morning, I was in a very dry, barren, and thirsty land, the Lord opened these words a little to me-"My foot hath held his steps; his way have I kept, and not declined." How different I felt my experience from that of Job's. I saw the feet of Job tracing the steps of his Redeemer and oh, what high walking; what precious fruit; what a life, in "holding his steps." And this do his sheep, who hear his voice, and fol"I held him and would not let him go, (said the church,) until I had brought him into my mother's house, and into the chamber of her that conceived me." In that chamber of his leadings and dealings with me, it is sweet conversing. His way have I kept." Paul said, "I have kept the faith," or "My foot hath held his steps," low him. They mark'd the footsteps that he trod." Yes; he held their steps; "Hold up my goings in thy paths, that my footsteps slip not," is the cry of faith; to keep his way of salvation, of righteousness, hanging alone upon him, as a poor helpless sinner for all things. He is an high way to depart from evil; "and not declined:" this is strong language; but Job could utter it in faith. He had not declined from following Christ; he was his Redeemer, and he earnestly followed him, withersoever he went, or was drawn. Having thus had my fleece a little wetted, I heard Mr. H, of B-, in Lincolnshire, a doctrinal man, standing high about there; but alas, no rain filled the pools; the preaching and praying, was all dry; I returned empty; but alas, it was worse than this with me: I feel, (I wish I could say at all times, when thus dissappointed,) an holy indignation; I generally see the proud mark of the beast very prominent, when it is so and those other two marks, so awfully manifest in these days Multitudes! the whole world following popularity and COVETEOUSNESS, the mark in the hand. If you glance abroad, you will see these two marks on many who are of repute in preaching the truth. I ask, therefore, is not "the holy city" trodden under foot, and the witnesses prophesying in sackcloth ? HENRY FOWLER'S CALL TO THE MINISTRY. (Continued from p. 161.) ABOUT the close of the year 1801, I visited Kingsbridge to see some of my relations; and by their influence I was invited to preach at the chapel in Lady Huntingdon's connection, and I found no reluctance on my part; for I had been somewhat favoured in my meditation as I walked thither. At the time appointed I went to preach, to a much accustomed to preach to, yet my great larger congregation than I had been natural timidity was removed, and I found much freedom of speech, and I think felt much pleasure in my own soul in showing to my hearers how we stood righteous before God, and the blessed safety of those who were accepted in the beloved. Many of the and people expressed much satisfaction : chapel, pressed to preach again; and in was, by the leading men of the the warmth of the moment, I consented. Thus far all went on well; but losing by degrees my enjoyments, I fell into a reasoning spirit; and under a strong temptation, I said to myself, I have been carried through the last exercise much to my own satisfaction, and matter the next time? I have said all to the people's; but what shall I do for that I can say. I laboured and toiled in my mind, sometimes at old texts, and at other times at new texts, to see if I could pick up anything; but the more I toiled the greater was my embarassnot what to do: I had made a promise, ment and confusion, so that I knew and therefore it was too late to say nay. In this state I was tossed about like a 66 It was vessel in a high sea, until I was happily relieved by a sudden thought. this, I have heard Mr. Jones preach from this text, I drawn thee:" why, I had better preach With loving-kindness have as much as I can recollect of his sermon; it is sound truth, I said, and much better than I can produce. I found, it is true, a questioning in my mind whether it was right for me to preach Mr. Jones' sermon; but I soon silenced the clamor in my conscience by saying, What am I to do? I have nothing of my own. H. W. And if I take a text and attempt to preach from it of my own devising, I shall be put to con- | pletely taken from my memory, and fusion, and what will the people think though I used every artifice to recover, and say of me? Will it not be much at least some part of it, I could not; better for me to preach a good sermon, and after labouring like a thrasher, for though another man's, than darken I supppose not more than fifteen micounsel by words without knowledge? nutes, quite exhausted, I sat down in Thus I settled the business; and called confusion, not knowing where to hide into action all the powers of my me- my head. After the conclusion several mory. I had good ground to hope for persons came round me to encourage success, because I had heard Mr. Jones me not to be dispirited on account of preach the above sermon, first, in Lon- my embarassment, and they expressed don; second, at Bristol, third at Devon- much sympathy for me, seeing that I port; so that I suppose it was an old was but a stripling, and young in the favorite of the preacher's! and