THE EXERCISES AND THE MERCIES hand upon thee, and purely purge away thy OF A GODLY MINISTER. DEAR MR. EDITOR,-It is now a long time since I hoisted a signal for your passing VESSEL to take on board a little account of our affairs, and how we do, and of the times that have gone, and are going over us; for, as Solomon says, "in the multitude of words there wanteth not sin," so I am persuaded that in much writing also the same defiling leprosy is not missing, and unless the Divine Spirit direct us, we are prone to extremes, whether we pray, preach, or write. Oh, for grace, that whatever we do we may do in the name and by the help of the Lord Jesus! I assure you, since I last wrote to you my soul, from many causes, has been so chastened and humbled within me, that I have often been much discouraged because of the way, and I find it is not an easy thing to flesh and blood to endure hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. It seem often to me, that my flesh is more rampant than ever, and more determined to reign and triumph over grace than I have heretofore experienced it; but it is written, "the elder shall serve the younger;" and although the flesh luseth against the spirit, yet I can say, notwithstanding all the inward conflict and concupisence I feel within, "that which I do I allow not," for the fear of the Lord is a clean thing, and by it regenerated men depart from evil. cleanse you." And again, "I will turn my to say, groan, being burdened." Surely it is a mercy to be chastened by a loving Father after all, rather than be neglected, and to be suffered to pass on and be condemned at last with the world. Now that God takes pains with us and exercises the patience he does is often a wonder to me; but it is said, "He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and purify the sons of Zion, and purge them as gold and silver." (Malachi iii. 3.) Surely sitting implies patience. Oh, what a mercy, that God is a God of great patience with us when we have therefore we are not condemned. Now, whatnone with ourselves; but he changes not; ever be our thoughts of ourselves when we loathe ourselves before him, it shews we are valuable in his estimation, or he would not Afflictions outwardly, turn his hand upon us. and conflicts inwardly, are only as a sort of soft leather after all, wherewith God rubs up his golden candlesticks, or Paul would not have called them light afflictions; still they are all more than we could bear, only Christ's Oh, my brother, I have indeed been learn- strength is made to appear in our weakness, ing lately, not only that there is no perfection and the weakest can say with Paul, "I can do in the flesh, but also to put no confidence in all things through Christ which strengtheneth it. Oh, blessed thought-oh, sweet declara-me. Again: we know purging is not pleation—it is written, "Ye are complete in him; sant, but it is profiable, and the dear Lord yea, accepted in the Beloved." Well might chastens for our profit, and for his glory. He the Captain of our salvation say, "Be of good is a jealous God, and says, "My son, give me cheer, for I have overcome the world." Was thy heart;" nor will he allow a rival. It is a "Search me, it not for the humble hope and inward wit- rare thing to be helped to say, ness of this soul-animating truth, there would and try me, and see if there be any wicked be no good cheer for my poor soul; but I do way in me; and lead me in the way everlastindeed, at times, feel that although I dare not ing" for I assure you I am often so sensible put any confidence in the flesh, yet I am of the stumblingblocks of iniquity which lie in enabled to cast anchor by precious faith in my way to a throne of grace, that I break out him, who is the confidence of all the ends of and say, "My wounds stink, and are become the earth; yes, and I may say of such too, corrupt, because of my foolishness: yea, my though the offscouring of all things now, they soul cleaves to the dust:" and I should finally shall be one day lifted up for ever as polished depart from the fountain of living waters if stones to adorn the dear Mediator's crown, the Lord did not, of his mere mercy, rend the though while they are passing under the hands heavens and come down, and cause my cold of the great Lapidary, the process of trimming waters to boil with a fresh sense of his eternal and polishing is indeed solemn and severe, so and unchanging love. much so, that when the useless crust and rough corners are flying off from the fingers' ends of the moving operator, I wonder whether anything worth his trouble will be left, only he has caused it to be written that he favours the dust of Zion; nor could the larger stones grow together as a temple of the Lord without this dust forming, through the Holy Spirit, a sort of cement, binding the whole together; for the greatest member dare not say to the smallest member of the body, "I have no need of thee." But to return again to my former subject. It is written, "From all your idols will I And now a word about myself as a minister, and I think I may venture to say, that the prayers of my brethren are much fulfilled and answered in my experience, for I often hear them begging of the Lord to keep me very low; and sure enough, what with the cares of a large young family of seven children, and being greatly entangled with the cares of a trying business, and scarcely an uninterrupted hour to read my Bible and study the precious Word of God, and the friends expecting more from me than any mortal upon earth, (situated as I am,) can by way of time, &c. bestow upon them, connected with many other things which befal most churches, such as some of those, and our Brother Newborn, of London, and who professed