to this tower. Cant. vii. 4. Now as the nose is the most prominent feature, as it stands out in the face, so Christ is that tower which stands out so conspicuous and looketh toward Damascus, the place of ours and his enemies, and thus looking, discomfits them, as he did the Egyptians in the red sea, and at last destroys them altogether. VI. It was a very delightful mountain. It would be impossible to mention all the choice things that are found here, Christ is as the holy mountain, full of the best and choicest things you can name. He yields a thousand sacred sweets to his people, even here in the wilderness. Oh how delighted I have been with his person, his work, his offices, as Prophet, Priest and King, when I have been led to sit down under his shadow with great delight, and his fruit sweet to my heart; when the mandrakes give a smell, and at our gates are all manner of pleasant fruits new and old which I have laid up for thee, O my beloved." Cant. vii. 13. When we are led to see the vail of ignorance destroyed, death swallowed up in victory, God wiping off our tears and making a feast of fat things, a feast of wines on the lees, of fat things full of marrow, of wines on the lees well refined. Isaiah XXV. Histo rians tell us that there are four inclosures of mountains one above the other, the first is said to be rich in grain and fruit. Might not this represent our Eden state before the fall? The second is barren, abounding in thorns, rocks and flints. Here is our fallen state. The third, higher than this, enjoys a perpetual spring, the trees that live here are always green, and the orchards filled with fruit, it is so agreeable and fertile, that some have called it a terrestrial paradise. Does not this set forth our state of grace as planted in the garden of the Lord, where the sun always shines, although we do not always feel it, and where the trees shall not fade, and whatsoever we do in faith shall prosper? VII. There is a fourth so high that it is covered with snow. There is no mountain so high as this in Syria or Judea, which faintly shadows forth him who is higher than the heavens, the great high priest of his people, who was made lower than the angels for the suffering of death, but now God hath highly exalted him and given him a name which is above every name. Phil. ii. 9: so that the spouse could say that he was the chiefest among ten thousand and altogether lovely, and it is truly blessed when we can mount upon the wings of faith and love, and soar above these inferior things, and see God, the Father's first begotten Son, higher than the kings of the earth having all power, authority and glory as Mediator, sitting at the right hand of the majesty on high, above all his enemies, sin, death, hell and the grave-standing forth in all the greatness, grandeur, majesty and glory, so that his countenance is as Lebanon, excellent as the cedars. Cant. v. 15. And well might she add in the next verse, his mouth is most sweet, yea he is altogether lovely, this is my beloved, and this is my friend, O ye daughters of Jerusalem. O may my brother be led more than ever to see his divine purity, spiritual beauty and wonderful suitability as a Saviour, that may truly ravish your heart and fill you with joy and peace in believing, that you may be like a tree of Lebanon planted in the mountain of his holiness, that you may take root downwards, and bear fruit upwards, to the praise and glory of a Three one God, peace and truth be with thee. Thine in Jesus, AN UNLEARNed Preacher. Old Brentford, 1849. Furnace-Work. "Behold I have refined thee, but not with silver, I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction." Isaiah xlviii. 10. THE following lines were sent to a sister in the Lord, who has long been confined to her bed through affliction, yet has been highly favoured of the Lord while there. HAIL! favor'd saint, though in the furnace tried, Though in the furnace he has chosen thee, In love while there he still embraces thee; For many waters cannot quench within The fire of love, amidst a mass of sin. Thy faith, though tried, its origin divine, Thy faith, thy hope, thy love, thy person too, The rod in honey dipt with loving hand, How sweet affliction when supported thusThe cup of bitters is without the curse; The waters are by miracle divine, And sov'reign grace turn'd into gospel wine. T. EDWARDS. Tunbridge Wells. THE FOLLOWING LETTER WAS ADDRESSED TO BROTHER EDWARDS IN ANSWER TO THE ABOVE. MY DEAR CHRISTIAN FRIEND-I return many thanks for the lines you so kindly sent me. On unfolding the paper, I was much struck with the text you had chosen; long has it been most sweet to my soul; and so descriptive of my state. 'He sent from above, he took me, he drew me out of many waters;' yes, he did it for his own name's sake; for he says, 'How should my name be polluted?' and again, I will not THROUGH MUCH TRIBULATION. give my glory to another.' O may I ever speak well of his dear, blessed name, who hath done so much for my soul: 'he has raised me up out of an horrible pit, and out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings; and he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God. Oh, that many may see it, and fear, and put their trust in the Lord." On Friday night, how sweet and precious was the Holy One of Israel to my soul! what a sense of pardoning mercy did I feel! how I could sing praises in my heart! I was truly lost in wonder, love, and praise, and my soul enjoyed that peace which passeth all understanding. What cause for thankfulness and praise, when we look back on the past, and see what we once were! how, when we were in nature's darkness, he plucked us by his rich almighty grace, as brands from the burning; if we had been left to our wills we must