bed I will be religious; for I looked upon religion as a thing I should be ashamed to mention unless I was very bad, and then I thought that would remove a little of the shame. But thanks be unto the Lord that he did not suffer me to go on to a deathbed repentance, but he was pleased to alarm my conscience by an awful dream of the devil: it so shook my frame of body, that I do believe I shall feel it to my dying day. Now I wanted no longer persuading to go to hear the word of God. When I went to hear the minister I had been accustomed sometimes to attend, he was in prayer, and begging the Lord that he would bring those again that had given him the back and not the face. When he dropped this sentence I thought—' Surely that is me, for I have been doing so all my life.' Now I began to hear with new ears, and soon found that the Lord had a chosen people, and that if I were not amongst them I should be for ever lost. But the Lord was pleased very soon to show me where help was to be found, by setting forth Christ crucified to the eyes of my mind. He very much indulged me with a sight of his sufferings in the early part of my experience, which drew my love out after him; and this brought me to hunger and thirst after a knowledge of interest in him for myself. But it was his pleasure I should wait some years before I should be brought to a saving knowledge of my interest in him as my own Lord and God.

My dear friends in Christ Jesus I did not labour under bondage so long without many changes. I had many doubts and fears that I never should be brought out. Sometimes I used to have my hope raised by such scriptures as these, "Hope thou in God, for I shall yet praise him ;" and also this," The vision is for an appointed time;" and again, "Fear "Fear not, little flock, it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom." By such passages as these

my hope became strengthened, and I could go on my way believing that I should be brought into liberty: but as soon as dark clouds arose I cast away my confidence. I found the truth of those words," Hope deferred maketh the heart sick;" but blessed be the Lord he never suffered me to give up seeking him until I had found him. Many times have I said that I would give it all up, and go out into the world again. Such were my thoughts, but they were not the Lord's thoughts; his were good and not evil, to " give unto me an expected end."

On the 8th of November, 1818, as I was returning home in the morning, I found a strange melting of soul, and these words of the poet came as fast into my mind as they could have been uttered,

"How did my powers rejoice and sing." &c As soon as I reached home I was struck with wonder; I believe I stood a quarter of an hour in one place before I was able to move. Indeed it was the year of jubilee to my soul. The Lord was pleased to knock off all my fetters, and to say to his poor prisoner, Come forth, and shew yourself. I was lost in wonder and surprise. I, that just before could no more lay claim to God than have created a world, now could draw nigh to him with holy boldness, and call him my Father, without the least fear. I began to seek after my sins, but they were removed from me as far as the east is from the west. The fear of death, which before had been a king of terrors to me, was now entirely gone. Every appropriating promise in the Bible I could now claim I could now say—“ He hath brought me into his banqueting house, and his banner over me is love;" and my soul had often to exclaim with the church," Stay me with flagons, comfort me with apples, for I am sick of love." Not that I loathed it, but my soul often seemed

as my own.

as though it would faint under such divine embraces. I strove to keep it to myself, but it was impossible for I was like a bottle that wanted vent. Then it was that my soul experienced that joy which is unspeakable and full of glory. Every thing both in heaven and earth seemed to me impressed with the glory of God. The Lord was pleased to favour me with the bright shinings of his blessed face for about six days. Every day the sweet Sun of righteousness shone with more splendour, so that I can say the sky was clear and serene, without a cloud. I was not able to attend to my daily employ. My soul had got into a blessed harbour of rest, and my body was obliged to

rest too.

But when this blessed visit was past, and the shadows of the evening came over my soul, indeed I went mourning without the sun: I could then say with the poet,

"Just as we see the lonesome dove

Bemoan her widowed state;
Wandering she flies through all the grove,
And mourns her loving mate.

Just so our thoughts from thing to thing
In restless circles move;
Just so we droop, and hang the wing,
When Jesus hides his love."

My dear friends, I have taken up much of your time, but as my beloved mother and myself were of one heart and soul, I thought this short account might be to the praise of the glory of his grace who hath made us accepted in the beloved.

ELEANOR DANIELS.

EXTRACTS FROM SERMONS DELIVERED BY REV. J. VINALL, AT JIREH CHAPEL, LEWES.

No. 10.-To be Continued.

Acts xvi. 25.-" And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises."

In discoursing from the words of my text, as the Lord may enable me,

I shall first speak of the circumstances that brought these servants of God into this state. Secondly, of the God-glorifying act. Thirdly, of the end to be answered. Fourthly, and lastly, of the good to be derived.

