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SOME ACCOUNT OF MY STEWARDSHIP, ETC.

the Lord directs;' I therefore, under his direction, send you my mite, which, with the sovereign kindly given by my much-loved brother, will make thirty shillings.

In conclusion, I pray that you may be enabled to fulfil your ministry manfully, to prosecute your labours successfully, to discharge your obligations honestly, to live above the world, to bear up against the devil, to look beyond creature circumstances, and leaning upon the arm of the Beloved, may you learn meekness of the Master whom we serve, and whose I am,

A worthless worm,

Chelsea, Jan, 9, 1849.

JOHN STENSON.

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family; no body could be more open-hearted and friendly to me than was John Thornber; but, preach in Bedford I must not; there was no open door for me there; but I may say the Lord preached to me in Bedford; for as I sat in brother Thornber's I took up my little Bible, and opened at house, feeling somewhat sad in my mind, once on these words-Fear thou not, O my servant Jacob, saith the Lord; neither be dismayed, O Israel; for, lo, I WILL SAVE THEE FROM AFAR; Jacob shall return, and shall be in rest, and be quiet, and none shall make him afraid. For, I am with thee, saith the Lord, to save thee.' (Jer. xxx. 10, 11.) These words braced up my loins; and I left Bedford for Leicester, where I was permitted that evening safely to arrive; but O, how did I sink that night Friend Walker opened to me his house and his heart, and gave me a hearty welcome, and pastor Garrard endeavoured to cheer me up; but my harp velled to Uppingham, and in the house of was on the willows. On Saturday, I tra

Some Account of my Stewardship; in my soul!

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To such of my friends as sympathise with me in my present position, I send greeting; feeling it to be my duty publicly to acknowledge the goodness of the Lord, and the kindness of his people; and also to render some account of the manner in which I have laboured to fulfil my commission.

In accordance with the permission given me by the church over whom the Lord has placed me, to travel to such places as might be opened for rendering assistance in endeavouring to extricate the Earthen Vessel from its present difficulties, I left London on Wednesday, Jan. 10th.

My two eldest sons accompanied me, to the railway, and I had no sooner taken my seat in the carriage than the words of Nehemiah fell into my soul-Then I told them of the hand of my God which was good upon me.' These words cheered up my mind a little; arriving at Boxmoor Station, I was met by my esteemed friend, Mr. Daniel Dell, of Markyate-street, who drove me to his house, where every earthly comfort was afforded. In the evening 1 went to their chapel, and preached with a little enlargement and faithfulness, and Eighteen-shillings and Six-pence was collected towards the Vessel Fund; I could wish that the Lord would send these dear people a stated pastor, for I am persuaded there are some living souls desiring to be fed.

The next day brother Walker drove me to Dunstable (in Bedfordshire), and a very rough journey we had: no door open to me at Dunstable: I felt in this place as though my path would be a dark and trying one; but, (bless the Lord,) hitherto he has helped me with a little help; and I do desire to praise his name. Not knowing at this time where the Lord designed me to go, I felt impressed to visit Bedford; and to call upon Mr. Thornber, a Baptist Minister there. I did so; and was kindly received by him and his warm-hearted

dear John Wade I found a comfortable abode. Never shall I forget my visit to the residence of that devoted man of God. The next day I preached three times in his chapel; and I trust I may add the Lord was my helper, especially in the afternoon. Some friend sent me half-a-crown; and Mr. Wade gave me £3 3s. 44d. Two sentences he spake to me (before I left him, I think I shall not soon forget:) he said-'I think you have yet to pass through another furnace.' I told him I had feared so; but I said, I believe it would never be such an one as that through which I had passed; 'No (said he) it will be self put upon the cross.' These words sank into my very heart, and (for a time) filled me with inward grief. I said, the Lord knoweth, self has been on the cross for these many years; but what yet awaits me I cannot tell.' I left his house in peace; spent a comfortable hour or two with a brother at Oakham; and then journeyed on to Leicester, where I attempted to preach that night; but it was in weakness; the words I spoke from, were very precious to me; they were these-And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and clamour, and evil speaking be put away from you with all malice; and be kind one to another; tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake, hath forgiven you.' (Ephesians.) It was a great subject, but my cough and cold would not allow me much to get on. The friends at York Street, (Mr. Garrard's chapel,) were exceeding kind to me; they quite overwhelmed me with their goodness, and I do pray the Lord richly to reward them. The next day (Tuesday) I travelled from Leicester to Euston Square, and from Paddington to Sutton Courtney in Berkshire; where I made another attempt to preach. But I was worn down in body, and shut up

