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cocks also on board. 1 Kings x. 22. And you must know that in all our poor earthen vessels and fallen nature, there will be some apish folly and peacock seen at times, as well as precious faith, more precious than gold. Ah, even a greater than Solomon has vessels with some foolish things on board, as well as precious things; and he that would scold at his neighbour, must look into the glass of his own imperfections, and perhaps he may see the same things there in himself. Let us all take the words of a greater than Solomon kindly; viz. when we begin to fish for the mote in our brother's eye, let us see to it that we have pulled the beam out of our own eye.' Well, should the great Lord of the seas spare us, we expect to go twelve voyages in the present year, and we hope that the men who do business in great waters, and who live nearest to the King's court, and have the most frequent access to the throne, and who hold the nearest and sweetest communion with him, will stow in our hold some precious things. 'Gold tried in the fire,' with as little alloy as possible-holy anointing eye salve, ointment and perfume that rejoiceth the heart,' 'wine, oil, rich fruits, and all manner of spices;' and 'bread-corn that was bruised,' meal and fine flour; and unleavened bread, 'the bread of life,' and shew bread hot from the King's golden table; and some honey from the Rock, honey in the honeycomb, balm, with sweet spices, and the BALM OF GILEAD, that 'heals all manner of diseases, bruises, wounds, and putrifying sores,' White raiment we need fine linen, clean and white, perfumed with myrrh, and all the chief spices'-to keep the earth-moth out, iron-mould, and rust that corrupteth. And we must have some robes of purple and scarlet, died in that royal colour, with solemn, sacred Sanguis, that we may be known in the King's gate, as princes and princesses born of our royal mother the Queen, who stands at the King's right hand in gold of Ophir. Psa. xlv. 9. And thus being clothed in princely vestments, and by living on these holy, heavenly, and precious things, we shall smell of heaven, wherever we go, and be known in the King's gate, and make known the savour of his knowledge in all places. 2 Cor. ii. 14.

would not be frightened, with any amazement;' neither at great men, so called. Yea, in the strength and by the Spirit of our God, we would (if required) draw the sword and cut an Agag down; but as we see no greater Agag than vain, proud self, the old man,'-the foolish old king that will not be admonished,'-let every spiritual soldier draw the sword of the Lord, and fight with him until he falls down dead into the grave. While we are here we must fight the good fight of faith;' but must not cut, wound, or mangle the spiritual church, the limbs and body of Christ, because we are members one of another.' You would think that man a maniac who would be cutting and wounding his own flesh and his own limbs. Thus if through the temptation of the devil and our own wicked hearts, we at any time cut and wound the brethren, we wound Christ again, and cut our own flesh, and must, sooner or later, feel it severely. We have seen too much of that already in our times. Therefore, rather let us endeavour to walk in love as brethren; and if one member is wounded, let the rest seek salves and balsams for it, rather than throw firebrands, arrows and death;' and rather than rake in their wounds, bind them up, and hide not thyself from thine own flesh;' for we are all members of Christ's body, of his flesh, and of his bones. Eph. v. 30.

We wish to be understood that, by this body, we do not mean any particular sect or party formed by man, or men's creation. No, we mean the mystical body of Christ, the church-the eternally beloved bide in the Beloved-the chosen, called, sanctified, justified, redeemed, spiritual, living church of the living God; and as we are supralapsarians, we believe that the Lord God Almighty, who is infinite in all his perfections, have no after thoughts, or second sight of things. For from whom should he desire a new thought, and who shall shew him a new thing which he had not purposed in his eternal mind to bring into existence? For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things, to whom be glory for ever.' Amen. Rom. xi. 36.

And this church is Christ's mystical body, 'the fulness of him that filleth all in all. There is but one body and one We find that some of our brethren think spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of us not severe enough, because we are not your calling.' And this body, gathered continually whipping, cutting, and slash- together from all nations and ages of the ing others. To this we answer, that hunt- world, will be an habitation for God the ing of foxes and fighting with wolves is not Father, Son, and Spirit, in the unity of feeding Christ's sheep. When circumstances the divine essence, to dwell in for ever. call for it, in righteousness and judgment An holy temple in the Lord, in whom we would make war,' and pray that our ye are builded together for an habitation weapons may not be carnal, but rather of God through the Spirit.' We make these spiritual; and thus we desire to fight few remarks, that in doctrine we may be against all ungodliness, error, and hypo-shewing uncorruptness.' crisy. Neither would we be backward in sharply reproaching our brethren when they are not sound in the faith, and in the doctrine, discipline, and ordinances of God's house. Yea, by the help of our God, we

