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AM I A GRAIN OF REAL WHEAT?

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lar among us. I can see clear evidence | to authorise him thus to speak of them? of their call out of Egypt, and can see evi- If he has, our state, as preachers and dence that the net has enclosed them, and they can never be what they once were; but professors of the Gospel, must be bad there is not evidence yet that they are not chaff, indeed; but if he has not; if he is not though certainly they are separate in many thoroughly and personally acquainted ways from the straw. Their idea of grace with their habitual character, conduct, does not teach them to deny ungodliness condition and practice; if he ventures to and worldly lusts, and to live soberly, publish these statements from report; or, righteously, and godly in this present world. They hate reproof and instruction if he comes to these conclusions, because in righteousness. Unto the wicked God he has found certain defects, blemishes saith, What hast thou to do to declare my and inconsistencies in these men, then, I statutes, or that thou shouldest take my believe he will have to repent of much Covenant into thy mouth? Seeing thou that he has written; at the same time I hatest instruction, and castest my words behind thee. At present they are mani- know that a great portion of his work festly of the world, and the world hear- (called," Israel Saved, and Israel Lost,") eth them, (not the profane world, but the is true; and I sincerely hope that (inworld which Jesus speaks of in John xvii., stead of casting it aside with contempt,) that world which considers itself the it may be the means (in the Lord's hands) church) they have not taken forth the precious from the vile, neither have they shewed of stirring us up to close and prayerful difference between the unclean and the self-examination; and that there may be, clean; being men who love the friendship of the world; they encourage the professing church to mingle with the world; they may make a great cry against people at a distance from the church, but in the church they make gaps, break down the hedges, proceed from evil to evil, and are not valiant for the truth. I know not what the Lord may do for them before they die, but here, or hereafter a storm will burst upon them. If God saves them, they will be saved from their present spirit, not in it; but I see no ground to hope better of their case, than the case of the multitude of priests in England, who never knew the letter of truth, or the form of godliness. These professedly contend for the power of godliness, but in works deny it; with their mouth they shew much love, but their heart goeth after its covetousness."

among our ministers and people, a putting off the old man with his deeds, (which is corrupt) that more conformity to Christ may be found amongst us. The more I see and know of ministers and churches in England, the more I am convinced that there has long been a course pursued which is not according to the word and Spirit of the Lord. The following instance which Mr. Tryon gives us, is but a sample of much that has been cried up for deep experimental preaching. He says in page 65 of this

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"I have heard a good report of Mr. Godwin, and at one time had a great desire to hear him. In December, 1847, he was preaching in London, and gave his hearers These bold and uncompromising state- a specimen of his own experience while ments make my very soul to tremble. preaching from Isaiah xxxii. 17. He told Some people say, "let Mr. Tryon alone; us that at the time of preaching he was take no notice of him;" but I cannot comfortable in his mind, as the Lord had heedlessly and carelessly pass him by. to us. In order to encourage those who encouraged him with the text he had read His books are sent to me; I feel compel- were in deep places he related the followled to read them; they powerfully arrest ing facts-He had been so tried and had my conscience; in very many things he sunk so low at one time that he had no gives utterance to the sentiments of my hope; he said, he had not a straw to lean own mind; but - in the public and upon. While in this state one night, his wife attempted to encourage him. She positive calumny which he throws upon reminded him of the past, but it was no some of the most eminent ministers of use; he told her, it was very well for her the day, I feel he is treading upon very to say what she did, she was outside the dangerous ground; of some of the great- furnace, but he was in it, and all his reest men who have for many years been ligion was burnt up. During the night a esteemed and recognised as servants of beholdest thou the mote that is in thy scripture laid powerful hold of him, 'Why Jesus Christ, Mr. Tryon says-" they brother's eye, but considerest not the beam are manifestly of the world;"" they love in thine own eye?' This set him pulling the friendship of the world;" and "are and tugging to get the beam out of his own not valiant for the truth." Are these eye, but he could not do it. He lay till statements true? Has Mr. Tryon suf-aged to get down stairs to look at a Bible morning in great distress, and then manficient acquaintance with these ministers and see what character the words were

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AM I A GRAIN OF REAL WHEAT?