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CHRISTIAN REVIEWER.-BIRTH-DAY HYMN.

in mind; so that though the chapel was full of people, and my soul full of my subject, yet out into freedom I could not get. felt grieved, mortified, and ashamed; and I sometimes think I am come into the country to learn what a poor limited, helpless worm I am. The friends at Sutton and Steventon gave me two pounds. The following morning I wrote thirteen letters, visited two or three friends with brother Randle; and then set off for Wallingford; brother Partridge received me like a loving christian; I preached in his chapel from Jer. x. 11, with a little feeling; but I was tempted to believe the people hated me; however, after the service many came round me; and the Lord encouraged me to press forward. From this place I went on to Wantage; here, in preaching, my soul was once more blessed with holy boldness and liberty; and I felt truly thankful to the Lord for keeping the cause of truth alive in that town. On Friday morning I left Wantage for Cheltenham; was kindly received and entertained by brother Blomfield, in whose pulpit I preached that evening, and yesterday came on to this place (Wolverhampton).

Lord's-day evening, January 21.-I have this day spoken three times in John-street, but so ill have I felt in my chest, that I can scarcely hope much longer to proceed as I have done. In the Lord's hands I desire to leave myself, and all that concerns me. May I be found IN HIM. Amen.

If spared to pursue my arduous task, I will endeavour to give you further particulars next month; I am your's in Christ Jesus, CHARLES WATERS BANKS. Christian Reviewer.

"Funeral Services on the decease of the late DAVID DENHAM." B. L. Green, Paternoster Row.

WE have in this small tract, the Funeral Sermon, by Mr. Branch; the Funeral Address, by Mr. Bonner; and the Funeral Oration by Mr. Bowes. As a little record of the funeral of our departed brother, it may please some of his friends; but the Funeral Sermon (as it is called) is far from what we could have wished to have seen, and therefore, the least we say about it the better.

"A Wheel-barrow Spiritualized," &c.

By

JAMES WELls. Barnes, Union Street, Borough Road; and Kent and Richards. THE sixth edition of this work is now out, and it is a striking proof of the author's ability for turning everything to the best advantage. No doubt it has been read with interest by thousands.

"Remarks on the Doctrine of Baptism, as a Gospel Ordinance," &c. By DR BYRON, Saunders, Brighton

THIS work is calculated to do good, and to set enquiring minds at rest.

Birth-day Hymn.

MY Ebenezer, Lord, I raise,

The tribute of my praise I bring
To thee, preserver of my days,
My God, my Saviour, and my King.

It was thy hand that fashion'd me,
And by thy power I daily stand,
Thou brought me forth thy light to see,
And years roll on at thy command.

By nature all defil'd by sin,

And daily prone to ev'ry ill, My heart and conscience all unclean, My judgment dark, perverse my will. But thou that call'd all nature forth,

And thus commanded light to beThat fix'd my first and second birth,

Has still preserv'd and succour'd me. I bless thee, Lord, for quick'ning grace, That gave me light myself to see, And led me to behold thy face,

In Christ, that bled and died for me.

Thy cov'nant, Lord, I now adore,

By thee in all things ordered well; My griefs before thee, Lord, I pourWho rescued me from death and hell.

Great Comforter! do thou descend,
And teach me, Lord, my song to raise;
That I may on thy grace depend,

And shout the Great Jehovah's praise.

Amidst a thousand snares I stand,
Expos'd to sin and satan's power;
Upheld by thy Almighty hand,

My refuge, fortress, and my tower.

Thou knowest, Lord, my feeble frame;

Thou still remembers that I'm dust, But thou remainest still the same, That brought me into being first.

Another year has pass'd away,

That brings me nearer to the tomb; In drawing nearer, every day,

The gate of my eternal home.