great union and friendship turning away; these things, connected with self-pity, of which I have no small share, is enough to keep any one, made of the same materials as I am, very low, especially when the blessed Comforter is, in feeling, so far from me, that I feel to be an ambassador in bonds. Oh, who can tell the labour of my spirit as the Lord's-day draws on, and when it dawns upon me! I do, indeed, know what Paul meant when he said "Who is sufficient for these things." It seems to me, at times, as though satan is permitted to assail me and come upon me like a whirlwind; yea, he seems to smite my poor tabernacle at all four corners, and it is to me wonderful that I stand at all, either as a Christian or a minister. But "Our Captain stood the fiery test, And we shall stand through him." Oh, my Brother, what a tale I could now unfold with regard to the conflicts I have had, and even now are sometimes subject to, but I shall not do as Solomon's fool, utter all my mind, but shall try and keep it in till afterwards, or, in other words, shall tell none but God of it, and that too in secret; and he has said, "What thou knowest not now thou shalt know hereafter." "Now we see through a glass darkly," but in glory's opening day we shall say it was a right way our God brought us. I shall now say a word or two about Rehoboth, and notwithstanding all the trials which have attended us in our journeying roundabout, and up and down in the name of the Lord, we have great cause for thankfulness; and I think by the appearance of the spot of land where we now are, it must be between Mizpeh and Shen, for our enemies have been discomfitted, and though the atmosphere is somewhat hazy, yet I can surely descry a very ancient and comely looking pillar, and by the aid of a good perspective glass that I have, I can plainly, at times, pick out the soul-cheering words" Hitherto hath the Lord helped us." And as I have given you some of the dark grounds of my picture I think it only fair to give you a few bright shades:-First, then, every expense that has attended Rehoboth has been over £1200, and more than £600 is now paid; secondly, we are upon the whole well attended, and though some have left us, yet others come in, so that our cattle scarcely can be said to decrease; thirdly, we have often testimonies that God does bless the word to his dear name alone be praise; fourthly, there are many to whom the dear Lord not only has blessed, but does continue to bless my feeble testimony, and who have been raised up under our little apple tree, who stick by the stuff, and whose presence cheers their willing, but often deeply tried pastor, and whom I love for Christ's sake; and I will say of my people, that they not only love the gospel-many of them-but they do cheerfully, according to their ability, contribute toward its support. We have had lately a good anniversary day, Hanks, of Woolwich, were well heard by most who seem to love savory meat: and I do heartily thank, on my own behalf, and on the behalf of my friends, those of our brethren and sisters in the Lord who came from a distance on that day to pay us a welcome and friendly visit. And I would here name, that the church has lately given a very kind token of their Christian regards to me and their appreciation of my labours among them. But I have not been burthensome to them as a minister; yet none but such who have and who do travel a similar path can tell what a trial it is to serve God and mammon, and that too among a people with whom, from my infancy, I have been brought up. I do feel to want the whole of my time for the work of the ministry, and yet often have scarcely time to change my raiment and run from business to preaching. The words "No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life," &c. often seem to stand greatly in my way. His whole And now I must tell you that the Lord in his all-wise providence has removed from us a deacon, our senior one, by the name of Carrick; he died on April 27th, and has left a beloved and believing widow, and young family, to lament his loss. He was a brother beloved; not a faultless man, but a man of God, and one who loved Zion, and who, when living and dying, prayed for the peace and prosperity of our little cause. sickness was under the sweet anointings and sunshine of God's special presence. Surely the Lord made his bed in his afflictions; yea, and abundantly refreshed and strengthened his soul upon the bed of languishing. I never witnessed a soul before, I think, so highly favored; for from his heart and lips flowed His last words were, rivers of living water. "Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world!" He was a laboring man, and he labored hard, so that he might be at the house of God when the doors were open; and it was a rare case to find him absent. He has often told me how greatly the Lord has blessed the Word to his soul. I must indeed say with David, "Who am I, and what is my father's house, that thou hast brought me hitherto ?" But 1 must now come to a close, or your patience, and that of your readers, will be exhausted; and in so doing, I would say, that I should not even now have written, but have been often requested so to do; and many enquiries there has been, to know what has become of us; therefore, my brother, say we With my are between Mizpeh and Shen. Christian regards to you, and all that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity, I remain your fellow-laborer in the gospel, TIMOTHY THE YOUNGER. P.S. Since I wrote last, we have added eight by baptism to our number; but it really seems that the ordinance of baptism is, to many of God's own dear family, as frightful as a scarecrow is in the fields to the birds; and I see plainly it is never brought forward at the right time, nor put in the right place, for such as are opposed to it; still, I hope to attend to it, till I have fresh orders from Him who said, (Matt. xxviii. 