be obliged to listen to every speaker? Is this by which it was set free. Yes, dearest Saviour, the freedom for which Mr. Coles contends? we do gladly bear testimony that it is thy preAnd in baptism what is to be done? Is each cious blood which sets us free; it is that freeto baptise himself, or choose nobody knows dom we have by thee, thou only substitute for who to baptise him? Is this the order for sinners lost; it is by thee that we rise into which Mr. Coles contends? the sunbeams of heaven, and become as the And in the Lord's Supper, are all the peo-"wings of a dove covered with silver, and her ple to be running about, each helping him- feathers with yellow gold;" it is by thee that self? and is this the decorum for which Mr. that winter blast that chilled us with despair, Coles contends? Deluded man!! had he but broke down our spirits, and left us ready to have distinguished between circumstantials perish, while the threatenings of thy holy and essentials, between use and abuse, he word seemed to be raining down upon us hailwould have seen himself much nearer to the stones, mingled with the lightning's wrathful spirit and word of the gospel than he now is. flash, by thee, thou "dearest of all the names We deeply regret the step he has taken; above," this winter is passed away- this and should rejoice to welcome his return; tempestous rain is over and gone-and we therefore, we regret, for his own sake, whom have a heavenly summer, which is at once he hath injured, and for the church's sake, our freedom, our defence, our safety and dewhom he hath deprived of his ministry; and light. Here is the voice of the turtle; so also for the cause's sake in general, which, in suited are his deepest notes to our solemnised, his present position, he will never serve to softened and humbled spirits, our soul is even advantage; while he must see, that much as as a weaned child; we are brought into the he had the affections of the people, and pain- open field of gospel freedom-into the open ful, as it was to part with him, yet they dared field of the new heavens and the new earth. not to step from the ground of truth and This field was once to us a closed field; we right, to follow any man in a misguided con- knew not of such a field, much less did we know the way to it, and much less still did we know anything of its everlasting delights.

science.

EXPOSITORY

EPISTLES TO THEOPHILUS.

LETTER X.

You will, perhaps, think I have lost sight of one main point, which is, to sum up and set forth the reasons that no one can enter the kingdom of heaven except he be born again; but I have not lost sight of this, and hope, in a future letter, to make it clear to you as the noon day.

I must, in this letter, begin where I left off in my last, namely, with the offerings connected with the cleansing of the leper. This is a subject so genial to my feelings, so enchanting to my heart, and so delightful to my soul, that I never seem weary of dwelling thereon, and I am greatly mistaken if you are not one with me in this heavenly theme concerning Him who alone can be the health of your countenance, and whom you do, in the spirit of adoption, desire to call your Lord and your God.

You will recollect, in the first part of the offerings, we have the two birds-the one slain; but to the other it was said, "Loose him, and let him go into the open field." The one bird slain, as I before said, is a very humble representation of the one great atonement; yet even here is freedom, and so you will find it-that a heartfelt knowledge, however humble in degree, of the atonement, will give a divine freedom to the soul-it will send you off into the field which the Lord hath blessed, where, being delivered from "the noise of archers," you will warble out in notes melodious and in strains pure and holy, the righteous acts of Him who hath so regarded you in your low estate.

The living bird was dipt in the blood of the sacrificial bird, and so carried with it the dings and the savour of the sacrificial bird

As we rise and range at large in faith and love, what attractions are presented-not the least shadow of anything but blessedness. Here the flowers of heavenly promise display all their beauties, diffuse their fragrance, and peacefully ripen into perfection. Here the tree of life putteth forth her green but fast ripening figs, and as a vine with tender grapes, it increases the deliciousness of that sacred clime. Here is a sun that never goes down, and a moon which never withdraws its shining. Here is a God who rests in his love. Here is the Lamb in the midst of the thronewhile sickness and death are for ever unknown. This, my good Theophilus, is no poetic fancy, or cunningly devised fable, but a sober reality to all who are brought into this open field, (for there is no bondage there,) and though they know only in part, yet it is enough to make them sincerely say, " Draw me, and we will run after thee," for here, in this healthful open field of the new creation, it is that-

"The meanest floweret of the vale,

The simplest note that swells the gale,
The heavenly sun, and air and skies,
Become one opening Paradise."

