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A Letter from Mr. Jas. Osbourn to a Sister in the Faith at Trowbridge.

MY DEAR SISTER IN THE GOSPEL:Grace and peace be with thee. Your most affectionate letter, dated the 17th inst., came safe to me in Old Bedford Square, London; and the divine unction it contains, and the sweet spirit it breathes, sufficiently demonstrate its being written by one of the daughters of Zion. I gladly hail thee on gospel ground, on our dear Immanuel's land, which land is consecrated and holy unto the Lord, and he tells us that this land shall not be sold for ever, for the land is mine,' Leviticus xxv. 23. It is in this land, this happy land, that God is as the dew unto Israel, and to heavy laden souls, and afflicted consciences, and such as are of a contrite spirit, and all that love and fear his great name. Here too it is that the glorious voice of the Lord of hosts may be heard to signal advantage by all who have ears well set for divine melody. And here likewise the saints of God 'revive as the corn, and grow as the vine,' Hosea xiv. 7; and here I hope my young sister will spring up as among the grass, and as willows by the water courses,' Isa. xliv: 4, and wear the verdure of May all the year round.

In this good land it is that soul bandages are loosened, and shackles knocked off, and the veil of Moses torn from the heart, and captives set free, and Christ the Lord crowned King of kings, and laurels cast at his feet by contrite ones. This, all this, and much more than this, my soul is a living witness of to this day. Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless his holy name,' Psa. ciii. 1. By feeding in this land, 'Immanuel's land,' Isa. viii. 8, an heaven-born soul must needs flourish and look fair; the pasturage being so remarkably nutritious, and such an abundance of it. Abraham, David, Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Daniel used to feed here and do dwell, and so have many others since that day,

Happy souls that live and feed in the pastures of love, and experience the freeness and fulness of the everlasting gospel of the Son of God. So living, and so feeding, we become intimate with the Lord of life and glory, and into his bosom we creep and there find an 'hiding place from the wind, and a covert from the tempest,' Isa. xxxii. 2. Here too, in his bosom, our souls expand, our views brighten, our judgment becomes sound, and we rejoice in the rock of our salvation, having no confidence in the flesh,' Phil iii. 3. And here likewise it is where this world, with all its pomp and vanity;-with all its carnal mirth, and delusive enchantments;-with all its knavery and deep intrigues;-with all its dying interest, and fading toys;-together with nearly all of what at present is deemed to be gospel light, truth, rest, peace, love, and liberty, sink and die in our esti

mation, and the despised doctrine of the cross is what we admire and eagerly seek after. A mere religious jargon, with a great bawling noise and bitter declamations by preachers under the veil of Mosés, we, when walking at large in 'Immanuel's land,' have no real relish for. As men who are 'standing fast in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made them free,' v. 1, are of the light, and of the day, and not of the night, nor of darkness,' 1 Thess. v. 5, so it comes to pass that they 'with open face behold as in a glass the glory of the Lord,' 2 Cor. iii. 18, and see and know they do that the ministration of the Spirit is far more glorious than is the ministration of condemnation.

Now from the few remarks above, we may see that to enter into this land, even Immanuel's land,' is the same as entering into the rest of which St. Paul speaks; 'We which have believed do enter into rest,' Heb. iv. 3. Of this sweet rest in Christ and in the gospel, the ancient Sabbath was a type; and blest indeed is that person who has been delivered from the noise of archers in the wilderness,' Judges v. 11; Jer. xxxi. 2, and found a home and gospel rest in this consecrated land which is not to be sold for ever, for the land is mine, saith the Lord; and as it is his land, and his holy land, so the unclean shall not pass over it, nor ever go up thereon, nor be found there; but the redeemed and ransomed of the Lord, chosen, called, adopted, and pardoned ones, shall walk, talk, sing, and be joyful together there,' Isa. xxxv. 8, 9.

Many, and artful, are the stratagems made use of by old Apollyon to prevent afflicted and oppressed saints from this gospel ground; he would rather they should remain in the wilderness with the veil upon their heart, than for them to rejoice in the mighty God of Jacob. He being in misery himself, and without one glimmer of hope of a change for the better, his infernal mind is greatly exasperated, and he is anxious to make and keep the Lord's children as wretched as is he and his own colleagues. No doubt he often besieges your mind in different ways, and tries hard to weaken faith and hope, and to sink your soul into eternal perdition. This is his trade, he has been at this sort of work from generation to generation, and yet has he not dragged one vessel of mercy into his own damnable vortex, nor will he ever be suffered so to do, let the whole corrupt brood of Arminians say what they please to the contrary. To the honour, truth, and faithfulness of God may you and I be enabled closely to adhere, and regard lies and errors with the same indifference as we do the whistling of the wind. The temple of truth will and must stand firm and good; but the whole super

