PEACEFUL TIDINGS FROM THE COUNTY OF SUFFOLK. consulted; and he at once gave his consent. Yes,' | says he, and I will give all the materials for making the baptistry, and do the carting part of the business beside; and I wish you to fill up the original number of the Trust of your own choice -all Baptists, if you please. Thus the Lord opened a way at once. 291 never felt that I had the ability to preach like others of God's sent servants. And when I have heard such as our brother Foreman, and Wells, and others, preach upon public occasions, I have thought I would never try again; but knowing I must try before the same people, I have prayed to the Lord that the people might forget what they had heard, and be made to feel so hungry, that they would be glad of a bit of coarse, but yet On Lord's-day, the 14th, a special church-meeting was called, and it was at once agreed unanimously, to form ourselves into a Strict Com-wheaten bread. I can say if any man was ever munion Baptist Church; so that we may truly say, "WHAT HAS GOD WROUGHT?" Or, as upon another occasion, recorded in the 2nd book of Chronicles, 29th chapter, 36th verse, "And Hezekiah rejoiced, and all the people, that God had prepared the people: for the thing was done suddenly. We immediately set to work to sink the pit and make the baptistry; and, being completed, on Tuesday evening, the 6th inst., I baptised seven persons, (five females and two males); and there would have been more than double that number, only some were ill, and to others the time did not suit; so that, if spared, I expect soon to go down into the water again; in all probability, before this appears in print. I would just say, that before baptising, I read and commented upon the first eleven verses of the first chapter of Mark, which commences thus:"The beginning of the gospel of Christ ;" and shewed that many, like us, began at the wrong end; that we did not begin at the beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, which beginning was evidently, from the whole tenor of the Gospel, faith and repentance, then the ordinance of baptism, as the only legitimate gospel way of entering into the church. We then, as I entered the water, sung in full chorus "I'm not ashamed to own my Lord!" Nor was he ashamed to own us; for he blessed us there; and the next day was indeed a day of rejoicing and sending of portions. Now we can re peat with rapture the whole of the 126th Psalm, "When the Lord turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream: then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing; then said they among the heathen, "The Lord hath done great things for them." Now, mark the difference: "The Lord hath done great things for us, whereof we are glad." Great things for us; not them. Well, "They that sow in tears shall reap in joy." "He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him." In conclusion I would say to Baptist ministers and churches, Brethren, join with us in singing, "All hail the power of Jesus' name," &c. JNO. CARTER. Peterboro', Nov. 9th, 1849. PEACEFUL TIDINGS FROM THE COUNTY OF SUFFOLK. FROM the first time of my being called upon to engage in prayer at a prayer meeting, which was in the vestry at Mount Zion Chapel, Hill Street, Dorset Square, in the year 1827, (a time I shall never forget,) I have always thought I could never pray like other people. So-ever since I was first called to speak in the name of the Lord-I have thrust into the work of the ministry, I was: yet, to this day I feel as though I should have to give it up. I was telling a friend, yesterday, I never felt more empty in my life; having to preach several sermons in the week, but had no text, and felt as though there was no text for me in the Bible. But all praise be unto the Lord, he has helped me hitherto; and although I feel to be emptied out, yet he is not; and if he is pleased to continue to supply me out of the fulness of grace, treasured up in the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ, for private and public usefulness, he shall for ever have all the glory. So as it respects writing: although there is scarce a week passes but I am writing and corresponding with some friend, in different parts of the country, even as far as the East Indies; yet I can never satisfy myself; I think everybody can write better than I can; yet, strange to say, I can never satisfy my friends; for the more they have the more they want. Thus I have given you one reason, and the principal one, why I have not written before, therefore hope you will pardon me. Another reason is, having had to travel in the same road before, while we have prosperity, I feel to tremble, and afraid to say much about it, for fear it should not last long; nevertheless, as we have an account in all the monthly periodicals, of the decayed and distracted state of the churches in this country, I think it is but just to the Lord and to his peaceable people, that the bright side should be laid before the public, as well as the dark side; for I