my ministry; but I was sensible I deserved memory as well as Mr. Jones's, being no pity. But I concealed the cause of pretty strong, I recollected that he de- my embarassment, and acknowledged fivered the whole of his four heads with my error before God in secret. I was about sixteen subdivisions! nearly word ashamed of my unbelief, that I could for word every time, which I thought not depend on the Lord, as he had been much to my advantage. Thus furnished, my help; I was condemned for my (and well too I thought, for if the ser- pride in attempting to raise myself high mon would do for London, Bristol, and by another man's stilts. This mortifiDevonport, surely it will do for Kings- cation of my pride taught me a lesson bridge)! I mounted the pulpit at the that I have not forgotten yet. I said given time. If I recollect right, I was to myself, I will never attempt to rather confused in my prayer. I had preach Jones's sermon, nor any other been in the habit from the commence- man's sermon any more as long as I ment of my preaching to entreat the live! I am persuaded, that if sermonLord to assist me both as to matter and stealers were served as I was on this manner; but having a sermon already occasion, they would be of my opinion. made, as I thought, I could not ho- Blessed be God who overrules the ernestly beg for God's assistance; neither rors of his servants for their good, and could I beg of the Lord to assist my for his own glory! I have mentioned memory; for that would have dis- this circumstance, and designed it as a covered me to the people at once. I caution to young preachers, never to therefore got through my prayer as wish to appear in things already made well as I could, and perhaps the hearers to their hands, lest they should be saw nothing amiss. After the people beaten with many stripes, as I was. I had sung, I gave out my text with a fear that fleshly scheme I tried to carry tolerable emphasis, and proceeded, after into execution is too much practised a short introduction, to divide my text by many who shine in other men's in the same order as laid down by the robes, who have the knack of altering said Mr. Jones. You will observe, a little of a sermon here and there to reader, I had four heads and about sixescape detection. The voice may reteen divisions to get through!! The semble Jacob's but the hands are number of hearers happened to far ex- Esau's." ceed the former time of my preaching, and several classical men, I understood, were to be present, as well as the regular minister, who had been polished at Cheshunt academy: so that I had quite work enough before me. Well, with all these difficulties before my eyes, I set to work as well as I could. But, alas, for me! I had not spoken long before the most dreadful guilt, hypocrisy, pride, and confusion, possessed my mind. Mr. Jones's sermon was com (To be Continued.) "THE sin against the Holy Ghost is only this-It is a wilful and deliberate act in a professor of religion, whereby, he doth not only fall from his profession, but he runs into a course of sin, knowingly, against conscience: obstinately, against counsel: maliciously, against Jesus Christ. This is a brief description of this sin. Now, I am persuaded there are many in the world, that have professed religion, that are, if not in this sin, yet at the very next door to it."—Love. Christian Rebiewer. "The Rescue:"-Being some account of the conversion, awful conflicts and peaceful death of a vessel of mercy, By an eye witness. WE believe this to be one of the most striking instances of the forbearance and superabounding mercy of God toward a poor guilty sinner, that has ever been witnessed. We feel persuaded "The Rescue" will be read with most intense interest by all who know the grace of God in truth. In our last number we gave the history of R-- D-down to the period when, for the last time he was laid upon a sick bed. The writer of" The Rescue," who watched over, and conversed with him for hours previous to his departure; and who appears to have been somewhat exercised as to the genuineness of the solemn change which we recorded in our last goes on to say "My first thought, however, on hearing all this was, 'Is he wandering? Is he in his senses ?' And the following mode of putting this to the proof occurred to me. When I saw him the previous afternoon he was particularly anxious about one matter of business, and it was agreed between us that he should get a certain account and shew it to me when I called on the following day. Remembering this I said to him- When did you see me last, thing more than must result if God has "I was too much overcome by this astonishing scene to say any thing for a few moments. I was drinking in the blessed fact that he was plucked, by God's most precious mercy, as a fire-brand out of the burning." Satisfied as we are that this was genuine faith, we say, surely, a more glorious illustration of the nature and sufficiency of genuine faith was never witnessed or heard of. But, come and look at two things herewith connected. First, the fruits of faith, and secondly the conflicts of soul, which, through the power of the adversary, he was the R-?' 