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LAST ILLNESS AND DEATH OF CAROLINE MORGAN.

structure of lies and heresies, will and must be rent from top to bottom, and then consigned to the nethermost hell; and all the votaries of these lies and heresies, will be disposed of just as infinite wisdom shall dictate. We shall be quite safe in saying that the Arminian system, taken from head to foot, and with all its props, cross pieces, and entrails, is the very CORE of the same; and as it is so very pernicious, it will not be amiss to call it a destructive leaven,' for more or less it leavens the whole lump of errors and heresies, and is a robber of God, and a curse to the human family at large.

My sister, I am happy to hear from you, that the Lord hath been pleased to make my preaching and writings so abundantly useful to your soul, and to the souls of many others in Trowbridge; and the same pleasing intelligence I hear from various parts of England, and these things I can but view as 'tokens from the Lord for good, that they which hate me might see it and be ashamed,' Ps. lxxxvi. 17. You wish me to compose a few verses, and send them to you in my own hand writing, but do not specify what subject they should be on; therefore, as I am about to leave England soon, and to make my way to the city of Baltimore, that shall be my subject.

ÓN LEAVING ENGLAND.

I soon shall take a long farewell,
Of all my christian friends that dwell
Upon the British shore:

I oft' shall think on them, and weep,
While crossing o'er the flowing deep;
In search of Baltimore.

I've been on English ground so long,
In preaching Jesus Christ among
The blind, and lame, and poor :
I can no longer here abide,
But must soon cross the ocean wide,
In search of Baltimore.

My thirst for home is now so great,
That nothing can the same abate,

And hence one thing is sure:
Whate'er may be my pain and toil,
I must soon leave my native soil,
In search of Baltimore.

But still 'tis painful to my mind,
To leave these christian friends behind,
And never see them more:
And yet I clearly see and know,
I must across the ocean go,
In search of Baltimore.

My Jane lives there,-I left her there,
And should the wind prove brisk and fair,
While I the sea pass o'er :

I soon shall reach my destin'd place,
And once more see that modest face,
At home in Baltimore.

Fare thee well.
Leicester, April 27, 1849.

JAMES OSBOURN.

A BRIEF REVIEW OF THE LAST

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Illness and Death of Caroline Morgan. MY DEAR SISTER IN THE LORD:-I now take up my pen to write to you as you wished me to give you an account of my dear sister's death; but I hardly know where to begin. The last time I was out with her was at her uncle's funeral; I said to her, Well, Caroline, we have come to see him put under ground; we know not how soon it will be our turn, but the thing is to know whether we are right or not?" 'Ah,' she said, 'if I did but know that; that's what I want to know.' I said, 'I do not doubt your standing: for I felt assured she was longing and thirsting after the good things of the kingdom; and the Lord never turned away such a soul yet; nor never will; bless his dear name. Not long after, her brother came to me in the chapel, and said, 'I have come for you, for Caroline is very bad; and I do not think she will be any better in this world.' It gave me such a turn; I did not know what to do; I went home with him, and when I went into the room, she said, 'Ah, Esther." It appeared to go through me. O, my sister, come to lose one that you have walked with seven years together in sweet union one with the other; it is hard work. She looked again, and says, 'Ah, Esther, I am very bad.' I said, 'I am sorry to see you so bad, but how do you feel in your mind? She said, 'I seem very dark; there is no hope; there seems no hope at all."' said, 'I have a hope for you.' She said, Ah, but I want a hope for myself;' I said to her, 'I believe the Lord will give you a hope for yourself;' but she could not take any comfort; I staid till the following evening. I said to her, 'Would you like to see Mr. Banks? She said, 'Yes.' went; but she was still in the same state of mind. I went several times; but her cry was, 'I have got no hope.' Once I said to her, 'Don't you know the word the Lord gave you-fear not, I have redeemed thee?" Ah, (she said,) I have doubted that long ago.' But (I said,) he never said unto the seeking seed of Jacob, seek ye my face in vain; but no comfort could she take; she would often say, do you think I am right, mother? Do you think there is any hope for me? for such a wretch as me?" mother said, 'Yes, I am sure there is; for you crave after Jesus.' She said, 'Yes, that I do; for that is all I want; if I could but see his smiling face, and hear him say I AM THINE, I think it would make my heart burn within me; but, oh, I hope I am one of his; for there is nothing here that I want but him; I do not want to get better; I do not want to stay here; if he would but smile; then with swift obedience I would go.' I went to see her one Sunday, I said to her, 'How are you?' she said, 'I am very bad; I am such a sufferer; but, Esther, do pray for me; for I have got no hope; I have got no hope.' I said to

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LAST ILLNESS AND DEATH OF CAROLINE MORGAN.

she broke out with?'