applied to there, and when he read thou, teem it; neither do I object to ministers relating their temptations and trials; but, when the whole time is occupied with these things, to the exclusion of the glorious gospel, and to the shutting out of THE LORD JESUS and his triumphs on the cross and in the hearts of sinners; then, boldly I declare such preachers are thieves and robbers; and sure I am that if they are vessels of mercy they shall one day be made ashamed of their work. But I return to the question which a slight perusal of this work gave rise to "Am I a grain of wheat, or only a lump of chaff?" Many things which the writer of "Israel Saved and Israel Lost" has written, have wounded me, and searched me, but the work and witness of God in my soul remains; and I feel constrained to say a few words respecting the way in which the Lord has built up and comforted my soul_in these times of perplexity and trial. Let others do the same.

hypocrite,' he knew that God never called his children hypocrites, (though it is written laying aside all hypocrisies,' but that is not calling children of God hypocrites), when he saw this he was delivered out of his misery, and came out of all that trial, his soul was again set at liberty. ** On hearing these things, I was not a little perplexed the matter of the mote and the beam was one I had been much tried about, and therefore, was much interested in this part of the case, and the issue of it. I traced the preacher into a place where he had not a straw to lean upon,' so weak that he could not lay hold of the least token for good. In this painful condition he has part of the Word of God brought home to him; he cannot shake it off, it makes against him all night, but when there is a light in the morning to read his Bible, he finds the passage belongs to a hypocrite, and he is sure God does not call his children hypocrites. This I thought was enough to strike the dying dead, but Mr. Godwin had more strength than he fancied; he at once decides that he is a child of God, though he could not all night when he had not a straw to lean upon, and in this self-wrought confidence he puts the scripture from him, and comes out of all his deep misery, though believing that the scripture which had fastened on him belonged to a hypocrite. As I believe God rather than man, I must at present believe that according to Mr. Godwin's own statement, he was told by the Lord he was a person who had a beam in his own eye, &c., &c., but he told himself he was a child of God, and delivered himself from the charge of being a hypocrite. * If the preacher stated the facts correctly, I must differ from the conclusion he drew from those facts."

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To this sample of experimental preaching, which Mr. Tryon gives, I feel constrained to add one fact which I hope may bring some of our brethren in the ministry to consider what it is they are doing. A dear friend of mine who lives at Oakham told me that one Lord's-day, during Mr. Philpot's absence, Mr.

came there to preach; he took the following words for his text "It is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners." From this glorious gospel text my friend told me they had two long sermons; the whole of which were occupied about the sinner, and to what dreadful lengths the preacher had gone to, as a sinner; and what temptations he had passed through; while the glorious Person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ in coming to save sinners, was almost entirely left out. I say distinctly, I speak not against experimental preaching; I value and es

Before I come to this, let me here put on record a striking remark which a minister of the gospel made to me the other day. Said he, "We have had of late years, several men that have come out of the Church; and they have come amongst us poor dissenters, preaching a deep experience; but (said he) there is one thing that has always staggered me respecting some of them: they tell us that while preaching in the church, they were awakened, and brought under the law; and brought in guilty before God; but still they went on preaching; their mouths were never stopped. Now, how a man can go on preaching when the terrors of the law are in his soul, (said my friend) I cannot conceive." Well, ! have preached with the terrors of God's wrath in my soul, but it was like fighting against God, and I was at length obliged to fly from it, and lay down my ministry, and never should I have taken it up again, if necessity had not beer laid upon me, constraining power put into me, and an effectual door opened for me. These things being done in and for me, (after that pardon and peace had come,) I could feel and do often feel a sweetnessin those words of Paul's, where he says-" Unto me-who am less than the least of all saints is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the UNSEARCHABLE riches of Christ." There is the divine authority, and there is the genuine nature of THE GOSPEL MINISTRY.

Let men examine them

MATTERS FOR DEEP REFLECTION AND PRACTICE.

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selves before God, and by God's word; | ed me did really press so heavy on my and let them see where it is they stand spirit, that I could scarcely hold up my themselves, before they go about to head, and how I was to speak appeared condemn those whom the Lord hath blessed.