On the first head, if you refer to the ninth verse of the chapter from which our text is taken, you will find the clear call Paul had to undertake the journey: "And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: there stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia and help us." And I have found it one of the most trying branches of experience, in the whole course of my profession, when the providence of God and the promises clash; and I believe all the Lord's children more or less find the same: and it is a thing that to this day greatly tries me, but at times I gather much sweetness from this portion, What I do thou knowest not now, but thou shalt know hereafter;" and when brought there, it affords a solid peace even in the midst of tribulation. And although I have been so many years a scholar in learning these things, I confess I am to this day a complete dunce. And I believe few comparatively speaking are led into this path, daily to be placed in trials where sight, sense, and every appearance is directly opposed: this is much better felt than by language described. I knew many sore trials in the early and middle parts of my life, but they seem as nothing when I consider the last ten years' furnace of affliction and temptation I have been in. I am in jeopardy every hour, and come every time I have to preach with my life in my hand. But, blessed be my God, I have that solid and sweet assurance of my interest in Christ, and of the certainty of my eternal rest, that at times I rejoice in the midst of tribulation; which I am to speak of a little,

Secondly, in the God-glorifying act of praising and rejoicing before deli

verance comes, which is the highest act of faith we can be brought unto. Look at the situation these men were in. They had many stripes laid on them, thrust into the inner prison, and their feet made fast in the stocks. What! this a time to sing praises? What is too hard for the Lord to perform? We find just the same act in Jehoshaphat; that of rejoicing before deliverance came. I need not go through the history, you all know it; before there was any deliverance, what did they do? "the singers went before, saying, Praise the Lord, for his mercy endureth for ever." It may be said by some, that these things will much tend to exalt the. creature. My dear friends, it will have just the contrary effect, it will lay the soul low in deep humility at the Lord's feet, we shall esteem others better than ourselves; and to those of our brethren who may not have been so much favoured, it will cause sympathy and tenderness, and tend to what you have just now been singing,

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Encourage souls that on me wait, And stoop to those of low estate; Contempt or slight I can't approve : Be love your aim, for I am love." And where this is not the case, we ought always to be careful to see a person holding high doctrines without a consistent walk and conversation, and the fruits of a true faith: such is a dangerous state to be in, for a soul in the path I am treating of,—and which brings me

Thirdly, to notice the end to be answered,-will be in much prayer and supplication. Day and night do I find my soul drawn out to the Lord, beseeching him that I may not be left to bring a reproach upon his good ways, and cause the adversary to blaspheme, and that I may not advance any thing in my ministry contrary to the word of God. And any of you, my friends, who are in the same path, let your trials arise from what quarter they may, will

find your way wet with tears; yet,
although painful, it is a safe way of
travelling. And this way will lead
to the glory of God, which will be
the object nearest to this tender child
of God, who will be ever seeking it
before any other consideration, not
only being willing to be saved by
Christ, but also that Christ may
reign over him, as Mr. Hart says,
"Reign o'er us as King,
Accomplish thy will,
And powerfully bring

Us forth from all ill;
Till falling before thee

We laud thy lov'd name,
Ascribing the glory

To God and the Lamb.”

It is also for the trying of our faith, as it is written, "That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perisheth, might be found unto praise, honour, and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ." It will prove of what kind our faith is, whether it will stand the furnace or be burnt up.

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Fourthly, I shall now briefly state some of the good which is derived by the christian. It will tend to much watchfulness. "Watch and pray that ye enter not into temptation ;" If therefore thou wilt not watch," &c. There will also be a watching the kind hand of God in providence, watching our own hearts, watching the influence of Satan; but the sweetest watching of all is, the influence of the Lord the Spirit on our hearts, the divine comings and goings, the sweet visitations, the heavenly rays, divine consolation, every revival, &c. This is blessed employ. Another good thing derived will be the establishment of our faith: "After ye have suffered awhile, stablish, strengthen, settle you.". We get established in the power, faithfulness, and everlasting love of God to cur souls. Wherever there is a sowing time, rest assured, my dear friends, we shall have a reaping time. The husbandman hath long patience: in

My dear Sister in Christ.

WHEN I look at the date of your kind epistle, and consider the time at which I commence this unto you, I am ashamed; nevertheless, I hope that my constant movements in my Master's vineyard, preaching six or seven times a week, going through the pangs and travail so common to the sent servants of the Most High, before they are delivered at the places of drawing water, will in some hnmble degree plead for me.