that should there come a trying day, which I bedo verily believe, although the times are ominous, lieve there will, and there will be much chaff hundreds of God's servants who are hid in obscufound among the wheat, yet I believe there are rity, who are upon the look out, and will be found to stand firm for the truth, although they shall lose their lives for it; but at this time, seem to be paralysed, knowing not which course to steer; because one says, 'this is the way;' and each will wield the sword of the Spirit under one another, that;' but the time will come when banner, or one standard; and under one Captain, (instead of so many, as we have now-a-days,) the captain of our salvation, THE LORD JESUS CHRIST. And now for a few instances out of many which might be named. At Rehoboth Baptist Chapel, Bury St. Edmunds, we have great reason to bless the Lord, though but few in number, we are in peace, and that peace has remained undisturbed during my ministry, which commenced January, 1847. Our congregation has gradually increased; and but for the many removals in providence by reason of the times, our chapel would have been completely filled: the congregations are very attentive: our members fill up their places well at the Lord's Table: our prayer meetings are well attended, as also church meetings; and the friends seem lothe to part when the services are over: there is, I know, a true spirit of prayer The Alas! for all their boasted skill, Puny indeed their arm to save; Or shield his doom'd ones from the grave. Pour'd forth the supplicating cry, The great-the everlasting God. They can besiege the throne of heav'n. An Earthen Vessel. How many a gallant Vessel, upon the Ocean's brine, Have founder'd, wreck'd, and sank entomb'd, in Eighteen Forty Nine, among us; and I had the pleasure of baptising Bury St. Edmunds. Thoughts on the Cholera. on the THE following lines on the Cholera were suggested Dread visitant! at God's command, See, earth's physicians are laid low ! Against their mighty wooden walls, the tempest soon prevails, strange to tell, an Earthen one, still lives and spreads her sails. Vessels of mercy and of wrath, o'er all this spacious land, To all appearance, hale and strong; stern death has laid his hand, Crush'd, quickly crush'd, in mother dust, friends, her race. She's a wonder unto many, herself she must How many times she's brav'd the storms, the boisterous winds most rude: manifest, For a brittle Earthen Vessel is all she is at best. of earth, Has engrav'd his name upon her, and treasur'd wisdom, power, display'd, And thus, the Earthen Vessel, now, is not in pieces laid. Yea, she looks better than at first, when launch'd upon the wave, For few men cared to comfort her, and few men But cared to save. now, some hundreds, interests have, each month she comes in sight, And ransack Earthen Vessel, with great pleasure and delight. In Eighteen Fifty, may she sail, triumphant on her way, With her streaming blood-stain'd pennant, unfurl'd in bright display, Yea, many, many years to come, when children take our place, May they see Earthen Vessel stor'd, with rich and sovereign grace. ANOTHER "FLY-SHEET!" OR, THE BUDGET OPENED, EXAMINED, AND DESCRIBED: BEING, A Supplementary Number to Vol. V. of the " Earthen Vessel." A Few Loose Papers THE publication of this Supplement would self-and to my readers generally. Withnot have taken place but for two things. out further introduction, then, I enter In the first place, I have received, during upon this finale for 1849, by giving, in the past year, immense heaps of Corres- the first place, pondence, by far the greater part of which, has never been noticed; and, in the second place, I found it impossible to finish up the volume in the December number, by giving Title-page, Index, Answers to Correspondents, &c., &c. Finding myself, therefore, in this position; and surrounded by such a mass of valuable matter; my mind was led to determine upon the issuing of this Addenda to the Vessel, with a desire thereby to do justice to my Correspondents-to my that I have found in different corners of my room. After I have given a few of these loose papers, I must notice some small works which have fallen into my hands, and then take up these bundles of communications, and deal with them as I trust, the good Lord may direct. Of the loose and unfinished papers I have referred to-the first is this:Who are England's Faithful Watchmen? WHERE ARE THEY AND WHAT ARE THEY DOING? This is designed, (if the Lord do spare my life, and grant me permission,) to be a PERMANENT HEAD for some time to come, in the Earthen Vessel, and under this three-fold inquiry, you may expect to find notices of the origin-the history-the present position and apparent posture of some of the Lord's own servants who stand on the walls in these days. Mind-I say of some, for all of them I cannot notice-but all that I know and can speak well of, you will find herein enrolled. Great men and little men, as we call them; old and young, rich and poor, are here