'Yesterday afternoon,' he replied. And do you remember any thing you pro- of God was not in the flesh-the grace painful subject of. See here, the grace mised to get for me.' Yes, to be sure; and you will find the note tied up in the of God did not conquer or cleanse the corner of my handkerchief under my pil-natural powers of the man, but ultimately low.' I put my hand under his pillow, and drew out his handkerchief and found the note there as he had said. I now saw that he was in full possession of his reason. His mind was clear, and his manner prompt and as self-possessed, as ever I saw it in my life. as "Satisfied as to this, I said, 'Well now, R-, tell me what you mean by saying that you are happy-and that you are going to heaven? How can you speak of going to heaven, and of being happy?' Oh,' said he, with striking emphasis 'it's all through Christ-through his blood; -it's this that has washed away my sins!' impossible for me to express what I felt on hearing this. It seemed a great deal too much to believe; and yet how dare I doubt it? Is this, supposing it to be real, any It is it took the soul out of the vile body, and carried it into glory, there to shine as one of the brightest gems in the Mediator's crown Oh, grace! Free grace! what conquests hast thou gained over sin, and death, and hell! But, listen to our author's detail of facts:: He presently asked me to pray with him at once as he thought his time here was very short: and his senses might not be continued to him. It will not be wondered at that, when I responded to his request, I found myself rather pouring out thanksgivings than presenting supplications. "After this he wished to see his beloved wife and children. About the same time also his brother arrived. And to all these dear relatives he again and again professed his faith in the precious blood of Jesus, and his peace and happiness in the prospect of immediate death. "He then requested that several of the men, over mence. whom for years he had acted as foreman, might be but the Holy Ghost could ever comsent for in order that he might tell them that he was dying a believer in Jesus. I was not present when he saw them, but those who were present tell me that he spoke most impressively to them; urging on them the sufficiency of the Saviour, and his blood, and telling them of his own peace and hope. This had "During the latter part of the day fever came on, fear, lest the fever and excitement should return, remarks. "Once when he had lain for some time with his eyes closed, though evidently not asleep, he opened "During the following morning I took a Christian re A further proof of this is to be lowed: and which the writer thus defound in the dreadful conflicts which folscribes: I staid "In the course of the afternoon of that day fever again attacked him, and throughlowing night, indeed until mid-day on the out the rest of the day and during the folSaturday, he was quite delirious. So extreme was the excitement, that but for his great bodily weakness violent means must have been used to restrain him. with him until three or four o'clock in the morning, and certainly it was a tremenduous trial to both body and spirit to be there. I think it right to state, that never in my of oaths, blasphemies, filthiness, and every whole life, have I heard so awful a torrent kind of abominable language, as was poured It was awful. from his lips during this season of insanity. It often appeared to me as if it was a demon I was gazing on and listening to rather than a man. He seemed to have conceived the most fearful hatred of me. Continually after he had poured out as pause, and glaring at me, say, 'Now will much as his breath would permit he would you be off?" Ah-what not gone yet!' he would cry, and then forth would pour a fresh volley more terrible still. And then again he would shout, half-raising himself in the bed and looking at me like fury, Now, then, will you go?' "I need not say it was hard to stand hour after hour amidst this. It sometimes very nearly overcame me. The recollection of it, my bones. at this moment, makes my flesh quiver on strength from the Lord; for, whenever I diBut I think I was able to draw rected my heart towards him, I always found it calmed and refreshed. I felt that this was really receiving heavenly comfort and strength in the very presence of satan and his power. morning I left him. He had become much "Between three and four o'clock in the calmer, and I felt that I must quit the scene rational, and remained so, with very slight for a time. By the forenoon he was quite exceptions, through the next night and the day (the Lord's day) following. "I saw him next about seven o'clock on the Saturday evening. He was then perThus far we have proof of the genu- fectly sensible; and manifested some anxiety ineness of this man's faith: here is " as to what he had said during his delirium. pentance towards God, and faith toward He asked several times what he had saidour Lord Jesus Christ :"-and although He seemed to have some dim sort of conbut only general answers were