, belonging to those whom the Holy Ghost teaches. Reports have been plentifully cir culated of late respecting ZION CHAPEL, WATERLOO ROAD, now occupied by Mr. TRIGGS, I shall therefore endeavour to confine my remarks on the present state of the ministry in London to this spot. ZION CHAPEL, about twenty-five years ago, was built by Mr. HASLEM, who for two or three years in it, (in most melodious tones, and with no ordinary talent,) held forth the good word of life," to crowds that thronged its walls. But, alas! in the years 1826, and 1827, the pages of the Gospel Magazine "sounded the alarm," against him. battering rams of truth laid seige against it," and her " battlements were taken away, for they were not the Lord's." And what must we say now? This once highly favoured man, whose light in doctrine shone forth with peculiar brilliancy, is a desolation. He I The |