But we must come back again to the leper; for if we sometimes fly a little, we must also run, and if we now and then run along pretty easily, we must also be brought down to a walk, and then to a stand still, and this is what I want you to do now-to stand still, unless you are got into the prophet's chamber, where there is a table with a little unleavened bread upon it, and a candlestick with a good lamp of truth upon it, and a stool of repentance. If you get here, you may sit still, while I talk to you a little more about getting rid entirely of the leprosy. Or, if you have got into David's green pastures, why then you may lie down, while I talk with you-only do

not go to sleep; for that to me would be grievous, and to you not safe.

Notice, then, that the sacrificial bird was killed in an earthen vessel over running water. Now we, in our poor mortal bodies, are but earthen vessels, and Jesus was made in the likeness of sinful flesh; and though he had no weakness of his own, yet he took our weakness upon him, and thereby undertook to die for us, and was crucified through our weakness, which was laid upon him, and though he thus took our weakness, yet he had strength enough of his own to bear our sins in his own body on the tree. Here, then, is a mediatorial end to our weakness; and as we have borne the image of the earthly, we shall, ere long, bear the image of the heavenly. We must die, through weakness, but we are to be raised up again, to live by the eternal power of God.

The bird was to be killed over running water. The idea here intended is, taking the disease away-so Jesus hath taken sin away; and as the blood of the sacrifice would become lost and invisible, and could not be gathered up again, so, by what Immanuel hath done, sin is lost, passed away, forgiven, forgotten, and cannot be recalled or gathered up again. What think you, then, good Theophilus, of our God? Who is like him?-who in the heavens can be like him?-who among the sons of the mighty can be compared unto him? Do not our souls love him? How can it be otherwise, when there is nothing in all his dealings with us but blessing from first to last-even blessing that maketh rich, and addeth no needless or final sorrow with it?

I have now, in concluding my remarks upon the cleansing of the leper, four more offerings briefly to notice, as also the indicated perfection of that cleansing:

1st. The trespass offering. This offering, from its name, seems to have reference to the trespassing upon, or transgressing the precept of, the law. Hence, Jesus hath finished transgression, and so he is the end of the law for righteousness. He is both the objective and legal end of the law-its objective command is perfect love to God and man. In this perfect love the Saviour lived and died, and so hath magnified the law; and having thus substitutionally fulfilled the law, it is by his eternal righteousness for ever established, and we come out from under it, and are brought under the law of life, love and liberty in Christ; so that we are not (as some affirm we are) without law to God, but are under the royal law of love to Christ.

2nd. The sin offering: "Now, all have sinned and come short of the (law) glory of God." The sin offering therefore puts away our short coming in the law, and establishes another law, a law of an unchanging priesthood, where there can be no coming short, but where all is settled and that for ever.

3rd. The burnt offering. This appears to have been reckoned the greatest offering of the Levitical law. Yet, the love of God, as the Saviour shews, is greater either than this or any other Levitical command. (Mark xii. 33.) Yet, this by no means, implies that the burnt offering may not have been of all

the offerings of the law the most solemn; the truth of this, I think, you will be inclined to admit, when it is recollected that this offering represents that part of the suffering of the Saviour wherein he had to endure the wrath of God,-the flaming sword of justice: this was the keenest pang; the mightiest endurance, so terrible was even the mere sight, that Moses said, "I exceedingly fear and quake." Here it is that all the hell that must have been our portion was encountered, and borne, and overcome, by the Mediator of the new covenant; it was as a mighty earthquake, which must have swallowed up as in a bottomless pit its ruined millions; it was as an ocean of liquid fire kept alive by the Almighty breath of an incensed God (Isa. xxx. 33); it was as a concentrated tempest of thunder bolts which must have beat upon helpless, houseless, friendless man; it was as a fire burning to the lowest hell; it was as burning mountains rolling with unmeasured force upon him! the earth trembled at the sound thereof; the rocks rent with the shock thereof; the graves were opened at the voice of him who said, "My God! my God! why hast thou forsaken me ?" It was a clime as sultry as fire and brimstone could make it; it was a place where he was cut off from all hope, apart from and out of himself, "for of the people there was none with him;" and if there had been any of the people with him, what could they have done? they were, therefore, best out of the way: the sheep must be scattered, not for destruction, but for preservation; while "his own omnipotent arm brought salvation (for us) unto him;" and that under circumstances as disadvantageous as they could well be-mocked, scourged, dragged from Caiaphas to Pilate, from Pilate to Herod, here again set at nought, and then dragged back to Pilate again; and again despised, and derided, and smitten, in the rudest and most barbarous manner; and that after he had felt enough to cause him to sweat as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground. And so visible was it to all around, of the trembling state of his manhood, that his enemies seem to have been afraid they should be deprived of the fiendish delight, of seeing him expire on the cross: and, therefore, to secure to themselves this delight, they released him after he had carried the cross some distance; (see Luke xxiii. 26, and John xix. 17;) they compelled one Simon, a Cyrenian, to bear the cross the remainder of the way. Alas! what is man, when left to Satan and to himself; how solemn the words, " Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do."