In the eighty-first page of Mr. Tryon's book, he makes mention of "one of those prophets he has been associated with; and this is the only one he has hope of." Now there is one scripture that has very forcibly struck my mind with reference to the nature of that "one prophet's" ministry; the scripture is in Revelation xi. 1, 2.-" And there was given me (says John) a reed like unto a rod; and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein. But, the court, which is without the temple, LEAVE OUT, and measure it not." Mr. Tryon; what has been the nature of that one prophets's ministry? I answer as in the sight and fear of God, it has been a measuring the outer court, instead of measuring the temple, and the altar, and them that worship therein. Yes, it has. That one prophet would take such a text as this-"Jesus Christ, the same, yesterday, to-day, and for ever," and never say one word about it; I feel it is time that these things be uncovered; and, though I be cast out by many, I cannot forbear witnessing against these delusions.

a perfect mystery. The time drew near for me to go to Stratford; I was dark, distressed, and feelingly empty of all good. I sat down; took up a Bible; opened on the 41st Psalm-the words "Blessed is he that considereth the poor; the Lord will deliver him in the time of trouble," met my eye, and came into my heart, and that with such sweet delivering power, that I went and preached from them, and felt a solid persuasion that the Lord would deliver me out of all my trials.

On my leaving London, to set out on this journey, which I am now pursuing, these words came into my soul-" I told them of the hand of my God which was good upon me" (Nehemiah) and, although I left home with a heavy heart, yet, so much did Nehemiah's words comfort my soul, that I said to myself, "perhaps there is not a man in England more generally despised than myself, while I do not think there is a man in the world to whom the Lord has manifested greater mercy than He has unto the unworthy Editor of the Earthen Vessel.

I having been obliged to write the foregoing article as I have travelled in railway carriages, many imperfections may be found in it. A recital of the Lord's goodnes to me will (I trust) be commenced in this number.

That the Lord may lead Mr. Tryon into all truth, and bless his work to the stirring up the Lord's ministers and people to great searchings of heart, is the prayer of C. W. B.

Matters for Deep Reflection

AND PRACTICE.

To the Readers of the Earthen Vessel.

But I return again; Mr. T. has said a great deal about the misinterpretation of scripture. I expect that as long as God has a people on the earth, so long will the Holy Ghost go on to teach, lead, comfort, and confirm them by the Word of God and when the Lord speaks the word home to my heart with power; when he enlightens my mind to understand it; and gives me withal, a realization and fulfilment of it in my own experience, why then I think I am at liberty, and have authority to speak out BELOVED FRIENDS AND BRETHREN:to the people what the Lord has spoken Thus hath the Lord said to his ministry, into my soul; and I feel persuaded that Go set a watchman, and let him declare then there will not be much wrong in- what he seeth.' And may we not say, We terpretation of scripture. I will mention see a chariot with a couple of horses?' as an instance wherein the word of the saw the watchman of Jezreel, when Jehu Lord has been made useful and precious was on his way to give Jezebel to the dogs? to me and I have spoken out what (I May we not also cry, A lion, my lord, a trust) the Lord has revealed and made lion, is on the road against Babylon?' known within; whereby I have been Cyrus, the typical lion aud the Lord's shepherd, was twenty years in taking prehelped on my way. The first was liminary steps for the overthrow of Babylon, a fortnight before I set out on this and even to the last that proud city laughed journey it was on a Wednesday, and I him to scorn; but the purpose of God was had that night to speak at Stratford. | found to stand, for when Cyrus had dried up The heavy troubles which then surround- the Euphrates, and opened a way for the

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MATTERS FOR DEEP REFLECTION AND PRACTICE.