mixed up together. And by a faithful watchman, you will understand I mean one who professes to love, to live, and to proclaim the glorious gospel of our God and Saviour JESUS CHRIST. Such an one, for instance, as John Andrew Jones-who has just reached his three-score and ten. The past year, with him, has been both eventful and interesting. He has compiled and published that singularly valuable record, "The Bunhill Memorials;"-he has laid his beloved partner in the silent tomb;-he has observed the calling home of many of his brethren; but at Jireh Meeting, Brick Lane, in the City of London, he still watches over, prays for, and preaches to, the flock committed to his care. Heavenly Father! spare him, a few more years; but thy holy will be done. I do not intend, in this Supplement, to enter upon his history, that will be done in some of the forthcoming numbers; but here is a sweet scrap or two descriptive of the death-bed of his recently deceased partner in life. "Ann Jones was the daughter of Elisha and Ann Turner, of Bentley, in Hampshire. She was born, December 1st, 1774. She used to date her SUPPLEMENT TO PART LIX. first serious impressions, when she was about twenty-four years of age, occasioned by going out of curiosity, to hear Mr. Gunn, a noted minister in his day, who was, at that time, curate of Farnham, in Surrey; and afterwards with Mr. John Newton, at St. Mary Woolnoth, London. This must have been, at least, fifty years ago. "She became my dear wife on the twenty-sixth anniversary of my birth-day, October 10th, 1805; so that our union comprised the lengthened (but to me short) period of forty-three years and a half." I have no room to give the very blessed portrait of a truly godly woman which her life furnished, I can only give a few of her dying words which were as follow: The Lord has cer "She had been long in a declining state of health, but, in all her ailments she never repined, never murmured, never uttered one sentence of complaint. As she sat in her room below on the last Lord's day, before she took to her bed room entirely, which she did that very evening, she said, (as my friend, Mr. Tobutt, sat by her) 'I have nothing to complain of. tainly brought me down very low. come down stairs again after this day; but if it is the Lord's will I shall go up to my room, as Moses did to the top of Mount Pisgah, to die; the promised land, and buried him there. And, the Lord took care of him, he gave him a view of he will take care of me.' She said to her dear dear daughter, Martha, on the next day, Monday I I shall never long to be gone'; I have found it very hard to part with you all, but I can now look at you comfortably, knowing, that if I go a little before, you will follow after.' At another time she said to 'Here I am still; but I hope not for many days; her, 'I have had a sad trial all night, but, it is over now. I have been enabled to give her up, (a dear fatherless grand-daughter) the Lord will be a father to her. I had given up your father vi. JOHN RYLAND'S FUNERAL ORATION. and all of you before this, but dear little Anny I could not give up till this night, but now I can. I have nothing to be anxious for in this world, and, bless the Lord, it is all right with me for the next. Why drag his chariot wheels so slowly?' I said, dear mother, you long for the post to come then, 'Yes,' she said, 'but I hope to be able to wait, and that patiently too. I hope I shall not tire you all out. What a mercy that the Lord bears with me so long, and will bear with me for ever. day morning, April 21st, 1849, in the 75th year of her age." Our venerable author thus pathetically closes up this heart-cheering memoir:— "I stay my pen to weep. I have been bereaved of the best of wives; my dear children have to mourn the departure of the tenderest of mothers; and the church of Christ to which she belonged, that of a beloved sister, whose loss I know they deeply deplore. I am left slowly to pace it a few have also numbered up my threescore years and more weary steps in the valley below. And as I "I buried her on Friday, April 27th, in Bunhill Fields, in my family grave; where lies the sacred dust of a beloved son-in-law, and a dear grandchild; and where, in the same grave (128 years previous,) was deposited the mortal remains of the celebrated John Skepp, pastor of the Baptist Church Cripplegate, London, of whom see an account in In this grave 'Bunhill Memorials,' p. 258. the dust of 'Andrew' will shortly be laid, till the morning of the glorious resurrection.