Thou didst then say, 'I will surely do thee good!' Besides, what would become of thy promise, Lord? Thou knowest the enmity of my brother's heart, and that he is marching with an army of four hundred men. It is also known to thee, O Lord, how defenceless I am, how unable I am to contend with him, and how impossible it is for me to appease his wrath. I therefore cannot, nay, will not, let thee go, except thou bless me. And he blessed him there."" But, beloved, space tells us we must for the present leave Jacob, and have just a word with you. Has not the Lord blessed you? Can you remember the time or place?

"Dost know the place, the spot of ground

Where Jesus did thee meet?"

Can it be forgotten? surely, never! And was not Jesus very precious then? Was He not the altogether lovely? Did not the things of time and sense recede at His approach? Yea, was there not a total eclipse of all sublunary things? Was not the language of your heart expressed in the words of the poet ?

"Nothing but Jesus I esteem,

My soul is then sincere;

And every thing that's dear to Him,

To me is also dear."

"Yes," say you, "under the Lord's blessing, such has been the language of my inmost soul. Those were indeed happy moments; but since then," Ah! what? what since then? "A sentance of death has been passed upon every thing, comfort all gone, sacred secret communings all gone, and an horror great darkness has come over me." Yes, beloved, thus the family have, and will find it again and again—more or less-but it is the right path. The Lord has determined to try His own work, to the glory of His own great name and the good of His loved children.

of

'And He blessed him there." The man who is blessed with a knowledge of His grace union to Christ is favoured indeed, and can sing with holy

zest,

In Christ! O, how the blissful thought
Buoys up the hope His love hath wrought,
'Midst change, and grief, and woe!
Were crowns and empires mine to-day,
I'd freely give the whole away;

For Christ I'd all forego.

Allow us to put a question or two before closing: Reader, have you passed from death unto life? If so, you are eternally loved. Are you called by grace? If you are, you were eternally elected in Jesus. Are you walking in newness of spirit? Have you been brought in contact with Jesus? Is Christ the object of thy pursuit, and the subject of thy heart? If so, you were eternally given to Christ, preserved in Christ, saved by Christ, and shall ever reign with Christ. You are altogether blessed, and neither men nor devils can reverse it. Beloved, farewell.

15, Leverton Street, Kentish Town, N. W.

Yours to serve,

THE EDITOR.

Among the many

A WITNESS'S OFFERING.

servants sent by the Lord into the ministry, few have to stablish, strengthen, and settle" the children of God

been made the means like ARTHUR TRIGGS. We have had good and gracious men " able to admonish," " of sound speech that cannot be condemned," and "giving full proof of their ministry;" but, without derogating other men's labours, to Arthur Triggs especially God has, in His wisdom, love, and faithfulness bestowed His good Spirit for the edification of the household of faith, “building them up in their most holy faith.”

I am aware that many will object even to the bare mention of his name, and among them some of God's own family. It will be as well, therefore, before entering on the use which God has made of him to His people, to consider some of the objections raised against his preaching.

The "railing accusations" of professors of all kinds are but as cause and effect the gospel is preached, and they are offended in Him; for "These speak evil of those things which they know not." But "to them who have obtained like precious faith," I would say, "Beware lest any man should beguile you with enticing words." Some whom I love in the truth, misunderstanding words and meanings, have earnestly warned their hearers of "pernicious ways;" but of whom it may be said, "No doubt ye are the people, and wisdom shall die with you." Others, again, have used invectives, and applied every fleshly effort to bring into disrepute "the_mason." Contented as many of them have been, with hear-say, they have lacked the intelligence of the high priest, who asked, "Are these things so ?" he has been called "Presumptuous wretch,' dangerous fellow," but I must not expose their foolishness, lest their spiritual minds should be hurt; suffice it to say, they have been wanting in the worldly sagacity of Gallio, when he said, "If it be a matter of words andnames and of your law, look ye to it, for I will be judge of no such matter." Mr. Triggs might say, "But I would ye should understand, brethren, thatthe things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel ;" for many men labouring to dissuade, have been, unwittingly, the means of their people going to hear "Jesus only."