:

I own I am a very indolent servant of Christ alas! alas! this is my grief, that I cannot serve him better: sometimes I doubt whether I serve him at all. O dear Sister, is it not an increasing wonder to you that God should love such worms as we are? Well might godly Agur (after interview with God) say, Surely I am more brutish than any man, and have not the understanding of man." Grace makes such discoveries to God's dear people, as humbles them in the dust before him. Isaiah (after a vision of God) exclaimed, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips; for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts." Isa. vi. 5.

I am sure such feelings have been and now are mine; all my former good opinion of myself has vanished

:

like smoke; instead of proving better, as anticipated, I am worse, and sometimes expect despair to fill my soul, and sink me to hell but when brought to confession, Oh what a relief! when looking for forgiveness. Oh what despair! What temptations, what buffettings, what smitings upon the breast, what sorrow to repentance. Oh what carefulness these things work in me; what clearing of myself; what indignation, yea, what fear of offending again; what vehement desire for the enjoyment of Christ's smiling face; yea what zeal for his cause; yea, what revenge against sin and hell.

Truly with admiration I am led to exclaim, "He hath done all things well; he worketh all things after the counsel of his own will." How much these exercises endear Christ, how gloriously he shines after these clouds, and how warm are his rays after a shower of repentance; we are ready to praise him for discoveries of our depravity, because in his hand they lead us to a most clear contemplation of his wisdom and glory in our salvation: what do angels know of redeeming love?

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We never shall love sin as heirs of God; yet we find what the beloved apostle did, That which we do, we allow not; for what we would, that do we not; but what we hate, that do we." O how kind of God to inspire his servant thus to open his heart, and draw its likeness, to be suspended in the armour-house of his word, for his children to gaze upon to the end of time; a contemplation of this true picture has done me more good than all the moral suasion in the world. O to see the depths of sin, and the heights of mercy; the two extremes astonish us, and well they may.

When led to gaze on the dear Redeemer in the garden, what soul can bear the melting sight unmoved? It is the sole privilege of Zion to tread this ground. And there methinks I

see Him now, his dear form agitated with deep convulsive sighs; he trembles while the flowing purple swells his veins and trickles down in gelid drops upon the ground: well might he say "his soul was exceeding sorrowful, even unto death." O thou man of sorrows, great were thine agonizing throes for our deliverance ! Behold, he falls upon his face! that face on which the saints and angels gaze with rapture, once kissed the ground in agony: humiliating posture

for the dear God-man! Hark! I

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hear him cry, "O my Father!" Oh melting sound, it would break a rock of adamant; O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless, not as I wilt, but as thou wilt." Sweet Saviour, how kind of thee why didst thou not give up thy worthless bride then? why not totally forget her? especially as thou hadst a sleepy sample of thy church's indifference and lukewarmness towards thee, in Peter and the two sons of Zebedee? No, saith the dear Redeemer, "If I do not remember her, let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth; if I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy."

O immaculate Lamb! how great thy love; then and there thou didst set me, unworthy me, and all thy chosen flock, upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm; thy love was strong as death. The many waters came into thy soul in Gethsemane; but they could not quench thy love, neither could the floods of almighty wrath drown it. He went away again the second time and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done."

same words, and then presented himself to the murderous band led on by Judas,

For thirty pence he did my death devise
Who at three hundred did the ointment prize,
Not half so sweet as my sweet sacrifice :

Was ever grief like mine?"

Who among the quickened sons of God can turn from such a scene and seek sin as a pleasure? As well might we suppose a mother embracing the instrument which caused her

tender infant's death; and an affectionate husband offering incense to the waves that have entombed a beloved wife and children : no, no, these

things, so settled, so secured to the church in Christ, are wisely ordered of God; sin dwells, but does not reign, in the regenerated child of

God; sin distresses, but cannot tri

umph, over such characters.

How gloriously God's wisdom shines forth in the fall in Adam, and the restoration in Christ. Had this not been, heaven's perfections never could have shone in the salvation of the righteons, or the condemnation of the wicked: all, all is for the lifting of Jesus on high; and to Him, the Father, and Holy Spirit, one God, be glory. Amen and amen.

I am pleased that my dear sister estimates the world and all its possessions at the same rate that I do, that is, vanity of vanities, all is vanity: this, beloved, is the fruit of divine teaching; no worldling can so esti

mate the world since in it all his

happiness, hope, and pleasure centre.

Not so with the christian, for he has a desire to depart and be with Christ which he knows is far better than being here, by the sweet prospects he has of that blessed country from the delectable mountains.

Our union to each other was only acknowledged when we met at W—, we were old acquaintances in Jesus : thy speech bewrayed thee, and our heart burned within us while Jesus talked to us by the way. Do not