Dear Lord, whose way is in the sea,
Thy footsteps in the mighty deep;
Do thou support and comfort me
At home, abroad, awake, asleep.
And when life is at an end,

And I am bid resign my breath,
Thy grace and love to me extend
Through all the gloomy shades of death

Then, dearest Lord, my spirit raise,
That I may mount to thee above,
And dwell in everlasting day
And praise the Great Jehovah's love.

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"Jesus Christ and His Ensigns for Ever!"

OR, THE SUFFERINGS AND MARTYRDOM OF LECLERC, A POOR BUT FAITHFUL WOOLCARDER IN FRANCE.

A CHRISTIAN friend at Sherborne, in Dorsetshire, has kindly furnished us with the following striking account of one of the French martyrs. It is a most wonderful instance of the power and presence of a faithful God on the behalf of his suffering saints May the perusal of it fire our hearts with increased love to, and faith in, HIM, who is JEHOVAH JIREH still.

some vented their anger in exclamations against the heretic; others, by their very silence, gave him no equivocal tokens of their profound sympathy; one woman encouraged the sufferer by her words and looks, and that woman was his mother. The third day came at last, when this bloody procession was brought to a close at the ordinary place of the public executions. There the hangman prepared The author speaking of the reforma- the fire and heated the iron that was to tion in Paris, says, "There God chose as be applied to the evangelist, and then, his earnest labourers a Doctor of the going up to him, he branded him on the Sorbonne, and a wool-carder. This carder, forehead as a heretie; thereupon a shout Leclerc, set himself, accordingly to go arose, but the martyr uttered no cry. from house to house, fortifying the dis- His mother who was present at this ciples, but not confining himself to those mournful spectacle, in the midst of her ordinary labours, it was his wish to see anguish, felt a violent conflict within her; the edifice of the popedom fall to pieces, the enthusiasm of faith and maternal and France (emerging from the ruins,) affection strove together in her breast; turn with a shout of joy to the gospel; but faith at last had the mastery, and she (his zeal, little restrained by prudence, exclaimed with a voice that made all her reminds one of that of Hottinger at adversaries start, 'Jesus Christ and his Zurich, and of Carlstadt at Wittenberg); ensigns for ever! Thus did this French thus he wrote a proclamation against the woman of the sixteenth century fulfil the Roman antichrist, in which he announced commandment of the Son of God,' Whothat the Lord was about to destroy it soever loveth son or daughter more than with the breath of his mouth, and had me is not worthy of me." Such audacity the hardihood to post his placards on at that particular moment, called for the very doors of the cathedral. Forth- some marked punishment, but that with there was a general commotion christian matron had petrified both around that ancient edifice; the faithful priests and soldiers with fright; their were amazed; the priests waxed wrath fury was arrested by a mightier arm at the very idea of a common wool-carder than theirs; the crowd respectfully presuming to assail the pope. The Fran- opened a passage for the martyred ciscans, frantic with rage, insisted that at this time, at least, a terrible example should be made, and Leclerc was thrown into prison.

mother, and suffered her slowly to regain her humble abode; the monks, nay, the very city officers gazed at her without stirring from the spot. 'Not an enemy "His trial was concluded in a few days, dared to lay hands on her,' says Theodore (and under the very eyes of Briconnet, de Beza. Set at liberty after enduring who had to look on, and tolerate all that this sentence, Leclerc withdrew to Rosay passed,) and the carder was sentenced to in Brie, a small town six leagues from be beaten through the streets with rods, Meaux; and sometime afterwards went for three successive days, and thereafter to Metz, where we shall find him again. to be branded on the forehead. This sad It appears from the author's account, spectacle soon took place; Leclerc, with (for he says the multitude of common his hands bound, and his back bared, people continued to follow their ancient was led through the streets, while the superstitions, and Leclerc's heart was executioners inflicted the blows which crushed at beholding that city immersed he had brought upon himself by opposing in idolatry,' about a league off there stood the bishop of Rome. The track of these a chapel containing images of the Virgin functionaries, which could be distin- and most celebrated saints of the country, guished by the blood that flowed from and thither the inhabitants of Metz used the martyr, was followed by a vast crowd; to make a pilgrimage on a certain day of VOL. V.-PART L.-March, 1849.