-Resurgam." my "Almost the whole of the period she was confined to her bed. Rapturous joys were not her portion; she possessed what was far better-aten, I am, therefore, looking forward with a cheersteadfast hope, a firm reliance on the precious ful hope, soon to join her glorified spirit, and again Saviour. At the commencement of her last illness, to meet, where parting will be known no more for ever. O may I so long to depart, as she did, and in one of her calmest moments, after I had been praying with her, she took me by the hand, and to be for ever with the Lord. giving me a look of solemnity and placidness, which I can never forget, she said, "I am not afraid to die. Christ has been my only hope for many years! Place on my grave-stone, A sinner saved by grace alone!' While one of my dear daughters was reading to her, and conversing with her, one Lord's-day afternoon, she said to her, I have been lately looking on death as a sweet sleep; I see nothing gloomy in it.' Her daughter replied, 'A rest for the people of God.' She said, 'Yes, I quite anticipate it as such.' She very frequently said, "When I have done with sinning, I shall have done with suffering.' One Lord's-day morning, as I was looking anxiously on her with tears, she checked me with, 'Don't grieve for me. Go and preach Jesus Christ to the people. I am happy, though my poor swollen legs will not let me meet with the people of God to-day. If the Lord's will, I should have liked once more, to lift up my heart in his sanctuary, but I will not complain; I have had much, very much to be thankful for.' At another time she said, 'O this clay, this body, it keeps me on earth, Don't wish to see me again. O pray for me that I may obtain my happy release.' "On Thursday evening, which was the evening prior to the night in which she died, she was most remarkably happy, and kept on speaking with a voice peculiarly melodious. She said to one of her daughters, You are come to see me die, but I shall not depart hence till the morrow. I am happy! O very happy! O how I shall sing? What will you sing, mother? will you sing, 'Unto him that loved us?' She instantly joined-Yes, and has washed us from our sins in his blood!' Very frequently did she repeat, 'Come Lord Jesus!' O come quickly!' And often in the night, she 'I am very comfortable, very happy! I hope I am not impatient; but, I long to be gone " "After the morning part of Friday, she took but little notice of any one, except her sorrowing partner, but me she noticed and watched continually; and in the after part of the day, told me that she knew me, when she seemed to be unconscious of the presence of any one else. "She gradually sunk into the arms of death. But just as she was departing, she opened her eyes for a few moments only; those eyes seemed filled with inexpressible glory; every symptom of disease had left them. She then gently closed them, and in an instant she was at home, without a sigh, or scarcely a movement-to be for ever with the Lord! This was exactly at one o'clock on Satur John Ryland's Funeral Oration. We rejoice to find that the "BUNHILL MEMORIALS" are to be followed up by a series of important tracts, edited by John Andrew Jones. The first of this series is now before us: it contains "the Funeral Oration, delivered at the grave of Dr. Gifford, in Bunhill Fields, by John Ryland." A few sentences of this most glorious burst of heavenly eloquence, will shew the Christian reader something of the value of the whole. We may head this : THE MIGHTY CONTRAST BETWEEN THE OF CHRIST. "When he first appeared in the world, he came to be bathed in his own blood in the garden; he will come to enjoy the utmost purchase of that blood, i.e., the eternal happiness of his church and people. "He came to be filled with astonishment and terror, as the original word implies; but he will come to fill the redeemed world with wonder and joy; and to fill the wicked world of men and devils, with terror and astonishment. "He came to feel his soul exceeding sorrowful, even unto death; but he will come the second time, with infinite joy in the salvation of all his dear people. "At his first coming, he appeared in the high priest's hall; at his second, he will appear from the highest heavens. At his first coming, he stood at Pilate's bar; at his second, Pilate must stand at his bar. At his first coming, he stood before Herod and his bullies to be mocked; at his second, Herod and his men of war must stand before him, to be tried for eternity. "Now, Caiphas, charge him again with blasphemy, and rend your clothes afresh! Now, Pilate, bind him and scourge him once more! Now, Herod, treat him and mock him as a fool! TRYING TO EXALT THE LORD JESUS CHRIST. Laugh him to scorn! put another purple robe on his shoulders, and, with your men of war, set him at nought, and reduce him to nothing, once more! Barabbas, now hold up your head, and rise once more above Jesus of Nazareth, Jesus, the despised Galilean; and swell with pride to think, that you are released and honoured, while Jesus is degraded and condemned. 66 vii man said the other day down at Leicester, that I was trying to scrape acquaintance with John Foreman-but I seek to scrape acquaintance with no man. I desire to respect, esteem, love, and honor every good man, but parsonic countenance," and ministerial commendations (abstractedly considered) are not sought after by me. “Judas! Judas! sell his blood once more; Still: I love to see how eagerly the people sell him for thirty pieces of silver, at the price enquire after the ministers' welfare. Up for a slave. Give him another traitorous kiss. Go comes another, and asks "How is Mr. up to him, not in the garden, but on his great Wells getting on?" Oh, I say, he seems white throne; say, Hail, Master! Hail, Master! to be getting on WELL. His chapel is and kiss him!