inevitably perished in our sins: in due time he passed by, saw us polluted in our blood, and bid us live; cast his mantle of love upon our souls; clothed us in his beauteous righteousness; and made us comely with the comeliness our blessed Lord has put upon us. Oh what a price did this precious robe cost, even the precious blood of Jesus Christ the beloved son of God, he so freely gave himself for us, that we through his poverty might be rich; condescended to visit this earth, took upon him the form of a servant, passed a life of sorrow, pain, and woe; he was weary, hungry, thirsty, and faint; despised, buffetted, mocked, reproached, and spit upon; yet this meek, patient, and holy sufferer, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not, but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously. May we ever be enabled, through divine grace, to follow this blessed example in all our trials, temptations, and difficulties, and to say from the heart not my will but thine be done. May we ever give the reins into the hands of our almighty leader, and our concerns to his divine guidance, then all will be well. May the Lord bless your labours abundantly to many precious souls; if you feel darkness, be not dismayed; thy God will be with thee. Very truly your's in Jesus, 6, Ely Terrace, F. DAMPER. Tunbridge Wells, March 31, 1849. "Through much Tribulation :" AN ANSWER TO CHRISTIANA." DEAR SISTER IN THE LORD:-As I was plodding my way through the profitable pages of the last Vessel, I came to your request in one corner, and it at once attracted my attention; by reason that my own mind had been exercised about the same passage: and I remembered at the time, I found the 'must' a very awkward word, for I seemed shut out thereby,-being comfortable in my circumstances, free from bodily 187 affliction, not subject to persecution from without, and favoured by being enabled to attend the means of grace. Surely (I thought) my spot is not the spot of the Lord's people. Then I considered, whether the passage might have referred mainly to times of persecution, but could only come to the conclusion that it must be more or less applicable to all our time state; and that from Adam to our sister Wood, (whose obituary I had just been reading,) it had met its fulfilment in some way or other. Then it occurred to me that whilst perusing only a few pages of the Vessel I had to stop a dozen times to cry to the Lord to deliver me from my own thoughts, from temptations without and within; and I was sure this was a 'tribulation' to me. To go to prayer, and in the midst forget the existence of the infinitely glorious Being addressed; or to find the heart suddenly starting aside like a deceitful bow, and clasping some desire or thought lighter than vanity. To have no chord awakened by the name of Jesus, but the heart's affections, instead of gushing forth like water, shrinking back (as the snail) into their own deceitful and dark abode. Are not these things 'tribulations are they not bitter to the inner man,' renewed and enlightened by the Holy Ghost? Surely there is not a more continuous cause of grief than an 'evil heart of unbelief, prone to depart from the living God, whose estimate of it is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked,' out of which 'proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witnesses, blasphemies.' Then whilst the heart beats will it not be a prolific source of 'tribulation?' And there is the same thing, on various accounts, for one's own kindred; like Paul's for his brethren in the flesh-on account of the church's state individually and collectively, a great profession, but little of that 'first love,' which preached so powerfully, and constituted the 'BEAUTY of holiness,' the lovely FRUITS of the Spirit's indwelling in apostolic times. Such facts are also cause of tribulation.' And is there no comfort to be had? Yes; and the church's riddle' contains it-out of the EATER came forth MEAT, and out of the STRONG came forth SWEETNESS;' and 'tribulation' worketh patience, and patience experience, and experience hope,' &c. So, dear sister, it's not so bad after all, if we have been taught the meaning of that word, 'GRACE;' for when we see that little word in the light and home-sending of God's Spirit, it holds the large family Bible in its four blessed letters; for I'm sure there's nothing beside grace for the Lord's redeemed ones there. I know for the WICKED the night is coming; 188 BRETHREN PRAY FOR US. delivered from the troubles which assail us? For our comfort during our brief sojourn here, may we pray for increased faith when affliction presses, just to put it beside the glory which shall be revealed in us, and this will make it 'light,' enduring but for a moment; for 'but a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry; and where will be the 'tribulation' then? for the former things shall not be remembered nor come into mind.' Amen. Somerstown. W. PALMER. "Brethren, Pray for us." BRETHREN, you who're born of God; You that are taught to mourn and cry, You who in this time-state are thus, You then that know Jehovah thus, Love, blood and power doth save from hell; You that believe the truth is thus, And precious things more sweetly feel: If then the Lord will hear you thus, His children then be brought to see Pimlico. You that believe God acteth thus, We pray you, Brethren, pray for us.' · P. W. WILLIAMSON. The Spiritual Railway. THE line to heaven by Christ was made, Then you who need this station, try, The gospel train is always near, The engine is the Word of God, Come then poor sinners, now's the time, If you in heart are sick of sin, The train will stop and take you in. And having enter'd on this line The rule observe, the same thing mind For