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The word "Nonentity" has, perhaps, created greater indignation than any word ever coined. Now, if it were an innovation, it might be said, reason would that I should bear with you;" but it is one of the commonest words in the English language. It is said, too, by some, that the word is unscriptural. If, before objecting, they would but take the trouble to compare "words," it would be found to be perfectly scriptural, simply meaning a thing that does not exist. If, too, they would candidly compare what they so frequently utter with the meaning of this word, they must pronounce them to be nothing more or less than synonymous. What meaning do they attach to these expressions? "Sin is for ever put away:" "Christ suffered for sin once:" The church is everlastingly saved?" Do they not imply that sin, as standing before God and His people, is a nonentity? Why, the precise meaning is enforced by those who reprobate the word.

There are two motives to be discerned in making remarks about others. One is in soberly weighing the pro. and con., and so arriving at a proper conclusion; the other is, in giving vent to mere prejudice and malignity, ably prompted by envy and fleshly zeal. Far be it from me to impute unworthy

motives to those children of God who feel constrained to speak of peculiarities or failings; nor can I agree exactly with those who would summarily hush into silence every observation that might be made about a brother with a "I've enough faults of my own;" because that seems to savour a little of affectation; and I have found that those remarks have as often tended to establish a man's character as to deteriorate it in esteem. It is, however, very different when taken up "in the lips of infamy," and merchandize made of that which ought only to be talked of in the "spirit of love and of a sound mind." But what has resulted from the malignant opposition? The professors have been fed, who greedily "eat up the sins of God's people," while the children of God, by the same means, have been starved. Those having

the circumcised heart have then gone to hear "what this babbler saith," and have come away declaring that he "was a man sent from God." Yet, in the midst and above all, this deeply-experienced saint has been enabled "to endure as seeing Him who is invisible;" and if some of the children of God preach and write against him, "yet his prayer also shall be in their calamity," while his soul's desire is, "That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgment of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ; in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.'

It is really humiliating to hear men cavil at truths which have, through the witness of the Spirit, been made a comfort to so many, tempted, tried, buffeted, and devil-hunted souls, who have

"Found it sweet to feel the same,

Passing tribulation's flame."

It is flagrant, too, to read words of very different import added to those which he has said, to suit the miserable cravings of grovelling factious minds. To hear also disputes about a word when the same conclusions are arrived at from different points of view, ought ever to be denounced as vulgar prevarications.

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Serious, however, as these things are to reflect upon, they become comparatively little when considering Arthur Triggs as a servant of Jesus Christ." Here it is that the opposers become the accusers and impugners of the Holy One of Israel. Arthur Triggs has, by the teachings and leadings of God the Eternal Spirit, "come behind in no good gift," and has given "full proof of his ministry;" for "in nothing" is he "behind the very chiefest of" God's ministers, though he "be nothing," and contented to be so, so long as God is glorified in his body and in his spirit which are His."

It might be contended by some, that undue praise is bestowed upon this minister in particular. I would reply, "ye have compelled me;" "but he ought to have been commended of you.' There is no need for me either to explain or praise; nay, he might with truth say, "Ye are our epistle, written in our hearts, known and read of all men." However, as a Witness's Offering, we who have been favoured "to sit before the Lord in His house," hearing His servant "preaching peace by Jesus Christ, He is Lord of all," cannot but speak of the things "which we have seen and heard," and "have handled, tasted, and felt of the good word of life."

I remember Zion Chapel, where "the word of the Lord had free course and was glorified," and "the dew lay on my branch," where our most

glorious Christ" was the theme with both preacher and hearer; where

we

دو

"Wept as pardon'd sinners do,

Felt the blood of sprinkling too."

It has been said by some, and I would gladly reciprocate it, that there has seldom been such a highly favoured, while, at the same time, deeply tribulated church as the one which "was gathered together" there. This may, on the other hand, be deemed fanciful and exaggerated; but they comprised some of the oldest and most experienced members of the churches about the metropolis. There was this happy coincidence contributed to bring about this result a tribulated, persecuted, and despised minister, and an afflicted and oppressed people. Here was the secret of that sweet, spiritual, heart communion which we had one with another; here is the answer to "those who would trouble us;" and while the verbal or oral communications were so few, we "joyed over one another "in Christ Jesus," " knowing no man after the flesh." Belonging to that "sect which is everywhere spoken against," this" minister of God" has "not failed to declare unto us the whole counsel of God" "in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, in strifes (for Christ's sake), in imprisonments (bonds of the gospel), in tumults (among professors), in labours, in watchings, in fastings; by pureness, by knowledge, by long suffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love ununfeigned, by the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, by honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report." What shall I more say, for Arthur Triggs dwells in the spiritual affections of multitudes of the children of God, "his companions in tribulation," who "rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh;" and wheresoever Jesus is preached in His suitability, and sufficiency to poor sensible sinners, there the self same truths will delight the soul, and those walking "in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made them free," will "joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ," that sin, as standing between their souls and God, is a "NONENTITY.”

