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had heard stated by some, whom I judged spake impartially of him, that he was acquainted with the path in which the Lord had led me, and I became very anxious to hear him. Accordingly I went one Saturday evening to see a man whom I knew to be a regular attendant on Mr. Jenkins' ministry, to ask him if he thought of going to Lewes on the following day, to which he replied he did, and we agreed to walk together. So at the appointed time we commenced our journey, and we had not travelled far, before he addressed me in the following manner :

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'William, I have often seen you in great trouble, but now you appear to be very happy. I replied that I had been in great trouble, fearing that I should be for ever lost, and on account of it I could neither work by day nor rest at night. My sins, and the wickedness of my abominable evil heart, were so continually before me, that I had been tempted to put an end to my existence. He then, and very naturally, inquired, how I had been delivered from my trouble? I told him that the Lord in his mercy had appeared for me, and wrought saving faith in my soul, shed abroad his love in my heart in such measure and manner, that I was completely lost in it; and that I had also had such a sight of my dear Lord and Saviour, in all his sufferings, that I should never forget. That he had assured me that all my sins were forgiven me for his sake, that I was a chosen vessel of mercy, that he had set his everlasting love upon me before I was born, that he had called me by his grace, and when I arrived at the end of my pilgrimage, 1 should enjoy that heaven, and that happiness, which he had prepared for me. He assured me that the love which I at that time enjoyed, was nothing in comparison to that which I should enjoy in the world to come, and further, that he had ordained me to preach his ever-blessed gospel.

"At my relation of these things the man appeared quite amazed, and asked how I could see the Lord? I told him he was revealed to me, and at the time I knew not whether I was in the body or out of it; and he seemed much pleased with my simple but honest detail.

“At length we arrived at Lewes, and went into Jireh Chapel, and I had the pleasure of hearing Mr. Jenkins describe my feelings most minutely, when I was under the law, and the same under the gospel, which quite delighted my soul : this was a short time only before Mr. Jenkins discontinued to preach on account of the illness whereof he sometime afterwards died.

"When we came out of the chapel, my fellow traveller observed to me that Mr. J. had then preached just what I had been relating as we were walking along in the morning; and he certainly did with great feeling."

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"We arrived at our homes in the evening, and a happy day it had been with my poor soul. All the doctrines which I have before mentioned have never had a place in my heart since, and I am persuaded never will: but it grieves me to relate, that my companion appeared to lose all his religion before he died, while I am spared a monument of the Lord's mercy.

About this time I altered my situation in life, and by so doing I was brought into much darkness of mind, and experienced sorely the hidings of God's face, for I asked not counsel of the Almighty to direct me in so important an affair."

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Corruptions began to boil up like a pot, discontentment prevailed, and everything seemed out of order; the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and the pride of life predominated, and, in fact, every evil which I had before considered slain, began mightily to prevail; and I found the apostle's words to be true, in Gal. v. 17. One night in particular, satan hurled such fiery darts of temptation into my mind, as I dare not mention, but it weil nigh drove me to destraction. At another time he endeavoured to insinuate to me, that there was no God; but here through mercy, I was enabled to withstand him. I told him boldly I knew that there was a God, for he had delivered me from great and sore troubles, and not only so, but that he had made known to me, and that in the most confirmatory manner, that he had pardoned all my sins; that he had removed my transgressions, as far as the east is from the west; that he had set his everlasting

and electing love upon me, and that nothing should be able to separate his love from me, which was in Christ Jesus my Lord. But notwithstanding, satan, nothing weary, (ah! an unwearied enemy indeed he is,) suggested that the scriptures were not the word of God, nothing more than a cunningly devised fable. But here also, through divine assistance being communicated to me, by my ever adorable God and Saviour, 1 was enabled to rebut this his temptation, and told him, I knew, that the scriptures were the word of God, for he had applied many passages to my soul with much energy and power. Still he kept injecting his fiery darts into my mind, until one Sabbath day, when I went to Lewes to hear a gentleman of the name of Hudson, preach at Jireh Chapel, Lewes, where he officiated for Mr Jenkins. On the road I

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overtook a man whom I knew, and with him I freely entered into conversation, and I told him that if I had not lost my senses, I was greatly afraid that I should. But he opened the scriptures to me, and threw such light upon them, as enabled me to see the craft of satan, that I bantered him in such a manner, as to make him flee before me, which surely was of the Lord. When I arrived at Lewes, I enjoyed much calmness of mind under the discourse, and in a measure got grounded, as to the devices of satan."

How solemn are the exercises of a

child of God, after pardoning love has been revealed in the soul! Oh, how dreadful are the corruptions of our nature! How powerful, and how palatable the temptations of the devil, in and towards our wicked hearts; so that certain we are, no measure of spiritual enjoyment, love, and liberty, before realised, can ever he a barrier against the rushings in of satan, nor the painful workings of a deceitful heart.