And, on the other hand, the wicked and ungodly, who live and die in sin and wickedness, and at enmity against God, his truth, and his people, are quite a distinct body: they are said to be 'the

A NEW YEAR'S ADDRESS.

children of the wicked one? Whether it be the Pope and the Papist, Turk, or Mahometans, Pagans, and the Heathen, Jews, or Gentiles, or any other sects in Christendom, who die destitute of the spirit of Christ: For if any man have not the spirit of Christ he is none of his.' And it is a solemn thought, but all these will but compose one body-a habitation for the devil for ever-the body of Antichrist, and by the prophet Ezekiel are called Gog and Magog.' Ezek. xxxviii. 2. And this body will be a habitation for the prince of darkness for ever. The chief prince of Meshech (which signifies shut up) and of Tubal (which signifies the world and confusion). This body of the wicked will be an 'habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit,' (Rev. xviii. 2.) even after the second resurrection.

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But we would not be prophets of melancholy things only, for satan is a melancholy spirit, and labours to sink us into despair; and we are liable to think that our times and our days are the darkest and the worst of days. Dost thou say, What is the cause that the former days were better than these?' 'Thou doest not inquire wisely concerning this.' Eccl. vii. 10. The church (like your soul) hath always had her dark days and sunshiny seasons, her declensions and revivals; but she has never been more than a remnant,' and a little flock,' in comparison with the profane world and the false church. And the daughter of Zion has always been left as a cottage in a vineyard, as a lodge in a garden of cucumbers, and as a besieged city.' Isa. i. 8. And is now a besieged city, either directly or indirectly, openly or secretly, and will be till her last triumph, when she will be 'terrible as an army with banners.' Song vi. 10.

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wars of 1848, in which all the powers of Europe have been shaken, we see her staggering and strangely divided against herself! which makes us think her kingdom cannot stand long. She hath shed the blood of saints and martyrs, and God shall give her blood to drink'-she is drinking it in these wars. France, Italy, Austria, and other Popish nations have been divided, and slaughtering one another. God preserve Old England, and our gracious Queen, and Christ's own church in this nation, Amen.

Since I began to write the above, the news came to my ears that the triplecrowned pontiff, the Pope of Rome, has been driven from his throne and Vatican. What! are we to live in the days when the lying Oracle of the fabulous deity Vaticinius is struck dumb?-from which went forth the stern edicts of torture, burning, and death. Must we live to see that gate of hell tremble, that has made the nations tremble before it, and she that tortured the flesh of our forefathers, must her flesh, like Jezebel's, be eaten of dogs, and she herself burned with fire? For through her sorceries were all nations deceived; and in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth.' Rev. xviii. 24.

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It is evident the great whore of Babylon, the lady of kingdoms,' begins to shew her grey hairs and wrinkled face; and the nations begin to see her nakedness, and the kingdoms her shame.' Nahum iii. 5. And those that have committed fornication with the old harlot will soon cast her off, and will hate her, now she is growing old, wrinkled, and grey. Harlots are commonly cast off when they are old. The nations begin to be tired of the old lady, she has been so expensive; and they will prefer infidelity, rather than Now, as it regards the signs of the her mummery and tomfoolery. And it aptimes,' we shali say but little-we know pears that the nations and kings will bebut little. Only that we believe we are come infidel that destroy the old harlotliving quite late in the evening of time. have they not began their work in these But we will not venture upon vain specu-wars of 1848? The ten horns are ten kinglations, as many have done, concerning precise epochs; because it is not for us to know the times and seasons, which the Father has put in his own power.' Acts i. 7. We know that Antichrist made its appearance in the beloved apostle John's time; and in A. D. 606, it was openly manifested in a formidable body; and in the following dark centuries, she (the whore of Rome) reigned as a queen for many ages over the benighted nations of Europe. But, in the early part of the sixteenth century, that flaming torch and blazing star, Martin Luther, burst forth from the monastic night of darkness, and exposed much of the old harlot's filthiness and fornication, and gave her a deadly wound, which has since then been slightly healed. And in 1794 and 1795, she again was shaken with another fit of apoplexy; and again the Lord made use of that infidel Emperor, Napoleon Buonaparte, to weaken her by the sword. And now, in these alarming

doms that sprang out of the Roman empire, and they begin to be weary of the old lady. The ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire.' Rev. xvii. 16.