in this journey such of us The telegraph from earth to heaven, TEMPTATION AND DELIVERANCE. My mind was arrested by those words in Malachi iii. 15, 'They that work wickedness are set up; yea, they that tempt God, are even delivered." Something said within me, 'Your preaching and profession has only been a tempting of God: and yet you have been delivered.' I found a fearful suspicion in my mind that all was not right between God and my soul. This lay upon me for nearly two days and a night; only once could I really cry to God to settle the point; and this cry was very faint; but about five o'clock in the afternoon of the second day these words came spontaneously, and rather sweetly into my soul,'Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil; for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.' Light and liberty came with the word. I think the enemy of souls tempted me by the word in Malachi; I hope the Spirit of God delivered me by the word in the twenty-third psalm. Reader! What do you think of these exercises of mind ?-ED. [ 189 ] The Origin of the Church over whom John Bunyan was Pastor: WITH SOME ACCOUNT OF THE CHARACTER AND CONVERSION OF JOHN GIFFORD IT may not be generally known that the old meeting house in the town of Bedford, in which John Bunyan preached the glorious gospel of Christ, has recently been pulled down; and a new one is erected on the same site called BUNYAN CHAPEL. John Jukes, the present pastor, has sent forth a little green-covered shilling book, from the sale of which, it seems, he hopes to derive a little towards paying for the new Bunyan. We have run over the pages of Bunyan's Church,' with some pleasure; and we must say John Jukes has put the thing together very nicely; it contains some excellent matter; especially John Gifford's Letter to the members of his church. Oh, we think that letter should be read, and read again, by all the members of all our christian churches: and not only read, but well digested, and duly practised. This being our desire, and our aim, we know John Jukes will be pleased enough to see that we have made a few extracts from his work and included parts of the valuable pastoral epistle therein. cated, she entreated him to attempt his escape. This he effected; and finding his way into a field, lay concealed in the bottom of a great ditch for about three days, in which time the search after him began to abate. Being disguised, by the help of his friends, he got to London. In a little while he was conveyed down into the neighbourhood of Bedford, and remained hid for a season in the houses of some great people, who were favourers of the royal cause. After some time he came to Bedford, and being an entire stranger in the town, he ventured upon the practice of physic. Still he remained abandoned to vice, being particularly addicted to drinking, swearing, gaming, &c. One night, having lost a considerable sum, he fell into a violent passion, and indulged desperate thoughts respecting the providence of God. Happening to look in one of Mr. Bolton's books, something he there read, laid fast hold of his conscience, and he remained in a state of distress, under conviction of sin, for a month or more. At length the Reader! The matter that follows, is divine Spirit so enlightened his mind into sterling; it demands thy most serious and a view of the way of forgiveness, through prayerful attention. We command thee, the blood of Christ, as filled his soul with yea, we beseech of thee to labour to get it joy and peace. This remained with him into thy heart; and talk to thy neigh-in an uncommon degree. He has been bours about it; and may the good Lord bless it to all your souls, amen. First of all, we give a little notice of the Origin of John Bunyan's Church; and of the Character and Conversion of John Gifford, Bunyan's Pastor. Long before the time of the commonwealth "there were a number of godly people in the town of Bedford, who, although they were not gathered together into church order, were dissatisfied with the superstitious and persecuting practises of the prelates in that day; and were earnestly concerned to edify themselves, and propagate the truth; gladly entertaining those zealous friends of the gospel of Christ, who were then stigmatised by many under the name of Puritans; and were first moved to embody themselves in gospel fellowship by the advice of JOHN GIFFORD, whose history is truly remarkable. He was a native of Kent; and a major in the king's army. He was concerned in the rising in that county, for which he was afterwards apprehended, and, with eleven others, sentenced to the gallows. The night preceeding the day fixed for his execution, he was visited by his sister. On her approach to the prison, she observed the guard without was asleep; and finding his companions within intoxi VOL. V. heard to declare, that during the space of five years, he never lost, for one hour, the comfortable light of God's countenance. The want of this privilege, it seems, he scarcely ever knew, unless for a season about two days before he died. Being thus called by divine grace, he sought acquaintance with the people of God. At first he found great difficulty to persuade them he was sincere. He had been exceedingly vile and notorious for his enmity to serious godliness. Scarcely could they believe him to be a disciple. But being very warm in his attachment, and naturally of a bold spirit, he would not be repulsed, but took all opportunities to thrust himself among them. After many difficulties, he prevailed with them to admit him to a share of their friendship and confidence. Soon afterwards, he began to speak the word of God, first in a private, then in a public way and manner. His ministry was attended with remarkable success. The