William Harris now became the subject of sharper conflicts than ever, preparatory to his being called into the ministry; but our notice of them must be deferred for the next number.

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and to publish, and to advertise your Sermons, we think you ought not to lay it on so thick in the price. Only think!

three-pence, for what they call a Sermon-making little more than seven pages of large type. We declare, it is too bad! A penny is the utmost that ought to be charged. But the reader will say the quantity has nothing to do with the price-it is the quality. Well, then, let us look at what it is Mr. Balfour says.

"The Archangel's Trump."

That is the striking title of one of these read the title and the text, and a few threepenny books-and when you have portions of scripture strung together, you have read all that is worthy of a moment's notice in fact there is nothing else. Not an original idea is to be found-not a feature of christian experience traced out-not an atom of scripture opened it is to bad to make the people pay three from beginning to end Oh, Mr. Balfour, pence for such a make-out-sort of a sermon as this. We should hope some kind friend will persuade you not to push off your dried and cut sermons at so dear

a rate.

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Droppings from Hermon"-"why," (we said to ourselves,) "that is a sweet little title; dare say John Eedes is a very spiritual man; and these hymns are the breathings of his soul; so we sent for the book; and here it is before us. A little better than thirty "What is small pages for six-pence. the Author's motive?" say you, "for publishing this dear little hymn book?”

Don't know; cannot pretend to say; only that 66 a wish has been expressed that they should appear in print." This wish has been complied with; and they are nice little hymns enough: but we have been looking for something a little out of the way; we hoped to find a few pieces that might be worth transcribing: but whether it is a want of judgment, and discernment on our part; or a want of real sterling value, on the Author's part, we cannot say; but while we find nothing to condemn in them; we see nor feel nothing to move us to urge the reader to do as we have done give six-pence for the book.

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or such an abstract ministry will be well calculated to strengthen that herd of hypocrites and unclean professors which now so thickly abound. We do solemnly believe that the ministry which stands in the power of God, will contend as earnestly for the essential work of the Holy Ghost within the sinner, as it will for the eternal redemption accomplished by Christ for the sinner. The following extract is a fair specimen of the pleasing style by which, in a few words, Mr. Felton comprehends and advances rich clusters of eternal truth.

A Faith's View of Christ, as the express weeps until Jesus touches it. Whatever he does, is

Image of God.

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By C. S. London: James Paul. THIS is a sterling piece of divinity and is evidently the production of a mind that has been deeply rooted in this all-essential branch of Gospel-truth, THE GODHEAD OF CHRIST. Here are twenty-four pages (for two-pence) filled with an interesting contention for, and a simple elucidation of the truth as it is in Jesus. It is a tract well suited for general distribution; we could wish many thousands of them might be circulated through the length and breadth of the land.

"The Great Charter of Zion, or Jesus all in all" the substance of a Sermon by William Felton, Minister of the Gospel, at Zion Chapel, Deptford, Kent.-London: Highams.

THIS is certainly a discourse which displays considerable ministerial ingenuity; and some natural talent; the great fundamental gospel truth that"Jesus Christ is all for his people, and all in his people, is declared and set out with clearness and decision. We should, certainly, have been glad to have found more mention made of the blessed Spirit's work in the souls of sinners, without whom, Christ can never be savingly known; without whom Jesus' name, and blood, his person, work, and righteousness can never be experimentally dear. Mr. Felton says, "there are not a few who seem to glory in our Saviour's standing for us, but almost reject his dwelling in us; they talk like parrots about justification, but sanctification seems shut out of their creed."

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Alas! it is too true: we have, ourselves, heard the people of God called fools for looking for a Christ within them."

"There is but one Christ, (says the great man,) and he is in heaven; and that is where you must look."-This is true, as far as it goes; but something more must be said upon the subject

"There is a vital association in every act of our redeeming Brother :--he represents to redeem; he redeems to deliver; he delivers to bring to himself. No heart yields, until he breaks in upon it; no eye done effectually and for ever. Thus as his representation is infallible, so we read his redemption is eternal; and the same is said of his salvation :--the saved must therefore endure, because Jesus is all their life; all their righteousness; all their holiness; all their fitness to come before God; all their strength to grapple with foes and fears; all their wisdom to teach them the good and the right way. As a priest he lives to save to the uttermost; as a prophet he has skill to instruct us in all our difficulties; as a king, he takes possession of his purchased throne. All grace is in him for his represented ones, and from his mediatorial fulness, shall every member receive, and grace for grace."

Review of Mr. Elven's Pamphlet.