But, beloved of the Lord, 'let us not be high-minded, but fear.' If we fear and serve God, there is nothing more to fear. And though we have not to creep on hands and knees to do penance at Rome, nor to go on wearisome pilgrimages to Mecca, nor to the tomb of Thomas a Becket in Canterbury Cathedral, let us be diligent in our holy business, that we may eat holy things, and be fervent in spirit serving the Lord." And amidst all the distress of nations abroad, poverty, oppression, and distress at home, may God give us humble spirits, tender consciences, and thankful hearts for the mercies, blessings, and present peace that we enjoy. May we, amidst all

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abled, like loving children, to creep into our Father's bosom, and he shall hide us in a pavillion, in the secret of his presence, from the strife of tongues, until the indig nation be overpast.'

THE EDITOR'S FRIEND AND

December 5th, 1848.

FELLOW-HElper.

One Woe is Past:

BEHOLD,

THERE COME TWO WOES MORE HEREAFTER

the confusion at home and abroad, be en- | down in my soul, was this-" All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men; but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men." Oh, how clearly did I see that I was not guilty of that awful blasphemy! and then, being led back to the cross of Christ, something within me said-" By that one offering he perfected for ever them that are sanctified." All my sins appeared to pass away; my burdens rolled off: I lifted up my heart and hands in gratitude and praise; and while thus employed-to seal the matter (as it were) more deeply upon my heart, these words rolled in upon me-"ONE WOE IS PAST." The glorious doctrine of the entire removal of sin (from the church) by the sacrifice of Christ: and the soul's experimental deliverance from the curse of a broken law, was most solemnly opened up to me; and as quickly as possible I found the words in Revelations ix. 12, 13, 14, 15. From these words I was led to preach twice: and will hereby give you a scrap or two of what was said.

To such Believers in Christ, and Members of the Church of God, as may read this short epistle.

BELOVED-In the midst of my secret sorrows; and overshadowed as İ appear at this time to be with dark and heavy clouds, there are two sacred scriptures which have been of some benefit and comfort to my soul; and, in addressing you for the first time this year, I feel it laid upon me very briefly to direct your attention to them. The first is, "The Lord KNOWETH HOW to deliver the godly out of temptations." Poor Zion! Poor Child of God! it may be, that one wave after another now beats upon thee; it may be, that all hope of thy being saved, seems to be taken away: it may be, that thy Father's face is hidden, his hand is withheld, and all things appear against thee. How suitable to you and me are the poet's words,

“O Zion! afflicted with wave upon wave, Whom no man can comfort, whom no man

can save;

With darkness surrounded, with terrors dismayed,

In toiling and rowing thy strength is decayed."

Nevertheless; if thou art a godly soul; that is, one who is exercised with godly fear; one that is the subject of godly fellowship (walking in some measure with God and his people)-one that is privileged with godly favours; then remember this-"the Lord knoweth how to deliver thee:" and deliver thee He will.

"Then trust him, and fear not, Thy life is secure :

His wisdom is perfect, supreme is his

power:

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These words may be considered, first, Politically, as connected with the history and events of nations and kingdoms; (2ndly) in a doctrinal point of view-the first woe, was, Christ being made a curse for us: the second woe was that bloody and cruel persecution which followed upon the introduction of the Gospel dispensation: and the last woe will be when Satan shall be loosed for a little season. But, thirdly, these words are strictly applicable to the experience of true believers in our Lord Jesus Christ. The first woe, is, when the quickened soul lays under the terrors of a broken law, and a guilty conscience: when, in coming up out of Egypt (a night to be observed by all the children of Israel,) the soul comes into Pi-hahiroth, before Baal-zephon. Pharaoh and his host are behind; the red sea is in front; and huge mountains are on either hand. Here they are commanded to STAND STILL, and to see the salvation of the Lord. Now look at the seven mighty things which followed! - Moses stretched out his hand over the sea: the Lord caused the sea to go back: the children of Israel went in upon dry ground, and the waters were a wall unto them: the Egyptians pursued and threatened to destroy: the sea returned to his strength, and by it the Lord overthrew the foe, while Israel walked safely on dry ground: saw that

ONE WOE I PAST, ETC.

great work which the Lord did and, upon the banks on the other side, Moses and Israel sang a glorious song unto the God of their salvation. "ONE WOE IS PAST;" the redeemed soul is brought out of bondage, and is made to praise the Lord.