given him. the curious, the critical, and the suspi-sciousness that he had been using offensive cious Christian may carp at some of the and profane language. And I can hardly expressions; yet do we feel assured that suppose it possible that it should be otherit was a work in his soul, which none wise. C C "During the Saturday he was lifted out of bed for a short time, and as he lay on the sofa he spoke very solemnly to a young man who had assisted to lift him out, and whom he had long known. He told him to see in his emaciated frame the effects of intemperance and bad company; warned him most earnestly as to his own course of life; and set before him the Lord Jesus as the only Saviour of sinners. He appeared very anxious to warn others against the vices he had himself indulged. I believe it was at this time that he had said, "I wish all the drunkards in Plymouth could see and hear · 6 "While I was with him that evening I said to him, Well R――, how is it with your soul now?' Why,' said he, 'I can hardly say. Indeed I would rather not say anything about it just now. I feel as if I had been tossed about I know not how-and I would rather collect my thoughts a little, and ask myself a few questions, before I say anything I hope God will be pleased to give me some sleep to night, and then in the morning I will speak to you about my state of mind.' "On the following morning I saw him very early. I was anxious to hear the result of his own examination into the state of his mind. On my asking how it was with him, he looked up cheerfully and said, 'It is all right; it is all right!' 'What is all right?' I asked. 'Oh; it's all right here,' said he, putting his hand on his breast. 'I am happy. Christ had not moved, though I was so tossed about. The Rock never moved. And he is my trust.' And you find him precious to you?' I asked: Yes;-his precious blood is all my trust; so, you see, it's all right' said he, looking at me with a smile of triumph on his face! by this? Was not his own description of his feelings, therefore, just what we should expect them to have been under such circumstances? And what confession of Jesus could be looked for more simple and satisfactory than that which he made on the following morning? On the whole, I think, no part of my intercourse with him more thoroughly satisfied me of the genuine work of the Spirit of God in his soul. "While I was with him on the same Lord's-day morning, I mentioned that I was going to M-- that day. He made a few enquiries about this, and then mentioned a person living there whom he knew, and asked me to take a message to him, 'Tell him,' he said, how you leave me a dying man. And tell him that he knows something about the sort of life I have lived; and that I have been far more wicked than he knows of; that I have been an infidel; setting up Christ have found the value of Christ. on a pinnacle for ridicule; but that now I Tell him that my whole and sole trust is in his merits and his blood, and that nothing else can save either him or me.' "I delivered this message. Surely a gospel message from the lips of this beloved dying sinner: And may God be pleased to bless it to whom it was sent! "A very dear Christian friend, and relative, saw a good deal of him that day; and was most fully satisfied of the reality of his conversion. Many things might be mentioned which he said to him, and to others, but it will perhaps be sufficient for the purposes designed by this narrative, if I confine myself to some of the things which occurred under my own eye. "One circumstance, however, I mention, of which I was not a witness. Either on the Saturday or the Sunday, his beloved brother was going upstairs to see him when he overheard him in prayer. There was no one just then in the room with him; he had asked to be left quite alone. His brother, who did not know this, stopped at the door when he heard how he was engaged, and for ten minutes he heard him most earnestly praying to the Lord. He appealed to God that he himself knew that now he trusted en There was a simplicity and evident truth-tirely in the blood of his dear Son - for fulness in all this which gave me great joy and confidence about him. Had he been either deceived, or deceiving, he would no doubt have again said, happy as an angel,' &c., when I asked him how he felt on the Saturday evening. But who could expect him to feel the same quiet peace he did before, when he had for so many hours been the subject of such fearful excitement, and had been pouring from his lips such a torrent of evil? Is it possible to conceive that his spirit was not perturbed and clouded which precious blood he repeatedly thanked God, and he prayed that if in anything scales were yet on his eyes, God would be pleased to take them off. He appeared to be engaged in the most direct and simple intercourse with God. When he concluded, his brother entered the room and presently asked how he felt. He said, 'I am very peaceful, and very happy, dear T-. I have been able to pray a little, and I feel very composed indeed now. Oh,' said he, placing his hand on his breast, 'how precious Jesus is!' |