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, All hail the name of Jesus Christ, 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, 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 66 are saved." 66 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. POETRY. LET THE SIGHING OF THE PRISONER COME UP BEFORE THEE. LORD! from the cell, the cheerless cell Fain would I raise a prayerful sigh, Saviour! who bear'st upon thy breast On thee, who can'st be touched with all Thou great High Priest, on thee I call, As Aaron stood in ancient days, The people's prayer, the people's praise, So art thou now, we bless thy name, Let my petition-else in vain Thine intercession share; Thou know'st the language of my sigh, All minor things, all blessings less, Are rendered dear to me: I want to feel that grace and faith And know that what the scripture saith No testimony man can build, I want, by realizing grace, To know grace comes from thee; Come promised vision, hindered long, DELTA. THE CHRISTIAN'S PORTION. CHRISTIAN, as ye onward journey, Life will not be strewed with flowers, With his black, infernal powers, Worldly baits will make thee linger, Often you will feel distressed, False professors will thee stagger, Yet this is the christian's portion, Fear ye not, though now you travel 'T is the end that must unravel, Here imperfectly thou knowest There no clouds will bound thy vision, Free from all that here molested, There on love for ever feasting, Christ thy sun, and Christ thy fountain, 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, 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 matter where, if called to toil While Jesus whispers-Live! How swift my hours then pass away, Oh, may such thoughts inspire my breast, |