hand of the Lord was with him, and a number were turned to the Lord. Having been for some time engaged in the work of the ministry, by degrees he began to see the propriety and importance of professing believers in Christ being united in christian fellowship. He culti vated an acquaintance with other ministers. Obtaining farther degrees of light into this matter, he began to propose it among his friends, and endeavoured to lead them into similar views. They set apart many days for solemn prayer, to seek direction from heaven. At length they came to a resolution, that a select number should form themselves into a body, and so lay the foundation of a gospel church. In the year 1650, Mr. Gifford, and eleven other grave serious christians, well known to one another, appointed a day for this solemn transaction, when they met together, and after fervent prayer, they first gave themselves up to the Lord, and then to one another, according to the will of God. This done, they with one consent made choice of JOHN GIFFORD, to be their pastor or elder, to minister to them in the things of the kingdom of Christ. This he accepted, and gave himself up to the Lord, and to his people, to walk with, and watch over them in the Lord. The conversion of Gifford, under every view that can be taken of it, was a most striking and remarkable event. All who look at it in its true light must surely feel constrained to say "The finger of God is here." His conversion to Christ and his call to the Christian ministry, seem in several points to have resembled the conversion and call of the great Apostle of the Gentiles. THE FOLLOWING LETTER OF ADVICE WAS ADDRESSED BY MR. GIFFORD (NOT LONG BEFORE HIS DEATH,) TO THE CHURCH OVER WHICH GOD HAD MADE HIM OVERSEER. ignorant of this, that every one of you are as much bound now to walk with the church in all love; and in the ordinances of Jesus Christ our Lord, as when I was present among you: neither have any of you liberty to join yourselves to any other society, because your pastor is removed from you; for you were not joined to the ministry but TO CHRIST, and the church; and this is and was the will of God in Christ to all the churches of the saintsread Acts ii. 42, and compare it with Acts i. 14, 15, and I charge you before the Lord, as you will answer it at the coming of our Lord Jesus, that none of you be found guilty herein. Secondly, Be constant in your church assemblies. Let all the work which concerns the church be done faithfully among you; as admission of members, exercising of gifts, election of officers, as need requires, and all other things as if named, which the scripture being searched will lead you into, through the Spirit; which things if you do, the Lord will be with you, and you will convince others that Christ is your head, and your dependency is not upon man: but if you do the work of the Lord negligently, if you mind your own things and not the things of Christ, if you grow of indifferent spirits whether you mind the work of the Lord in his church or no, I fear the Lord by degrees will suffer the comfort of your communion to be dried up, and the candlestick which is yet standing to be broken in pieces; which God forbid. Now concerning your admission of members, I think expedient to stir up your remembrance: after you are satisfied about the work of grace in the party you are to join with, the said party do solemnly declare "That UNION with CHRIST is the "I beseech you, brethren beloved, let foundation of all saints' communion :" and these words (written in my love to you the said party ought to declare, whether a and care over you, when our heavenly brother or sister, that through grace they Father was removing me to the kingdom will walk in love with the church, though of his dear Son) be read in your church- there should happen any difference in judggatherings together. I shall not now, ment about other things. I exhort you, dearly beloved, write unto you about that brethren, in your comings-together, Let which is the first, and without which all all things be done decently and in order, other things are as nothing in the sight of according to the Scriptures. Let all things God, viz., the keeping the mystery of be done among you without strife and envy, the faith in a pure conscience;" I shall not, without self-seeking and vain glory. Be I say, write of these things (though the clothed with humility, and submit to one greatest) having spent my labours among another in love. Let the gifts of the church you, to root you and build you up in be exercised; let no gift be concealed Christ through the grace you have received; which is for edification: yet let those gifts and to press you to all manner of holiness be chiefly exercised which are most for the in your conversations, that you may be perfecting of the saints. Let your disfound of the Lord, without spot, and blame-courses be to build up one another in your less, at His coming. But the things I most holy faith, and to provoke one another shall speak to you of, are about your church to love and good works: if this be not well affairs, which I fear have been little con-minded, much time may be spent and the sidered by most of you; which things, if church reap little or no advantage. Let not minded aright, and submitted unto, there be strong meat for the strong, and according to the will of God, will by degrees bring you under divisions, distractions, and at last to confusion of that gospel order and fellowship which now through grace you enjoy. Therefore, my brethren, in the first place I would not have any of you *We should rejoice to see this one principle more fully recognized; we fear ministerial attachments are often carried too far; but membership-duties are seldom carried far enough. |