Kentish Town, 31st March, 1859.

CHRIST THE ONLY SAFETY.

(Continued from page 93.)

SAMUEL.

O those dying words of my blessed Christ, "It is finished!" They thrill through my soul, crumbling me in the dust. That voice so loud and strong, which shook the earth to her centre, has, like a "still small voice," won its way to my heart, cheered my spirit, and ravished my inmost soul. O the love of my blessed Jesus, to die for me, to give His live a ransom for me, and to make me sweetly willing in the day of His power! His, indeed, is an undying love, that knows no beginning, nor can it have an ending. A love, ever flowing toward His own elect children. Surely it flows in "broad rivers and streams" to His blood-bought family! How unspeakable the mercy to have this love shed abroad in our heart! In our one heart. There is but one heart for all God's people, one fold, one Shepherd. Why such love to us -Ah! to me?-to thus secure us in that eternal fold which is too high for

any enemy to get over, too deep for any foe to undermine, and too strong for the combined powers of world, sin, death, self, or the devil to break through, pull down, or destroy in any way. How safe, then, are those within this fold! How secure from the blast of the terrible one! How great the condescension of our dear Redeemer to come down and do the work the Father gave Him to do! Not one thing has He left undone, but perfected for ever them that are sanctified. Earth and hell might well shake at the sound of His dying voice when He cried, "It is finished." What precious words! How they tell upon my heart! How they encircle my soul! How they enwrap my every thought! How softly they lay me at His footstool, loving, blessing, and praising Him for love so superlative, for blood so rich and free, and for righteousness so transcendantly beautiful. "O that men would praise the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men.” I do bless and praise His name that He has given me to see and feel my lost, ruined condition, that I owe five hundred pence to justice, without one mite to pay; and yet He has frankly forgiven me all. Some talk of doing many things for Christ; but I bless and adore His holy name that he hath shown me how utterly impossible it is for me to do anything acceptable in His sight unless He is pleased to work in me" to will and to do of His own good pleasure.' One thing I well know, had not grace prevented me, I should have gone headlong into hell. But, O, the love of His heart! He snatched me as a brand from the burning; He set His love upon me before all worlds; and when He called me by His grace, and showed me His hands and His side, I was brought to His feet helpless, saying, “O Lord, I have destroyed myself, but in thee is my help." He graciously enabled me to look up and behold Him whom I had pierced, giving me to see that my shelter was in His riven side, and causing me to sing,

"Rock of ages cleft for me."

O Lord, I have no other refuge but thyself, no other hiding place but thy I have no hope but in thee.

self;

"If these can alter, I must fall;

I look to thee to be supplied

With life, with will, with power, with all."

O Yes, for 1 can do nothing; and adored be His name for teaching me by His own blessed Spirit that all my righteousness is filthy rags. The Lord hath in love and mercy showed me that had I my deserts I must be damned for ever and ever; so that I have great cause to rejoice in Christ Jesus for saving me from my low estate. How impossible it is for any natural person to know their ruin in the first Adam, their total depravity in a sinning head, and their perilous position if left to nature. It is true that natural men think they are

particular danger, if they walk consistently, doing the thing that is right between man and man; and having some kind of religion, they of course will be right at last. But O, what a delusion! The foundation is rotten, and the whole fabric, though it be as high as Babel, must ultimately be swept away. There is but one safe and sure foundation to build upon, and nothing shall ever be reared upon that basis but the lively stones chosen from before the foundation of the world (1 Pet. ii. 5). What cause, then, have we for gratitude that the dear Lord should in love choose us! What tongue can express the riches of His grace! who can fully speak out His love so sovereign,