H

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"JESUS CHRIST AND HIS ENSIGNS FOR EVER!"

the year, for the purpose of worshipping on presenting themselves with the censers in their hands, they found the images they had come to worship, mutilated, and the ground strewn with their fragments? They started back with horror; announc

in a moment the singing ceased, the musical instruments were hushed, the flags lowered, and the multitude became agitated to an inconceivable degree. The prebendaries, parish clergy, and friars, did their utmost to inflame the minds of the people, stimulating them in their eagerness to discover the guilty person, and insist upon his death. One shout arose now from all parts: Death! death, to the sacriligious wretch!' and the whole mass returned to Metz in hurry and disorder.

those images and of obtaining the forgiveness of their sins. On the evening before this holiday Leclerc's godly and courageous soul was violently agitated. Had not God said, 'Thou shalt not bowed the sacriligious deed to the crowd: down to their gods; but thou shalt utterly overthrow them, and quite break down their images? Leclerc took this command as addressed to himself, and without consulting either Chatelain, or Esch, or any from whom he expected advice to the contrary, he, that evening about nightfall, left the city and repaired to the neighbourhood of the chapel. There he sat sometime in silent meditation gazing upon the statues; he still had it in his power to fly; but-the day following, within a few hours, a whole city, whose duty it was to worship none but the true God, would come to bow down before these lumps of wood, and stones: a conflict similar to that which we find in the case of so many christians of the first ages of the church began to agitate the mind of the wool-carder: what matters it to him that there are the images of saintly men and women, and not of the gods and goddesses of paganism? Does not the worship, to be given by the people to these images belong to God alone? Like Polycuctes, as he stood by the idols of the temple, his heart shuddered and his courage rose. Leclerc rose; went up to the images, removed them from their places, and breaking them in pieces, indignantly scattered the fragments before the altar; he had no doubt that it was the Spirit of the Lord that led him to commit this deed, and so thought also Theodore de Beza. After this, Leclerc returned to Metz, which he entered at day-break, and was perceived by some persons just as he was passing the city gates. Meanwhile a universal movement might be observed in the ancient city: the steeple bells were pealing, the confraternities were meeting, and preceded by the prebendaries, priests, and monks, the whole inhabitants of Metz went forth in full pomp: prayers were repeated and hymns sung, to the saints whom they were about to worship: crosses and banners passed on in succession, and musical instruments, or drums, responded to the singing of the faithful. At length, after an hour's march, the procession arrived at the resort of the pilgrimage; but what was the astonishment of the priests when

"Leclerc was known to all of them; he had often called images, idols: and moreover, had he not been seen returning from the chapel at day-break? On being apprehended, he immediately confessed what was laid to his charge, and conjured the people to worship God alone. But this only further inflamed the zeal of the mob, which would have dragged him to instant death. Upon being brought before the judges, he boldly declared that Jesus Christ, God manifest in the flesh, ought only to be worshipped; he was condemned to be burned alive. He was then conducted to the place of execution: there a fearful scene awaited him ; the cruelty of his persecutors had been at pains to discover whatever could add to the horrors of his punishment; and near the fire that was to consume him, men were seen heating pincers that were to serve as the instruments of their rage. Leclerc heard the savage shouts of the monks and the people, without losing his firmness and selfpossession. They began by cutting off his right hand by the wrist; next his nose was torn off with the glowing hot pincers; next with the same instrument they laid hold of his arm, which they broke in sundry places, and ended by burning him on the chest. While the cruelty of his enemies was thus exhausting its fury on his body, the mind of Leclerc was at peace; he recited in a solemn and deep voice those words of David Their idols are silver and gold, the works of men's hands; they have mouths, but they speak not; eyes have they, but they see not; they have ears, but they hear not; noses have they, but they smell not; they

A FEW WORDS FROM THE EDITOR TO HIS FRIENDS.

have hands, but they handle not; feet have they, but they walk not; neither speak they through their throat; so is every one that trusteth in them. 0, Israel, trust thou in the Lord; he is the help and shield of all that call upon him.' The contemplation of such fortitude at once heightened the adversaries, and greatly confirmed believers; while the people at large, though they had previously displayed such a pitch of anger, were now wonder-struck and affected. After undergoing these tortures, Leclerc was burnt at a slow fire, in conformity with the terms of his sentence.