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I said, 'I do not know;' 'why,' she said, 'with these words, "Tho' painful at present,

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"Twill cease before long; And then, oh how pleasant The conqueror's song."

Why was I made to hear his voice,
And enter while there's room;
While thousands make a wretched choice,
And rather starve than come."

And then she said,' Where is Esther-my dear Esther? Let her follow me to the grave; and my dear pastor let him speak over my grave; and she picked out the hymn she wished to have sung over her grave, which was this

her, 'I cannot help praying for you; and I do believe the Lord will manifest himself to you, though it may be in the last moment. 'Oh,' she said, 'Mr Banks has never been.' I said to her, 'I believe he is afraid to come;' she said, 'Afraid to come! afraid to come!' 'Yes,' I said, 'I believe he is afraid to come; he says you O, it appeared to fill me with surprise; I are too weak to be talked to; he says, if could not help blessing the Lord for hearyou should get a little better, then he willing and answering my prayer; for I said come and talk to you.' to my sister, I hoped them words would be She said, very well; give my love to him, and tell him to realised in Caroline; and she went on repray for me; for I have no hope. Ah, peating, Esther, do pray for me; it's a solemn thing to die! O, if I could but say, 'the Beloved is mine, and I am his.' O, how those words thrilled through me- I have got no hope!' For a poor soul to be laying, and eternity staring her in the face, and feeling that she has got no hope, what must it be? I never shall forget the solemn weight with which she was laid upon my mind; I shall never forget the earnestness with which she looked up to me, when I said, 'Good bye, Caroline.' She said, 'Good bye, Esther; do pray for me; for I have got no hope.' I went to chapel, and Mr. Banks gave out this text,' And afterwards they had rest.' And if ever a man spoke out the feelings of a poor soul he did; I heard the whole sermon for her; I went home with her laying with solemn weight upon my mind; I was forced to fall down upon my knees before the Lord, and wrestle with him for her soul. O, it was a weight of sorrow to me; for there did not appear to be a word of comfort to come down; but I got up in the morning, and I again begged of the Lord to break in upon her soul; I had to go out in a little time after, and a dear friend that lived opposite, came out, and said, What's the matter? Is poor Caroline gone? I said, 'No, but she is as bad as she can be; but the worst of all is, she has got no hope; and for a poor soul to be laying, and not knowing one minute from another but what it may be her last, and feeling she has got no hope, what must her feelings be? As I turned round into the Borough-road, these words came to me

"Tho' painful at present,

"Twill cease before long; And then oh how pleasant The conqueror's song." These words kept following me; and at last I said to my sister, I don't think Caroline will be long now; for these words kept following me

"Tho' painful at present,

"Twill cease before long; And then oh how pleasant The conqueror's song"

"Death is no more a frightful foe;" and the end of the verse is

"For me to die is gain." What a mercy she was able to say that I and Mr. Banks went down to see her; and as we were going, I told him I never forgot her saying to me, how she loved that hymn

"Other refuge have I none,

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Hangs my helpless soul on thee." I said to her, 'What's that to do with you? Do you wish to hang upon him?" she said, I will hang upon him to the last, if I am lost after all.' Mr. Banks said to her, Esther has been telling me that you said you would hang upon him to the last.' 'Ah,' she said, 'I know I told her so; and I will hang upon him to the last." Mr. Banks said, "Then you will never be lost; for there was never such a soul lost yet, that was found hanging upon Christ.' After a few words of conversation, she said, ' Mr. Banks, do pray for me; this will be the last time I shall hear your voice;' Mr. Banks offered up a sweet prayer on her behalf; and then took his leave of her for the last time.

After repeating the verses of the hymn, her mother said to her, 'That's not you that would rather starve than come.' 'No, (she said,) I want to come.' At another time, her mother said, (as she stood in the entry,) she heard her say

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"O happy saints that walk with Jesus, Clothed in white, clothed in white." That's the beauty of it-that's the beauty of it-That walks with Jesus, clothed in I said to my sister, 'I must go over to- white! Clothed in white! The white! the night.' I went to Shoreditch Chapel; and white! is it not, Jane?' (meaning her siswhen the service was over, to my sur-ter,) but there was none in the room at prise, her sister touched me, and said, 'I am so glad you have come; for poor Caroline has been calling out for you in the night;' and she said, 'What do you think

the time.