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kings of the east, 'the same night was Bel- their eyes: the prophets, the rulers, and the shazzar slain.' In a way far more solemn seers of the churches hath he covered! and grand we are treading the same ground And in this sleep they dream those filthy again for the true Cyrus, the Good Shep- dreams by virtue of which satan keeps up herd, and the Lion of Judah, is certainly on his interest, and maintains his sway over the his way to visit Babylon; and men who are house of God! It is by the dreams of the set in their watch-tower whole nights, care- saints he sits in the seat of God, and rules fully observe the footsteps of his approach, with the sceptre of discord among brethren ! and rejoice, because the day of their redemp- The various chimeras of sectarianism are tion draweth near! Jezebel, who was but the fantastic illusions of a midnight caught in the act of fornication at Thya- dream! Awake then, ye who sleep; awake, tira; and Babylon the great, who cap-awake, put on strength:-shake yourselves tured Zion nearly 1260 days since, are both, from the dust, and put on your beautiful even yet, very busy in carrying on their garments-put on charity-put on unitycursed work among the people of God; the be clothed with humility, and lay hold on the one by teaching idolatry, and presenting the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit. the 'golden cup, yea, the GOLDEN CUP OF Eschew evil, and do good; seek peace and TRUTH;' and the other by oppressing those ensue it. Wrangle not on points in your who drink thereof, as the due reward of their jaundiced eye so important; rather buy folly. These women are distinctly seen gold; buy white raiment, and anoint your from our tower, and we know that their eyes with eye-salve, that ye may see, and see 'judgment lingereth not, and their damna- clearly too, what is your own state, and tion slumbereth not.' Their sands will soon what the condition of the church. The be run, and FORTY-EIGHT has told off expected Messiah was actually among the another of their few remaining days. At Jews, but they were so blind with sleep that this we rejoice, and say, Behold he they neither knew him, nor beheld the signs cometh! Is he not now marching through of the times! Take heed, brethren, lest the the land in indignation, and threshing the same thing be said of you, and your feet heathen in anger? The mountains behold stumble upon the dark mountains, and while him, and tremble; the perpetual hills do ye look for light the Lord shall turn it into bow, and the tents of Cushan are in afflic- the shadow of death, and make it gross darktion!' The earth quakes before him, and ness.' Jer. xiii. 16. For when for the time thrones and palaces totter! Nor will heye ought to be efficient teachers, and skilful fail nor be discouraged till with his staves he has smitten through the usurping HEAD of his villages, and discovered the rock of satan's house, by throwing it to the ground. And their rock is not as our rock, our enemies themselves being judges.

Oh ye, our brethren, who dwell in the plains, come up into our watch-tower, and ye shall see many things which elsewhere cannot be seen. You shall see one, which is a sad and solemn thing-a fearful and grievous thing, which those who tarry in the vale cannot see, nor can they believe though one declare it unto them; therefore leave ye the cities of Moab and dwell in the rock, and be like the dove who maketh her nest beside the hole's mouth; 'so shall ye dwell on high, and your place of defence shall be the munitions of rocks; bread shall be given, and your water sure.' And here, in the top of the ragged rock, may you sit secure, and even smile at the foaming surge, while Jehovah is shaking terribly the earth,' and causing its towers to fall.' And from thence ye might look with us, and perceive that the whole fraternity of Zion below is fast asleep, because a deep sleep from the Lord has fallen upon them. The ground of the vale in which they walk is enchanted, and every sect is lulled by the spirit of slumber! 'For the Lord hath poured upon them the spirit of deep sleep, and hath closed

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in the word of righteousness, ye have need that one teach you which be the first principles of the word of God, and have need of milk and not of strong meat! We feel before the Lord we can say this, even of those who talk most of experience, and loudest of the doctrines of grace! Say not, we know first principles, their nature, character, bearing, use, and application; for the very darkness in which you sleep, and the clamour of various tongues tell us positively that you do not know.

Behold! ye have proof of this even among yourselves, THE VISION OF ALL' is among you, but what is it like? A book that is sealed! One pretends to learn its doctrines, another its experience, a third its precepts; but who its prophecy? Strangers have meddled with this, and abused, but to such we speak not, but to BRETHREN-to saints-to the church of the living God. And surveying her in her visible oneness we descry a latent repugnance to prophecy, even though the Holy Ghost hath said, 'Despise not prophecyings.' But whence that repugnance? It is-it must be of the flesh, and therefore painfully bespeaks that lethargic influence which has mesmerised those whose it is to tread the serpent under foot! We recollect it is FORTY-NINE, and we exhibit no unfledged notion, but labour to express our well tested and sober judgment, as before

MATTERS FOR DEEP REFLECTION AND PRACTICE.