"Such was the death of the first martyr of the gospel in France."-History of the Reformation in the Sixteenth Century, by J. H. M. D'Aubigne, D.D.

A FEW

Words from the Editor to his Friends.

"I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost, that I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart." (Rom. ix, 1, 2.)

How suddenly sometimes is the believer in Christ plunged into sorrow of heart! The apostle, in the eighth of Romans, had been walking upon the high mountains of Israel. I am persuaded,' says he, that neither death nor life, things present, nor things to come, shall ever be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.' Immediately upon this, there seems to rush into his soul a flood of sorrow respecting the eternal welfare of his brethren after the flesh; and in the most solemn manner he breaks out with this three-fold declaration-'I say the truth in Christ; I LIE NOT: my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost.'

How very much of this deep sinking into floods of sorrows have I passed through of late and for these last few days it has been laid on my mind to tell you a little of the posture in which my soul has been found.

I was sitting in John Wigmore's parlour talking to his brother Thomas, when all at once these words sprung up in my soul'I SAY THE TRUTH IN CHRIST: I LIE NOT: MY CONSCIENCE ALSO BEARING ME WITNESS IN THE HOLY GHOST.' I little thought what these words were given to me for; but I now think I see both the hand and the design of the Lord, in bringing them into my soul; may the Almighty Spirit of all Truth bless what I here write to many precious souls.

Two things here engaged my thoughts the truth in Christ; and the witness of that truth in the conscience by the Holy Ghost. How blessed, not only to know the truth, but also to have the sealing witness of interest in it.

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The truth in Christ appeared to me to be set forth by that mysterious ladder that new and living way of peace and which Jacob saw. This ladder representeth

salvation which the Lord Christ hath opened up for the whole election of grace. This ladder was set up on the earth: so the dear Redeemer came down into the very place where the church lay; and the Holy Ghost by the Gospel) comes down into all the mercy; and step by step, he leads them up to God; and to his kingdom of glory. The top of this ladder reached to heaven. This shows the completeness of a sinner's salvation in and by Christ. It not only reaches to regeneration; it not only raises him up to prayer, and faith, and hope, and spiritual conflicts: it not only raises the poor sinner up to a knowledge of the doctrines of grace, to fellowship with the saints, and to a walking in ordinances; but it carries him up ultimately out of sins and sorrows; away from unbelief and temptations; beyond the frowns and disappointments of this dying world right up into heaven. But, mark you; it is the top of it that reached to heaven. We hardly get fully to the top of it in this life; we may sometimes get so far up as to have a glance of heaven, and of heavenly things; but this is rare indeed. There is one thing I feel fully persuaded of; no accident ever happened on this ladder, it never brake yet; nor never will: neither did any ever get their feet of a living faith on it, and slipped down. No, no; multitudes of the biggest and blackest of sinners have trodden this ladder: they washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb; therefore, are they before the throne of God; they were sanctified by God the Father; preserved in Jesus Christ; and called: and let me tell you this; God does not call his children to disappoint them; neither does he call them to expect, or to desire, or to pray for what He never intended to give them. No; they are said to be saved, before they are called; God hath saved us, and called us; and Peter says, we are called unto GLORY and VIRTUE; that is, unto the kingdom of Christ, and a divine meetness for it: and these are the very things my soul has been longing for (at times) for years. Yes! I do want to see Him AS HE Is; and to be made like unto Him; this is glory and virtue; and unto these blessed things this ladder leads.

circumstances and sorrows of the vessels of

'Behold!' (says the dear Comforter of my soul, and of the whole Church of God,) 6 THE ANGELS OF GOD ASCENDING AND

DESCENDING ON IT.' These are elect angels; called emphatically the 'angels of God;' their rapid movements bespeak the vast amount of business that is transacted on this ladder; the chariots of God are twenty-thousand, even thousands of angels; the Lord is among them;' and I rather think that mountain spoken of in 2 Kings vi. 17, is the Mount Zion, the Church of God. and she is said to be full of horses and

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