In the experience of the church of God, there is a second woe-a going down to Babylon. How simply-(see Ezra vi. 3-13.) did Zerubbabel and his companions declare the cause of Israel's going down to Babylon: they said, "We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and build the house that was builded many years ago; but after our fathers provoked God, he gave them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar, who destroyed this house; and carried the people into Babylon."

Ah! indeed there is such a thing as having the house pulled down, and the poor soul carried captive after the spiritual temple of Grace and Truth has been set up in the soul. How dark and dreadful! How full of anguish and sorrow is such a state! See a description of it in Psalm cxxxvii.: sitting down and weeping by the rivers of Babylon seems something like a poor child of God when sin, and shame, and sorrow have encompassed him about. Look at Jonah crying out of the belly of hell: look at Peter weeping bitterly in deep remorse: look at Hezekiah prostrate and crying before God.

But what is that which is written in Jeremiah xxix.? Why, it is the Lord's own letter of love and faithfulness to his children even when in captivity, "Thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, unto all that are carried away captives from Jerusalem unto Babylon." What does he say to them? Does he condemn and cast them off? Does he leave them to mourn in darkness without one ray of light, or hope of mercy? No! indeed; he does not. Art thou, my reader, a living soul, sitting down by Babylon's streams with thy harp hung upon the willows? Take your Bible: read Jer. xxix. see these seven things which the Lord Jehovah sends to his poor captivebound children; and may the Lord very blessedly apply it to thy soul; then, in patience and faith you will wait for Him. First, the Lord says "After seventy years be accomplished at Babylon I will visit you." You see God fixes a time when you shall be delivered; he will not

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come before, he will not tarry after: the Lord will be to his time; and when that time comes He will visit you; that is, you shall have some tokens for good, some manifestations of His grace. 2. The Lord will then perform his good word towards you; that is, he will give you faith and repentance, and prayer; and so you shall return. 3. See the cause of all this-" for I know the thoughts that I think towards you; thoughts of peace and not of evil; to give you an expected end." Poor captive soul! you think God has evil thoughts; but he says-No. My purpose is not altered, my love is not abated, my arm is not shortened, I will come unto you, and I will save you. You say, "How can I know this?" By the effects of grace in your soul: for (4) you shall seek the Lord; (see Jer. xxix. 12.) and (5) He will be found of you; you shall find him at the throne; in His word; in his ordinances; and in com. munion with his saints; (6) by these means he will turn away your captivity; and ultimately bring you to Jerusalem, where pardon, peace, and rejoicing in God shall be most solidly realised in the soul.

This is the passing away of the second woe; and, all that now remains, is, satan's last conflict in the article of death—" for the LAST ENEMY that shall be destroyed is death;" and this woe, with millions of happy saints has already passed away; and," Victory through the blood of the Lamb" shall soon be the song of the whole election of grace.

I must close with a word upon the sixth angel sounding through the four horns of the golden altar. This golden Altar is CHRIST; the four horns are figures of the four-fold strength of Christ, as Mediator, Redeemer, Minister and Intercessor. As Mediator, he was strong; he brought God and sinners together: as Redeemer, he was strong, he conquered death and hell, and put away sin: as Minister, he is strong, he breaks the rocky hearts of hardened sinners: as Intercessor, he is strong, he pleads, and must prevail.

This four-fold strength of Christ is the glory of the Gospel; there can be no Gospel without it.

Dear Friends, that this glory may be great in your salvation, is the prayer of your willing Servant in the Gospel,

C. W. B.

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A LETTER FROM BALTIMORE.

A Letter from Baltimore

ΤΟ MR. JAMES OSBOURN, AND MR. OS

BOURN'S REPLY, RESPECTING THE STATE
OF THE GOSPEL KINGDOM, BOTH IN AME-

RICA AND IN ENGLAND.