19, 20), "Go ye, therefore, and teach all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost; teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world." Amen. about who Paul meant by the description, Yours affectionately in the vale of tears, away their confidence which had great recompence of reward; also, their need of patience in doing and suffering the will of God-and of the certainty of the coming of Christ to redress and deliver them-that the life of the just is by faith-his grief at those that drew back-but his belief that they, with himself, were of them that believed to the saving of the soul-and not of them that drew back to perdition, as appears to have been the case with those that forsook the assemblies of the saints-always a bad sign. Then in the next THE FEAR OF APOSTACY. chapter he brings up a great cloud of witnesses that lived by faith, and suffered as they were DEAR FRIEND, Since we have had acquain-lightful to me to behold that dear servant of suffering, &c. I cannot enlarge; but it is detance with the religious world, what a variety of Christ (with his Master's mind) helping these vain disputations have we observed about afflicted Hebrews against their strong enemies those remarkable texts of scripture in the 6th chapter and 10th verse of Paul's epistle to the character were written to the church of God, -so that those tremendous descriptions of Hebrews. I will tell you what I have often and to real believers, for their benefit, as a felt when I have been reading those solemn means to deter them from drawing back, and and awful descriptions of apostacy-for ever to encourage them to press forward and to hold since I began to draw near the Lord, I have out to the end-and this is the effect it has on felt an opposite disposition; that is, to draw my mind, and it was the effect the Apostle back from following the Lord; "prone to wan- desired and intended it should have on those der from him.' Now such has been the effect Hebrews by the blessing of the Lord. produced in me in looking into that mirror that I have feared greatly lest I should draw back, and fall off after the same manner; and I have trembled at the Lord's word, and it has caused a cry to be kept pursuing if ever so slow or ever so faint. And I trust the Lord has heard and answered my cries; for I have been kept pursuing until this very hour; more than thirty-two years: but this morning I felt as poor, as needy, and as vile as ever, and rather more so than usual: and Jesus appeared to my needy soul so desirable, I seemed to stretch forth my hands after him, and to open my mouth and pant for him; and I seemed to gain something; for I presently felt a great desire to praise the blessed Lord, and I tried to do so, and found a real sweetness in trying; for mine is only trying: I can never do it but in a very lame halting manner:mine be all lame and maimed sacrifices: and 1 saw sin enough in them while on my knees offering them, to sink me to hell. Yet I was not deeply distressed, for I hoped Jesus did salt them with his precious merits. Ah! brother; how precious is Christ to my soul! more than I can tell. But, to return. When I look at the Apostle's mind, and drift on behalf of these believing Hebrews, I uncommonly admire his love, wisdom, and grace. He saw some who had gone back; who had forsaken the assembling of themselves together, which was great grief to him; and lest more should do so, he seems to throw his whole soul into the work, to help them to stand against the wiles of the devil and their persecuting foes. As a defence, he sets Christ before them as the true sacrifice, the only sacrifice, the end of the law for righteousness, &c.; and the utter weakness of all other things. He then sets the awful glass before them, that they might see apostacy, and the awful end of apostates. Then he admonishes them to look back to their first illumination, and to what they endured-that great fight of afflictions; entreating them and admonishing them (like an affectionate father) not to cast PROFESSOR D'AUBIGNE'S WIFE. ON the 14th of June a large assembly met on the banks of the Lake of Geneva, to accompany the remains of Marianne, the beloved wife of Professor Merle D'Aubigné, to the burying ground at Cologny. She fell asleep in Jesus at 7 a.m., on the 12th, after many months of sever sufferings, borne with that reliance on her Saviour which could alone have brought her through without a murmur, and which many a night resounded in hymns from her sleepless couch. The Lord has been magnified and his servant exalted, for the honor of his own great name. Jesus was the theme of her meditation, whether in the midst of parching thirst, when she said she could fully understand the exclamation from the cross, “I thirst;" or in the parting message delivered by her beloved husband to a circle of weeping friends, "O tell them I love Jesus more; never knew till now the depths of his love to us." Some days before her death she said, "If I were told I could now be restored to health, I would shed floods of tears." Her husband was her fondest care, and to leave him her greatest pang-but at last she had completely confided him, with every earthly care to her Saviour, being persuaded that he would send the Comforter to him. The exalted faith of her partner and guide desired a stronger demonstration of rejoicing than was at first accorded to her, but even that prayer was answered, and more than once sounds of triumph were heard, blessing the Lord for all his mercies. OUR BRITISH BAPTIST