Her father asked her, some few days before she died, if she felt the Lord precious to her at the last, whether she would give

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THE SIX CITIES OF REFUGE.

them a sign by waving her hand, if she was not able to speak? She said, Ah, but I am afraid He won't shine.' Her dear father said, 'Put all that aside; will you promise me you will, if he does? She said, Yes, I will."

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The last time I saw her there appeared such a willingness to depart; and her continual cry was, 'Dear Jesus shine, and take me home.' She said to me, Ah, Esther, I thought I should have had to follow you to the grave, but it appears you will me; do beg of the Lord to take me.' When I was about to leave her, she said, 'I hope this will be the last time I shall ever see you here;' and then she said, 'I should like you to be here to see the last of me, but I do not suppose you will.' She then said, 'Do beg of the Lord to take me home.' She then kissed me, and bid me good bye, which was the last time. This was the last Sunday before she died. Her dear parents told me her sufferings got immense, that there was a great change for the worse on Tuesday; but she kept continually begging of the Lord to take her. Her father said she kept calling me every little while the day before she died. He told me he would have sent for me had he have known she was so near her end; but a little time before she died she cried out, Mother, mother;' and then waved both her hands over her head; but she never spoke again. O, my dear sister, this is waving the hand of victory. O, may we be enabled to do the same! O, may the Lord keep us near his feet, and keep us watching and waiting for his coming. O, may you and I feel much of his sensible presence is my sincere prayer, for I have felt a great union of soul to you. I therefore have given you an account of my dear sister's death as far as I am able. O, may the Lord bless it to your soul if consistent with his blessed will. You must excuse the bad writing. I add no more. May the Lord keep us in the truth, for Christ's sake. Amen.

E. ALSTON.

The Six Cities of Refuge.

MR. JOSEPH HAMBLIN, minister of the gospel at Foot's Cray, has recently published (through Houlston and Stoneman) a work entitled, "THE COUNSEL OF THE LORD REVEALED, AND HIS PEOPLE CONSOLED." No one that knows anything of Joseph Hamblin will need to be told that this production of his is a SOUND, WHOLESOME, SOBER piece of divinity: ah, and there is some experience in it, too, of the right sort. It is the substance of three sermons on Hebrews vi. 17-19. We felt interested in perusing the work, and thought the following extract might be useful to some of our readers;

"In the text there seems to be an allusion to the cities of refuge under the law, appointed for the manslayer. In these divinely instituted asylums, the poor refugees were provided with all things ne

cessary for their support and comfort, and at the death of the high priest were set at liberty to return unto their families and possessions, without the least fear of molestation: Num. xxxv. 25-28. These places of shelter from the pursuing avenger, were a striking type of the Lord Jesus, who is the only sure refuge for those who feel they have destroyed themselves by sin, and are deserving of divine wrath, and also for his people in all subsequent times of distress. Hence the direction given, 'Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us.' Ps. lxx. 8.

The cities of refuge were six in number, and they were significant. Their names were Kedesh, Shechem, Hebron, Bezer, Ramoth, and Golan: Josh. xx. 7, 8. Kedesh signifies 'holy or holiness;' and Christ 'is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the hea vens;' and so is a suitable High Priest for us. Yea, he is 'holiness to the Lord' for his people, and is made sanctification unto them: 1 Cor. i. 30. Shechem, portion, the back, or shoulders:' and Christ is the inheritance of his people. Thou art my portion, O Lord: I have said I would keep thy words: Ps. cxix. 57. He gave his back to the smiters,' and is the Almighty burden-bearer of his children. The government of the whole church, and of every individual member, is upon his shoulders. Isa. ix. 6. Hebron, society, friendship, or fellowship;' and believers are associated together in the bonds of truth and love; they are all united to one gracious Head, and called by God unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord. He calls them friends, and in him they have communion with a triune Jehovah, in their mutual acts of grace, and the Apostle says, 'That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and his Son Jesus Christ.' 1 John i. 3. Bezer, 'A fortified place.' So the Lord Jesus is a stronghold and a sure defence. David said, 'The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.' Ps. Xviii. 2. In the Lord Jesus there is safety from all enemies, and from all penal evil. To him the prisoners of hope, and those who groan under the bondage of sin are directed; and all who believe in Christ find security and supplies. 'He shall dwell on high: his place of defence shall be the munitions of rocks: bread shall be given him; his waters shall be sure.' Isa. xxxiii. 16 Ramoth, eminences or exaltations.' So the Lord Jesus, as Mediator, is raised to the highest eminence, exalted in personal dignity and glory at Jehovah's right hand, and has a name which is above every name. And, those who believe in him are 'raised up together, and made to sit together in heavenly places in Christ

SALVATION IS ALL OF GRACE.