(Continued from p. 129.)

from their communion table, they ought to ex"If Baptists exclude unbaptised believers clude unbaptised preachers from their pulpits,” Allowing that in the occasional interchange of pulpits, which occur between baptised, and sprinkled brethren in the ministry, both parties are in the wrong, still practical contempt of the Lord's ordinance of immersion would not be justified. Two wrongs can never make a right. But we dispute the soundness of Mr. Elven's position. Baptists DO NOT EXCLUDE their independent friends from the table. They exclude themselves by their refusal to comply with New Testament terms of Communion; and it is hard usage of the poor Baptists to charge them with that which cannot be fully laid to their account. They admit Pædo-baptist believers to social intercourse, and sanctuary services, (preaching, prayer, and praise,) because they are new creatures in Christ Jesus-and that is Scriptural: they likewise admit others to the Lord's table because they are immersed be. lievers-and that is also Scriptural; thus are they free from all charges of impropriety, or inconsistency.

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8. "That for a Christian to be baptised, without light' as to his obligation, would prove him unfaithful to his own conscience, and a transgressor against God." This is a mere truism, which applies to all acts of

not Mr Elven, and his colleagues in modern liberality, exclude the unbaptised, and the ungodly, alike, from their "Church Meetings?" And again-but we cease; for how can we answer a proposition which asserts nothing, means nothing, and necessarily ends in nothing.

christian obedience, and is altogether irrele- | concentrated essence of weakness itself. Do vant to this subject. As Mr. Elven has introduced it, we will use it and commend it, in a slightly altered form, to his serious consideration--WITHOUT CLEAR LIGHT FROM ABOVE, AND A "THUS SAITH THE LORD," IN APOSTOLIC PRACTICE, (which Mr. Elven cannot adduce,) in defending the admission of the unbaptised to the Lord's Supper" he is proved UNFAITHFUL TO HIS OWN (enlight-brated the death of Christ by the breaking of ened) CONSCIENCE AND A TRANSGRESSOR AGAINST GOD."

9. "We have no evidence that the first communicants were baptised, therefore, they were not baptised before communicating.'

It is natural that our readers should feel anxious to know whether this is indeed Mr. E.'s most illogical statement? Certainly it is. But as no direct statement is made in the New Testament, respecting the baptism of the eleven, to whom the Lord Jesus administered the typical elements at his last supper, we can only judge of the matter by implication and inference. We read that before the supper the apostles were baptist ministers; "Jesus baptised not, but his disciples;" therefore we conclude, and we believe most fully, that they had been baptised themselves, how else could they go forth and proclaim, "He that believeth and is baptised, shall be saved?" The natural reply, on Mr. Elvin's hypothesis, to such a message would have been-"Thou that preachest that another should not neglect baptism, dost thou neglect it?" Oh! how God-displeasing must the man-gratifying and money-getting heresy of " munion" be, when it seems necessary in its defence, to make the Lord's holy apostles, appear like many hypocritical parsons of the present day, who, if they spoke the truth, would exclaim "Do as we say, but not as we do."

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10. "Tested by the word of God, strict communion is weighed in the balance. and found wanting. We wish when Mr. Elven had said this, he had used the scales as well as talked about them. If he will, at his earliest convenience, prove, from the Scriptures, that his assertion is true, we most cheerfully promise to unite in the advocacy of his popular views; but until he does this, we abide by the testimony of the Holy Ghost in the 41st and 42d verses of the 2nd chapter of the Acts of the Apostles, and solemnly pronounce his statement, (however well meant,) to be condemnatory of apostolic practice, and insulting to the Holy Ghost; with whose sacred bedewings they were copiously blessed.

11. "Strict communion is unjust, as it equally excludes the unbaptised believer, and the drunkard or blasphemer." This is the

12. "That the Primitive Christians cele

bread, when not assembled in a church capacity." This is supposed to be gathered from the passages which speak of "breaking bread from house to house." But do we not read of the church in the house of Priscilla and Acquilia, (Romans xvi. 3, 4, 5.) "the church, in the house of Nymphas," (Col. 4, 15.) and "the church in the house of Philemon," (2nd verse)? Still this is not the point in dispute. Mr. Elven has in our view treated his subject as some other preachers do theirs'; he has gone round it, towards it, and right away from it, but not at all into it. He has succeeded in showing that the most fertile imagination, and the most accommodating disposition, and the most lively genius, must ever fail in overturning the decisions of the Holy Spirit as to the doctrines and discipline of the church; in demolishing the bulwarks which the King of Zion has placed around her; and in improving upon the gospel order of the ordained institutions of our Lord Jesus Christ. May the Lord's name be praised for this fresh failure of error, and disobedience; and this additional triumph of the strict, unchanging and ever

blessed truth as it is in Jesus!