our Judge. Yet this will, perchance, offend; be it so, we brave it, since we know such is the morbid state of Zion's earthly form, she winceth, and roars out like a lion against the sheerness of that truth which, like a lance, is alone calculated to do her good! Opiates, caresses, and sugar-plums, she and her little ones will receive; but plain dealing, sound speech, and sharp rebukes, she cannot-away! and so she heaps to herself men who, while they preach liberty, are the servants of corruption and bondage! And these, too, we mean, are living men! (Read Jer. xii. 7-13.) Could we indeed throw off all the evil and all the blame upon the sons of Hagar, as we are accustomed to do, then we are happy; but it is we-the elect-the quickened the partially taught, and that chiefly because wrong judgment' has proceeded forth and so biassed our minds we cannot reason aright; and therefore, because we cannot make all the parts of Jehovah's prophetic rule tally together, with impunity we lay it aside, and the result and the folly is just the same as laying aside the compass because the pilot has not skill enough to guide his ship by the unwavering needle. And here we see the craft of his sable majesty to get us upon rocks and sands, and among whirlpools and dark mountains, is his design; for then he can do what in open water and fair seas he could not do. And besides, as the same word of prophecy is the light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawn, so it is the candle that searcheth Jerusalem, and discovers the hidden things of Esau, and satan will admit of neither of these, so far as cunning and craft can avail. This flaming lamp in his kingdom has ever made it to wither, and scorched his sinews with heat, and began to torment him before the time; therefore to extinguish, to put under a bushel, or raise a thousand false ones, has been his unwearied effort. And they only who clearly see what that lamp is, and the distant regions it presents to view, can tell how great the present darkness is; or how little and groping are the minds of the chief of Zion's sons.

Therefore beloved, readers of the Earthen Vessel, especially ye, whom the Holy Ghost hath made overseers and watchmen on your mother's walls, allow us, in meekness, in sympathy and love, to intreat you, on the threshhold of forty-nine, to take heed to this part of revelation, that so as the dear Comforter shall guide your careful spirits into its solid and glorious truth, ye may be able to tell your various flocks what they ought to do in this cloudy and dark day. For it must be plain to you there is something fearfully wrong somewhere. But mind, if you are led to give testimony, even 'the testimony of Jesus,' you will hear an outcry-a voice of murmuring-of opposition,

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even from some of the elect; but this you must brave, and with prudence seek to undermine, well knowing that faith cannot be the substance of things hoped for, if those things are not so defined that the understanding of our hearers can go into them. In one of our addresses last year it was asked, Who can tell the velocity of fortyeight? And as we now look back both upon the world and the church, have not the movements downward been rapid? But that vast avalanche on which our eye is rivetted must pull churches and kingdoms into the gulf that yawns beneath! Stand aloof, then, on your own Rock, and behold the judgments of the Lord upon the ungodly. The sieve will sift all corners-the fan will fan in all parts of the floor: the overflowing scourge will go all over the temple, even into every chamber of imagery, and hence no safety but with the doves on the mountains, or with the hind of the morning on the hill of frankincense. And deadness to the world, the life of Jesus, and the power of God alone can bring and keep us there.

But we have another thing to say, and that is as deplorable as the deep sleep we see: and it is this ;-The children of Zion are of all men the most miserable! Although they have an abundance of food laid up for many days-plenty of corn and wine-fruits new and old at our gates, yet they are found famishing in the streets! Their leanness rising up in their face is sad proof of the famine they feel! Instead of being purer than snow, and whiter than milk-ruddy as rubies, and polished with sapphires, their visage is blacker than a coal, so that they are not known in the streets! And although we know their near kinsman has laid up for them an abundance of clothing and ornament, yet are they so robbed and spoiled that they appear as fugitives and vagabonds, clothed with rags and full of fear! But why? May we say why? Shall the shades of forty-nine echo with the shrill sound of our astounding report? If so, we point-unhesitatingly we point to THE MINISTRY ! But we blush for ourselves when we say THE ministry, because, as fractions of the same, ourselves are implicated! Yet, because it is so, shall we wrap it up?-because the whole head is sick shall we eat opium ? God forbid. Rather should we kindle a fire about our own persons, and draw the sword against self. Yea, like Phineas, would we force the javelin in defence of the solemn truth, and against that barefaced fornication so common in the camp of Israel. And let FELTON-let the WATCHMAN on the WALLS-let OSBOURNlet others, still draw their sword, and sheath it not! For cursed is the man that doeth the work of the Lord deceitfully; and cursed is he that keepeth back his sword from

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