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things that are excellent, that ye may be sincere and without offence until the day of Christ; being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ unto the glory and praise of God."

Believe me, dearly beloved, I feel much for you, on account of the deprivation of the Lord's appointed means of grace; but even this cometh from the Lord of Hosts, who is wonderful in counsel and excellent in working. Therefore depend upon it there is a needs-be wherefore things should be thus. 2 Cor. v. 18. And again, Rom. viii. 28, 29, 30. Surely in your neighbourhood there are three-score queens and four-score concubines, and virgins without number. But nevertheless the Lord's dove, or church, or uudefiled, is but the only one of her mother, and the choice one of her that bare her. This is a great mystery. But I speak concerning Christ and his church : for we are members of his body, his flesh, and of his bones. As for example, by the three-score queens, understand the various and distracted opinions of professors in general about religion. Rev. xvii. 15. Some appear like queens for authority, seem to know every thing when they are ignorant of the very first principles of the doctrine of Christ. Rev. xviii. 7. From all such withdraw thyself. 2 Cor. vi. 14-18. Others

one,

I perceived were like concubines, under a slavish and servile fear of man, worshipping the creature more than the Creator, who is over all God blessed for ever. 1 Cor. lii. 4, 7. Truly, therefore, when passing by many who have a name to live, but yet are dead in sin, the thought more than once crossed my mind, This people is laden with iniquity, while committing and living in spiritual fornication. Isa. v. 4. And once again, numbers upon numbers were to be seen in your streets, who like the virgins, or virgin daughter of Babylon, were more engaging and at

tractive to the outward appearance, who having increased their perfumes, or works of their own hands, were continually saying, "I am rich, and increased in goods, and have need of nothing," Rev. iii. 17. How solemn, dear Sarah, all this, inasmuch as that the Lord doth not speak one word of love to these queens of the prince of darkness, these concubines or virgins, but on the contrary, see Isa. xlvii. 1, 2, 3. Whereas, notwithstanding all this their abounding profession, the Lord's spouse, bride, or church is but one, his holy one, his chosen one from among them, to be his love, his delight and companion, both in grace here and glory hereafter. Song vi. 9; Ps. lxxxiv. 11, 12. How great, dear sister, our unspeakable privileges, see Mark iv. 11, 12, with Luke x. 1721.

Herein, then, we can and do rejoice as members of the one family, that although the before-mentioned queens of the south may be crowned with their own outward doings and works, the King's daughter, of the royal family of heaven, is all glorious within, though full of spots without black but comely. Deut. xxxii. 31,

32.

Wherefore from all such good

Lord deliver us!

With respect to my journey home, it was, through my honoured Lord's kindness, comfortable, though rather tedious to the flesh. On the road, while in the way from one place to another, how thankful my poor heart was that accommodation could be found for the least of all in the different inns, when there was no room for the Lord of all in such a place. Ah, my friend, who can write or speak of the depths of his humiliation who in all things hath the pre-eminence! In suffering, as well as in glory, Heb. ii. 10, and again Heb. v. 8-10. Sweet therefore the thought

to faith, Col. i. 14-20.

On my arrival home at Stonehouse, on Friday evening, at half past eleven, several of Corpus Christi, were waiting to meet the coach and greet me

in love.

I thank the Lord to have found all well, and by the power of his Spirit still kept walking in the fear of the Lord and comfort of the Holy Ghost. This indeed did rejoice my heart; having no greater joy than to hear of the Lord's children walking in the truth! How then could I do better than come forward, on the following Lord's day, before the church with the text " Unto him that loved us," Rev. i. 5, 6. Blessed therefore be the glorious and almighty Him, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David, who hath prevailed over all our enemies, in his personal conquests over sin, Satan death and hell in our law-place, room and stead. Rom. iv. 25; v. 1-5. Oh then this illustrious and powerful Him, who hath made our peace by the blood of his cross, and hath reconciled all things unto himself, whether they be things on earth or things in heaven ; by Him, I say again,

This mighty Him makes all things sure,
Through life, in death, and evermore,
In Him the great Amen!

All hail the name of Jesus Christ,
Let angels prostrate fall;
Bring forth the royal diadem,

And crown him Lord of all!

Hallelujah! Amen. Praise ye the Lord! Phil. ii. 6--13.