How parson Gibbs obtained his wife. I HAD for many years made up my mind (as I thought,) never to marry, yet I found some difficulty in escaping some, although I can say I never gave them any cause, for I ever detest playing on the feelings of a female to gain her affections and then abandoning her, I think it lets a man down very low, and renders him base; therefore I always stood clear of doing this; but on a certain day, I entered an house, and as it was appointed before time, I saw her that is my present wife, who being of the same profession, and going to the same place of worship as myself, and being in modest dress, just to my taste, (for I have a great dislike to see the female that professes godliness in gay attire, it certainly does not become such an one,) with one glance I was caught, and as she lived thirteen miles from this place, as soon as I had an opportunity, I told her of my desire, to make her my wife, but that I did not wish to take her by surprise, neither to receive any answer at the present, and therefore I wished her to ask the Lord for

counsel, and I would do the same; and would leave her to give me an answer at the end of three months. I saw her no more till the expiration of that time, and then we came to a decision, after which, we seldom saw each other oftener than once in four months; at length the time arrived that we were joined together in holy wedlock, but not without great opposition on the part of her friends.

Weighed in the Balances.

"The Lord is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed."

SIR,-Every Christian possesses a new state of existence, and consequently capacities to know, believe, obey, love, adore, &c. ; these are called into action by the word, means of grace, and the invisible but personal act of the Spirit. "As ye have learned Christ Jesus, so walk ye in him." Thus all learning connected with Christ is shown by the correspondence in the walk. Here we have a proof that where the life does not correspond to the professed knowledge, the knowledge is not from Christ: this is a most essential point in our, or in any time of the church. We are called to witness much profession of knowledge, faith and love, whilst the life remains as before. Faith, like knowledge, has it demonstration, and this demonstration is in what it does: by this we triumph over every foe; the world, satan, and the body of sin. The word of God by this is obeyed: the grand development of faith is by love: love is the fulfilling of the commandment: obedience, knowledge, faith, and love cannot be separated. The word feeds knowledge, brings and increases faith draws out, expands, enlivens, and invigorates love; let the word be either misplaced, misunderstood, or obscurely comprehended, and all is at once deranged: confusion, error, disobedience, &c., have no check. The word is not the property of the world, but of the church: it behoves the church to see that she rightly divides the word of truth. Exhortation is largely scattered over the extensive field of truth: if this part of truth be obscured, misplaced or in any way deprived of its true bearing upon the church, its effects will be proportionally nullified: the church is robbed of one of her guides and blessings: Peter exhorts to give all diligence, "add to your faith, virtue; to virtue, knowledge; to knowledge, temperance; to temperance, patience; to patience, godliness; to godliness, brotherly kindness; to brotherly kindness, charity." The result from the regard, or from the disregard of this exhortation are pointed out: to those who do regard so as to comply, we are assured that they are neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ; blessed truth: here

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is the discovery betweena fruitful and fruitless knowledge. Again, to them their calling and election are made sure. What a cluster of rich discoveries here present themselves! A holy calling, called to holiness; called to virtue and glory; elected or chosen, to be holy to be without blame; to stand before God in love; these demonstrated to the soul work obedience to these heavenly exhortations. Such have moreover an assurance that they shall never fall. Here again the discovery is pregnant with security against all the difficulties that attend us in this sinful state. Neither do the blessings stop here; a wide and holy enterance into the kingdom presents itself; the obedient enter into the everlasting kingdom: the light, the love, the communion, the spirit of the kingdom now fills the ravished soul. Here is a state, a dwelling, a condition which nothing on earth can equal or bear comparison with. Thus the word becomes a lamp and a light for our feet, that we may not miss the path or paths of wisdom, which are the paths of peace. Opposed to this are carnal paths, strewed with envy, hatred, malice, &c. These two paths lead in opposite directions. Now it is certain that those who are found in direct opposition to each other in their walk, must be so in their character: faith obeys; disobedience proves unbelief. The belieyer and the unbeliever are thus portrayed before our eyes; "shew me your faith by your works, and I will shew you my faith by!my works." Contrary streams flow not in the same river-contrary fruits are found not upon the same tree: "by their fruits shall ye know them." The truth when spiritually received and rightly understood, acts inwardly, and guides outwardly. We feel its power, or the Spirit's power, through it; we are guided by it, or the Spirit there shows us the way we should go. The allurements of time are thus brought in contact with the enlightening of the understanding; perfect harmony exists in the actions; the affections are brought into action with what the understanding approves; the will thus captivated, follows, and obedience is the result. "I delight to do thy will, O God." The service of God is perfect freedom, and love fulfils the commandment. Teaching is sought for; into truth such are led; as they have learned, they walk; and thus prove that they are in the school of Christ, and led by the Spirit of God. This is one of the things after, and for which every child of God sighs; thus the Spirit by the word, points to, and shews how, we are to possess what the Spirit in the soul causes us ardently to desire and to seek. Thus the believer is brought to possess and become a living witness of what the Spirit sets forth in Here he sets the oracles of eternal truth. to his seal that God is true.

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