—Why, man, do you boggle? Why crowded; and his labours are very abundo you shiver? What, not able to reach him! dant. Then comes a third-" What do you not dare to kiss him once more! once more! think of Mr. Bonner, Sir ?" And then, Why, what is the matter, Judas? Ah! thou another cries out-"I say, where is dear perfidious traitor! thou wretch! thou most aban-old John Wigmore?" And, "What has doned, cursed, ungrateful monster; it is all over become of William Skelton ?" &c., &c., with thee for ever and ever! Now, seeing such interest is felt in the welfare of our brethren, we will, as often as possible, let them speak for themselves. In the following extracts you may hear what some of them say. "Come, ye Jewish rabble, cry out, now you see him upon his throne, Hail! hail! King of the Jews! Follow him afresh, and with the most violent vociferations exclaim, Crucify him! Crucify him! Now, soldier, stab him to the heart once more: plunge your spear into his bosom; and say once more, what probably you JOSEPH RUDMAN TRYING TO EXALT THE said before, Curse the Jewish impostor, let him bleed !' "The full cup of God's wrath, was put into his hands, without the least cordial of mercy. GOD spared him not, he drank it off to the last dregs, and ceased not to drink till he could say, It is FINISHED.' But at his second appearance, he will come to enjoy all the sunbeams of his Father's countenance; instead of the sword of divine justice in his heart, he will have the sceptre of the world in his hand; and, instead of passing under sentence of condemnation, he will come to give to the millions of his people eternal absolution. "He came to grapple with Death on the cross; and that horrid monarch was armed with all his terrors; he had his full force upon him, and darted his sting with such violence and vengeance into his whole frame, that he struck that sting through his body and soul into the cross, and could never draw it out any more: so that the king of terrors has never been able to bring his sting to the death-bed of a Christian, nor will he, to the end of the world." LORD JESUS CHRIST. Joseph Rudman is stationed at Trowbridge, in Wiltshire, near the venerable Warburton. I seem to entertain a hope that the Lord is training this young veteran up for much usefulness when dear old John' is taken home. Rudman is better qualified for preaching the gospel than many that do so; but he is a young man yet. He will grow, if spared, in knowledge, usefulness, and divine experience: hear what he says:- "God has given me many testimonies that all my movements hitherto have been of him; and may he still continue to favour me with a broken heart, and a contrite spirit. "It has been like the beginning of days with me here in this place. God has been unto me as the dew, and as the rain. The word has been sweet and savoury to my own soul; and power has attended it to others. These are spring days in Autumn; and they abundantly manifest the Lord's care of, and for his dear people. I would desire to magnify the riches of that Now, a few words respecting the minis-grace, which endears itself so to us by its merciters of Christ, and the testimony they bear in these times. The ministers of Christ are the common property of the church. Their spiritual position and their temporal condition, therefore, are matters of deep interest unto the living family. How frequently, when we go into a fresh place, the children of God come round, and begin to enquire after the ministers-"How is Mr. Foreman, Sir? Have you seen him lately?" "JOHN FOREMAN"-is known in every corner of England's little isle; and in answer to such questions as the above, I have often had to say, "No-I have not seen him in fact, I never was in his company in my life, except once or twice, that I have been in a pew when he has been in a pulpit. A ful actings towards sinners so vile and so un worthy. And I am satisfied, that in no other way, than through the consecrated channel of a dear Saviour's life, blood-shedding, death, resurrection, and intercession at God's right hand for us, could we have the blessing. It comes freely, and is bestowed sovereignly on beggars base and guilty; even to the lifting of them up on high, to the praise of the glory of his grace. "Honours crown the brow of a dear Immanuel! he remaineth unchanged. Time, which flies onwards with its million changes, has not diminished his years, nor weakened his power. Blessed be God, he, in his mercy and his love is now as ever he was; for he comes with blessings and mercies in his hand, the sweetness of which is felt soothing the sorrows, removing the burdens, and easing the aches and pains of his troubled and afflicted family. The stream still goes onward. It reaches |