Since my arrival home the Lord in rich mercy hath again appeared, as the God of providence towards our nation, in causing her majesty to bring forth a son, an heir apparent to the throne of these realms -a national mercy indeed! My text on the occasion was Rev. xii. 5, 6. Handled the subject spiritually, shewing how the woman, in all her members, or "little sister," or gentile church, brought forth Christ in her experience, after her new birth, being pained to be delivered from the condemning sentence of the law, doubts, fears, unbelief, &c. Gal. iv. 19; John xvi. 21; Rom. viii. 1, 2. By the 1260 prophetical days, or years the spiritual woman was to

be fed a thousand two hundred and three-score days: here is wisdom, let him, &c. Rev. xiii. 18. The beast, or Pope of Rome, had full authority given him in the year 666 after our Lord's return to glory from the field of battle. The witnesses are to prophecy or minister 1260 prophetical days or years to the gentile part of Christ's church. Which two amounts, forming 1926 years, shew the cessation of ministration, when the fulness of the gentiles will be gathered in. Then deducting the begone years since the birth of Christ, namely 1841, there remaineth but 85 years yet to come before the witnesses will be slain, according to the word of the Lord, in Rev. xi. 7-11, and also in Rom xi. 26 to the end.

The Lord be with you and bless you with much of his presence, that you may be kept faithful unto death. Rev. xvii. 17. My love to dear Mr. and Mrs. together with all them who love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity and truth. And believe me to unite with my beloved wife in sending spiritual greetings to you in the name of Jesus; to whom with the Father and the Holy Ghost, be honour and power everlasting. Heb. xiii. 20-21.

Your affectionate brother in Jesus,

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ritually good. Good people, mark it, I say, a man is also unable to prepare himself unto what is good. Not only unable to do good; but unable to prepare himself unto what is good, spirtually good: not only unable to overcome the enemy, but unable to draw out his forces: not only unable to receive the enemies charge; but he is unable to draw out his forces. Ho, ho, every one that thirsteth, come and buy wine and milk without money, or money's worth." If a man could prepare, here is money here is money's worth: as one observes well, then a man might say, the first beginning of my salvation was of myself: yea, in truth a man may say, the greatest part is from myself; for it is more to begin, and more to prepare; so the greatest part of our salvation should be from ourselves. Ye know what the apostle says, and I pray consider it, in Eph. ii. 1, “And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins. Even you (at the 5th verse,) even when we were dead in sins hath quickened us together with Christ; by grace are ye saved." Mark, twice the apostle brings in that sentence: he brings it in again at the 8th verse: For by grace are ye saved:" why twice? Not only to shew that the progress of a christian is by grace, but the very first beginning, and setting out, it is all of grace: By grace ye It is a good speech of Austin, grace is no way grace unless it be every way free. Now can a poor dead man prepare himself unto life? Did Lazarus prepare himself to life? Could he do it? Could Lazarus do it? There is saith the philosopher, a proportion always between the action, and the term of the action. Now what proportion is there between nature and grace? No man (says our Saviour) comes unto the Son, but whom the Father draws, John vi. 44; thus says our Saviour. Oh! but (says Pelagius) I can go unto Jesus Christ by my own prepa

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are saved."

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ration, I can prepare, I can draw myself unto Jesus Christ, or I can draw Christ unto me. Beloved, in natural actions there needs always preparations to the introducing of forms; oecause in the way of generation of nature, things are wrought by degrees. As for example now: If a great log lie in the mud, before you can carry it away, you must loosen it from the mud; but the log doth not loosen itself: and so if wood be to be burnt, first it must be dried, there is preparing the wood to be burnt, because the thing is to be done be degrees. But in the conversion of a poor sinner, the work is done in a moment; it is no natural work, God infuses grace there, and therefore, there needs no preparation there. And therefore Bradwardine, he reasons the case very well thus: If, says he, a man can prepare himself, then the preparation either helps forward, or causes the following grace: if it does not help forward nor cause following grace, then it does not prepare; that that does not help, does not prepare; and if it does help forward the following grace, or cause it, that God must give a following grace as a reward of this preparation; then surely this preparation makes a man pleasing in the eyes of God: for, will God reward a man for a work that does not make him pleasing in the eyes of God? But how can a man be pleasing in the eyes of God, without faith? Without faith it is impossible to please God." Heb. xi. 6. So that a man cannot prepare himself to what is good. Put all these together: a man cannot naturally overcome a sin, a temptation, though never so small: he cannot rise when he is fallen: he cannot stand though he shauld rise: yea, he is unable to any good work simply in himself: and he is not able to prepare himself unto what is good. Surely therefore all are in a way of receiving; whatever grace one hath, he hath it in a way of receiving.