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Jesus.' These are brought up out of a horrible pit, and out of the miry clay, their feet are set upon the rock of ages, their goings are established, and they are elevated in privilege and honour. He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth the needy out of the dunghill; that he may set him with princes, even with the princes of his people.' Psa. cxiii. 7, 8. Golan, passage, or manifested.' The Son of God at his incarnation made his passage from heaven to earth. He came forth from the Father,' and was manifested in the flesh to accomplish the will of God, to "destroy the works of the devil,' and to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. He is likewise revealed unto the souls of his people by his word and Spirit, which affords them spiritual joy and gladness. Hence, Jesus says, 'He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me; and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself unto him' John xiv. 21; xvi. 22. Thus Christ is the antitype of the cities of refuge. In him there are holiness and support, union and fellowship, defence and security, the honours of grace, and the joys of salvation. These are what the regenerate need; and all their necessities can possibly require are to be found in the Lord Jesus, to whom they have fled, and are fleeing for refuge."

What a Member of a Christian Church

SHOULD BE.

THE following brief account of the death of Richard Parkinson, of Burgh, in Lincolnshire, we give in the simple form in which it came to us. It is a joyful fact that after all the reproach cast and brought upon the distinguishing doctrines of grace there are a few names in Sardis, who walk with Jesus in white raiment; who adorn the doctrines of the gospel, and at the appointed time enter into rest.

Richard Parkinson died at Burgh, Lincolnshire, on Monday, May 7, 1849, aged twenty-seven years, a much beloved, and very useful member of the Baptist Church of the above named place. He was called by grace under the ministry of the present pastor, and added to the church below on the first Lord's Day in May 1847; and died, and was added to the church above a few hours over that day two years.

His race was short, but it was well run; his constant aim appeared to have been like that of Paul's, 'That I may win Christ and is now, doubtlessly, in the full enjoyment of that prize of his high calling of God in Christ Jesus. He was humble, prayerful, zealous, sincere, upright, liberal, loving and faithful; indeed his character was made up of excellencies, both as a man and as a christian. All his friends loved him dearly in the Lord, so much of his image did he bear; and even the enemies of the gospel praised his blameless life. He was an honour to the church, a joy to his minister, and the glory of God.

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If I was asked what a member of a christian church should be, I should direct to the past life of Richard Parkinson, as affording a true pattern of such a character. While all this, and much more, is true of him, as many are ready to testify, yet he felt himself to be a poor worthless sinner. No one appeared to feel this more than he did. He was often heard to complain of the inward strife between grace and sin; his whole dependence for acceptance before God was wholly on the finished work of Christ. He was of a weekly constitution; and hence, after ailing but about a week before his death, he was taken with that deadly disease called the small-pox, and had it in the most dreadful form. Few persons were allowed to see him, but he said to them about him, that his prospect was bright, and that he had no fear of death, though he was the subject of many such fears in his life.

"He trod the shades of gloomy death,

Could set his seal that God was true; Finished his course and kept the faith, For God kept him his passage thro'. "Methinks I see him now at rest,

In the bright mansions love ordain'd; His head reclines on Jesus' breast, No more by sins or sorrow pain'd." N. H., Burgh.

SALVATION IS ALL OF GRACE.

"I do all I can to be saved, (said Reid,) but I am no nearer to it.' I answered, 'What do you think, then, of a friend of mine that said to me the other day, 'If picking up a straw would save me, I would not do it? "Twas a very wicked thing to say, then, (he retorted); I hope he saw his error. That man had not my feelings, or he would pick up every straw on the earth to be saved.' When he was as you are now, (I answered,) under the crushing weight of a broken law, he might have done so; but when the Lord drew him to Calvary's cross, gave him a view of a precious Christ, and told him that all his salvation was finished there, he then saw it would be blasphemy to attempt to add anything to that work, and that every effort was robbing Christ of his glory.' 'Well, (replied Reid,) a man must do what he can, and leave the rest to God.' 'How differently the Holy Ghost puts that matter! (I answered); for it is expressly written, 'To him that worketh not, but believeth on Him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.' Ah, (said Reid,) 'tis all a puzzle; I can't make it out.' Now you have just said the truth, (I rejoined); that's the fact of the matter; but the Spirit's work is to explain these puzzling things, to shew you salvation is all of GRACE; that nothing can be added to it by the creature, or taken from it, and to reveal all that Christ has done to your soul's enjoyment; then it will all fit together so nicely, and appear so simple and plain, you will only wonder any one should feel the least difficulty in receiving it.'"

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