CHURCHES. ORDINATION OF MR. DAVID WILSON, AT SAFFRON WALDEN, ESSEX. ON Wednesday, the 4th of July, 1855, Mr. David Wilson was publicly ordained to the pastorate of London Road Chapel, Saffron Walden, Essex; and the account which we have to present to our readers of that interesting occasion, though somewhat lengthy, will prove, we hope, acceptable-especially to such as are acquainted with Mr. Wilson. no man can ever go in an unfit state to heaven. Sin fits man to destruction; righteousness only can meeten him for heaven. We look upon election as the conception; and while we look at the church in the unity of the spirit and in the bond of peace-we view it as far superior to any earthly institutionit has but one foundation-one kingdom-its laws one-one flock under the charge of one Shepherd. But in the order in which God commenced with singing, after which Mr. has thrown things in time, we have different Newton, an Independent minister of Bum-churches-we read of the churches of Christ stead, an adjacent village, read the first chap-in Galatia. So a church is but a little part of ter of Phillipians, and offered up prayer. Mr. the church: and what constitutes truly the John Foreman, in his usually impressive manner, discoursed on the nature and constitution of a gospel church, of which the following is an outline: THE MORNING SERVICE Christian Friends: we are not met for the purpose of opening a new chapel, nor for an anniversary-but for a far more interesting purpose. 1 do not think I have been here since the opening of the chapel in 1822, when our dear departed brother Stevens preached from the words, "I will work, and none shall hinder;" the truth of which you have lived to prove, and happily so under the ministry of the late Mr. John Dane Player, who departed this world, April 7th, 1850; after near twenty years' ministry in your midst. I pray the Lord may as clearly consecrate our meeting to-day, that the demonstration of heaven's approval may rest upon you another twenty years. Myself and brother Murrell belong to the old fashioned school-who have no sympathy with new forms or notions. We do not see that any of the new forms succeed beyond the old ones-and since we have the seal of God's approbation on the old things-we wish to let WELL alone-knowing that we cannot do better than well. I am aware that some folks say a great deal against our church meetings, and the office of pastor, &c., but they attribute to them what we never intended. We never intended to improve ministers by this service. Nor do we practice the laying on of hands-that the Apostles only did. We do not claim as belonging to succeeding ministers. But what others did we take as a standing ordinance to be observed by us. You ask, then, where do you find your authority for ordinations? Why, Titus you know, was not an Apostle, and to him Paul thus writes, "Set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city." The words I would call your attention to, you will find in Acts ii. 47," And the Lord added to the church daily, such as should be saved." There are here two ideas given of the true church. 1. The church by conception. 2. The church by birth. In one respect our text can have no meaning-God's elect are never added to, nor do they know any diminution. But then we have all come into the world sinners-and 1855. church, constitutes a church. None but effectual called ones have properly a right to membership here below. If you look at the 87th Psalm, you will find the progress of order, as recorded by divine inspiration: "And of Zion it shall be said, This and that man was born in her; and the Highest himself shall establish her." There is a book that is made up-and a book that is not made up. The book of election and redemption is made up; but the book of calling and glorification is not made up. It has pleased our Lord to condescend to give us this word of encouragement, "Wheresoever two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them, and that to bless them." Our God dwells on no strange property, but resides on his own fee simple; and wherever he has promised to be, there you may expect to find him -and though the numbers be small, we may call that a church of God-an elect assembly. Peter said, "Ye are built up a spiritual house." So, looking at what men must be to go to heaven, we look for the same qualifications for church membership. Dear John Stevens used to say, "They tell us their tale, and we hear them. We cannot search their hearts; and so we are compelled to believe them: but we get sadly deceived sometimes." Simon the sorcerer was baptised, but there was no blame to be attached to those who baptised him; and Judas was another example of the same kind. These teach us how near a man may be a Christian, where truth has no vital root in the heart; and we must expect none to stand, who are not added to the church by the Lord. Those alone compose the church, who are saved by the Lord Jesus Christ," the only name given under heaven whereby we may be saved." Here is where we take our stand. It is not a natural church established by law, but is an assembly of heaven-born souls-stones hewed from the rugged quarry of nature. But while we speak of the materials as united-so the motives and feelings are one-it is from one well they all drink-one great sacrifice as the pleading argument at the throne of grace. And while these are united by no human laws, there is a kind of home to which they are brought, I 2 where, as travellers, they meet together and talk of the journey. Pastor and people are like husband and wife, unto whom children are born; and we love to see children born in the faith. So in this house or home there are ordinances to be observed. First, the standing