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POETRY.

LET THE SIGHING OF THE PRISONER COME UP BEFORE THEE.

LORD! from the cell, the cheerless cell
Of deadness, darkness, care:
The dreary dungeon where I dwell
A prisoner of despair:

Fain would I raise a prayerful sigh,
Would urge a pleading groan;
Permit the scarcely uttered cry
To reach the eternal throne.

Saviour! who bear'st upon thy breast
Thine Israel's cherished name;
Acknowledged as thine Israel's Priest,
The Altar, and the Lamb:

On thee, who can'st be touched with all
That pales thy people's brow;

Thou great High Priest, on thee I call,
My only helper now!

As Aaron stood in ancient days,
To introduce to God,

The people's prayer, the people's praise,
With incense and with blood:

So art thou now, we bless thy name,
By office and by love,
Engaged to feed th' expiring flame,
And lift our prayers above.

Let my petition-else in vain

Thine intercession share;
Let it thy bleeding perfume gain,
And prove successful prayer.
Let thy good Spirit-present now-
My supplications aid;
And his rich influences bestow
To make the mourner glad.

Thou know'st the language of my sigh,
The meaning of my groan;
The burden of my urgent cry
Is one request alone:

All minor things, all blessings less,
Prized as they each should be,
Only as harbingers of this

Are rendered dear to me:

I want to feel that grace and faith
Are not ideal things;

And know that what the scripture saith
Comes from the King of kings.

No testimony man can build,
No eloquence he knows.
To me can satisfaction yield,
Or give my breast repose.

I want, by realizing grace,

To know grace comes from thee;
I want, by seeing Jesus' face,
To know he smiles on me.

Come promised vision, hindered long,
In rainbow beauties drest;
Thanksgivings then shall load my song,
And gladness fill my breast.

DELTA.

THE CHRISTIAN'S PORTION.

CHRISTIAN, as ye onward journey,
Through this world of death and sin;
You must fight and combat daily
Foes without and foes within.

Life will not be strewed with flowers,
Satan ofttimes will assail,

With his black, infernal powers,
Yet not finally prevail.

Worldly baits will make thee linger,
And awhile confuse your mind;
Pointing with derision's finger
To the pleasures left behind.

Often you will feel distressed,
When corruptions work within ;
And your hearts, with grief oppressed,
Cry for strength to conquer sin.

False professors will thee stagger,
Cause the groan and inward sigh;
Wounding sharper than a dagger,
When they tell thee truth's a lie.
You will feel the cross distressing,
When your kindred on you frown;
And fresh difficulties pressing,
Seek to pull each comfort down

Yet this is the christian's portion,
Such the burden he must bear ;
Thus the world can form no notion,
What their joys and comforts are.

Fear ye not, though now you travel
More in darkness than in light;

'T is the end that must unravel,
And show all things best and right.

Here imperfectly thou knowest
What is meant, but soon shall see,
In the land to which thou goest,
All was ordered well for thee.

There no clouds will bound thy vision,
Darkness will all disappear;
And the world with its derision,
Will be left behind you here.

Free from all that here molested,
With no tempting devil nigh,
Nor by doubts and fears infested,
You shall joy and never sigh.

There on love for ever feasting,
Streams of joy and light divine;

Christ thy sun, and Christ thy fountain,
Will on thee for ever shine.

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While seeking their pleasures, and trifling with death,

While their life as a vapour hung on a breath.

It brings them to feel they have nothing in

self, And to hold close to him from whence comes their help;

Written After Hearing a Sermon on Malachi By the teaching of his Holy Spirit they 're

iii. 16.

"A book of remembrance was written for them that thought upon his name.'

AMIDST the various thoughts that rove

Across my sinful breast,
How few that lead to joys above

Where saints are ever blest.

But when the Holy Spirit blows;

His soft and gentle gales,

Each thought with love my soul o'erflows,
No longer sin prevails.

No matter where, if called to toil
From morn till dewy eve;
With joy I'll pass the day's turmoil,

While Jesus whispers-Live!

How swift my hours then pass away,
With joy and sweet delight;
When I can muse on Christ by day,
And sing his praise by night.

Oh, may such thoughts inspire my breast,
Throughout my dubious road;

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