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MY DEAR BROTHER OSBOURN:
Your
communication, dated Wolverhampton, Oct.
7th, came to me the first day of the present
month, but my sight is so infirm that I could
not read it, nor can I see to read any letter I
receive; my good daughter is kind enough
to assist me in all such concerns; and, after
hearing this, you will suppose that writing a
few lines is a heavy tax upon my eyes. Were
I capable, christian friendship would induce
me to write you a long letter, but the weight
of four-score years renders that impossible:
however, I will exert myself to the utmost
and do as well as I can. I am pleased to
hear that in all your travelling about, the
Lord has preserved and continued you in
health; but I desire more abundantly to re-
joice in hearing you say that the Lord is
propitious, and feeds your soul with truth
and grace, and keeps you in his fear, &c. &c.
I hope I can say that they are well kept that
the Lord keeps, and those under his care and
keeping need continually to cry out and say,
Lord, hold thou us up, that we may be safe.
You say you have not yet seen my niece,
Mrs. Bunce: I hope you will visit her more
than once.
Mr. Bunce has been pastor, as I
understand, of a Baptist church more than
twenty years: your visit and intercourse may
be a blessing to them. When you see them,
please say that I received the letter my niece
wrote me about a year ago, and that I replied
to it in a long letter shortly after; and, if my
letter has been received, it made them so
thoroughly acquainted with you, that they
will receive you as affectionately as they
would receive their uncle, and I am sure
your society will afford them much gratifica-
tion. Let me pray you to give them some of
your company. When I visit the city of
Baltimore I always call at your house to
learn what they hear from you. All at your
home appear to be proceeding in the same
order as heretofore; all appears comfortable
and well.

the uppermost boughs, and a few (and very few) on the outermost branches, yet assemble together and unite in the worship and service of the Lord at Warren Chapel. The Lord has, I hope and trust, in love and great mercy, and in consideration to our very destitute state, and by a remarkable and unexpected providence, sent our beloved brother Thorne to preach the gospel in our neighbourhood; but for this faithful servant, the Harford, the Warren, the Saters, and Patapsco houses of worship would be entirely closed.

My own feelings tell me that you still wish and pray for the prosperity of Zion and love to hear of her welfare, and it would be my delight to rejoice your heart with pleasing tidings; but alas, alas, my brother, Zion in this section of the earth, is in a languishing condition, few come to her solemn feasts, yet I trust the Lord has not entirely forsaken us, nor can I think he ever will; but to me it appears a sifting time, as spoken of by Amos, a day of famine, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the word of the Lord. Some few berries, however, in

On the first Lord's-day in the month, brother Thorne preaches in Baltimore, and and on the second Lord's-day he preaches at Warren in the morning and returns to town to preach at candle-light; and on the third he preaches at the Harford Meeting-house, and I believe at two or three private houses before he returns to Baltimore; and on the fourth he preaches at Warren in the morning and at Saters in the afternoon; and when a fifth Sunday occurs, he attends at Patapsco and preaches four or five times in that neighbourhood before he leaves. After thus relating our state, would not brother Osbourn, was he placed in my situation, be ready to say, My brother, come over and help us.

Two of the London Baptist places of worship, I was from necessity obliged to attend in my young days-my mother was baptized by Dr. Andrew Gifford and was a member of the church he was the pastor of; their house of worship was called Eagle Street Meeting, and was near Holborn, and I served a regular apprenticeship to a gentleman of the name of Williams, a wholesale draper and calico-printer; he was a deacon of Abraham Booth's church near Whitechapel; of course I had to attend there, and at both places I have no doubt but the pure gospel was preached. I had at times in my youth stings of conscience, but, like Balaam, though I knew what was right, I done what was wrong, and but for the Lord's love and mercy to a poor, helpless, unworthy sinner, it would have been the same atthe present time. My dear brother, I have a good hope that the Lord has done great things for me, whereof I am truly glad. He has delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, and my feet from falling, or running after the lo here, or the lo there, of the present day; the Lord has plucked me as a brand from destruction, and in passing through a long life, I can look back and in many instances see where the Lord in mercy has snatched me from the brink of destruction; the language, therefore, of my heart is, What shall I render to the Lord for all his benefits unto me?

You are fond of good news, although you have heard it before; there is precious news in Romans v. 8, and in 1 John iv. 10; these

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