ministry, or we have no business here to-day. But we have the word of our God for it: "I will give you pastors after mine own heart." And he has promised to be with us, shewing that these things are to continue. Secondly; Prayer is another ordinance which the christian cannot treat with contempt. Family prayer has been of the greatest comfort to the tried parent; and private prayer I would not part with for worlds. Social prayer has proved a blessing to thousands. Thirdly; Baptism by immersion is also an ordinance, being an open confession of having passed from death unto life. Fourthly; The ordinance of the Lord's Supper" And they continued steadfastly in the Apostle's doctrine and fellowship; and in the breaking of bread." I am glad that through all these changing years you have remained the same. Then as regards the officers of the churches. There must be a Pastor, one who has been taught and anointed by God the Holy Ghost. An unsaved man is not fit to preach salvation to men. Then as there are many secular things to attend to, Deacons are necessary, who have these three tables to attend unto the table of the Lord, the Pastor's table, and the table of the poor. Thus I have given you as far as I can, a brief description of a gospel church; and now I should like one of the brethren to tell us how it comes about that we are met together this morning; how the Lord led you to call Mr. Wilson to the pastorate. Mr. NICHOLS, the senior deacon made the following reply. Beloved Friends.-"The Lord who bringeth the blind by a way that they know not, and leadeth them in paths that they have not known," was pleased to enlighten the minds of a few persons into the knowledge and love of the glorious truths and doctrines of the everlasting gospel, together with a sight and sense of their utter ruin and helplessness by the fall, and that salvation is alone of grace from first to last, and that its inward revelation to the heart by the Holy Spirit, is certain, sooner or later, to all the redeemed of the Lord; and did instil into their minds a sense of the obligation they were laid under to serve and honor him; and having nowhere to go where a certain sound of salvation could be heard to their satisfaction, considered it to be both their duty and privilege to meet together to seek direction of the Lord by prayer, with praise and occasional reading sermonssermons by Dr. Crisp, Dr. Gill, Toplady, Eyles Pierce, and others, which was first began in the year 1818, and then publicly for the worship of God in the year 1810; and as far as he bestowed on them gifts to proclaim abroad that precious finished salvation that was so dear to their hearts; which, though attended with much opposition, they persevered in doing. In the year 1820 a church was formed, con were sisting of seven persons, out of which number was our late beloved pastor, John Dane Player, chosen, and with his acceptance set apart to the work and office of the ministry on the 17th January, 1821, continuing zealous therein for about twenty-nine years, and then the Lord was pleased to take him to himself by death, by which providence we brought to experience a very painful bereavement, and a prolonged one, for the space of four years and upwards, which was attended with some trying circumstances; but Israel's God has oft given us to prove the truth of his promise, that he will not exceed the trial beyond the strength that's needful, and which he has oft done in his great kindness shewn and help afforded in sending many of his dear servants in the ministry to visit us, and ministering unto us the gospel of the grace of God, to the number of about 130 of them, and many of them many times over. May their kindness shewn ever lay near our hearts, and a Divine blessing follow their labors. But the long trial could not end till impatience and discontent brought us into much trouble, and bowed us down heavily; things looked dark to sense, but the Lord's timely aid appeared, granting us deliverance, and restoring unto us peace and unity, and did pour out upon us a spirit of prayer that he would revive us yet again, and send us a man after his own heart; and he was not long in answering our petitions, in a way which I have now the pleasure to relate to you. In the month of March, 1854, a kind friend and brother who had oft supplied for us, named a Mr. Wilson, of Downham Market, whom he believed to bevery suitable for us, and was open to a call; but he was afraid we were too late, as he had recommended him to another people-but he would have us apply directly. We did so, inviting Mr. Wilson for two Lord's-days; and although we were not first in writing, yet, through a want of knowing how to get to the other people conveniently, he would visit us first; at the end of which fortnight the church met, and gave Mr. Wilson a unanimous invitation for six months, which he accepted, and at the close of the six months a unanimous invitation to the pastorate, which also he accepted. We have had, we trust, in all this process, evidence that the Lord is among us-too much so to doubt of it; as also in the unity, peace, and concord, and delight, found in the worship and ways of God. Thus, dear friends, have I given you a brief outline of the Lord's dealings with us as a church and people, and in our bereavement up to the time of the Lord again fulfilling his faithful word of promise-" And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.' Mr. FOREMAN.-I never heard a better statement, though not a new one. In the forty-three years of my Christian life I have had to do with many Christian causes over the kingdom; and as I have gone from place to place, how frequently have I heard the progress and uprising of a cause attributed to |