Now, then, where would the work of salvation have been, if Jesus had not been divine as well as human, God as well as man; a Creator as well as a creature? Here it was then that all his resources were in his infinite self: he travelled, though men saw it not, in the greatness of his strength; he put forth his hand upon the marble rock table of justice, and on that table laid, as the price of our redemption, his own wondrous lite. The table was hard, and the terms were hard, but none too hard either for his love or his power. No man could take his life from him; no! for if

man could have taken it from him, then he could have no price left in hand as the term of our redemption; he had lived to God; he kept himself from the paths of the destroyer! he set the Lord always before him; and always did those things that pleased him: and, thus at the last, had in full possession a pure, a spotless life; a life that had every way been well tried; and had there been a weak part, it must have shewn itself: "but, he did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth." Truly he hath rolled back that red sea of wrath which must carry his enemies away into perdition. "What, then, ailed thee, O thou sea, that thou was driven back; and thou Jordan of death, that thou fledest ? Yea, even Sinai itself was moved at the presence of this God," the God-man, Christ Jesus, the God of Israel. He overturned the mountains by the roots; there is nothing which sin hath made crooked which he hath not made straight, nor rough, nor dark which he hath not made smooth and light.

I hardly know my good Theophilus, how to get away from this part of our correspondence; it is a part that enchains my attention; it softens my adamantine heart; it draws me near to God; it awakens the best affections of my soul; it opens to me the door of heaven; it makes me feel more love to Jesus than I can ever express; I seem as though I would rather say nothing, but silently look on and bathe his dear feet as it were with my tears; it is too much for me while beams of the heavenly world fall through his Almighty death upon my pathway to the promised land; but, oh! how feebly do I speak of the greatness which I can, and do see, in the one offering of Jehovah Jesus! O, I despise, I laugh to scorn the thought of one being lost for whom such a ransom is paid, for whom such an offering is accepted; why, the very table of justice upon which the price was laid, is become to us the table of shew bread, of royal dainties, and all manner new and old of pleasant fruits. "Yea, mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other;" and, so it is, that hereby the Tabernacle of God is with men, and there shall be no more pain, neither sorrow. Believest thou this? if so, then I trust you will not refuse to meet again, next month, at the altar of burnt offering,

London, March 13, 1855.

A LITTLE ONE.

THE WAY OF THE UPRIGHT.

your

sin-subduing, and strength-renewing Spirit, has
caused you inwardly and sensibly to feel and
know your own vileness and hellishness, so as
to cause your own loathsomeness to be an in-
But fail not
tolerable stink in your nostrils.
(grace help you), to acknowledge with feelings
of reverential gratitude, to admire with holy
wonder, and to adore with deep and unfeigned
humility, the marvellous riches of the Triune
Jehovah. Think of, and trumpet forth with
a grace-moved tongue, the mighty acts, the
wondrous works, the glorious gifts, the preci-
ous promises, the balmy blood, the saving
name, the justifying righteousness, the im-
mortal conquests, the glorious intercession
and abiding love of Immanuel, for his anciently
Tell with unceasing,
embraced Hepzibah.
unfailing, unbounded delight, the blessed one-
ness subsisting between Christ and his bride;
talk of the firmness of the bond of the ever-
lasting covenant, whereby all the election of
grace are held in completeness and perfection

till the day of the redemption of the purchased possession." Dwell on the merits, the infinite value and virtue of the sin-atoning, soul-cleansing, peace-speaking, heart-cheering and heaven-opening blood of the Lamb, as made known in its powerful application to your own soul from day to day; purifying your heart by precious, living faith therein.

How truly refreshing it is to the circumcised and crucified children of promise, when under divine tuition and unction, passing through the changing, checquered scenes of time, they are led to rest silently and solemnly on the immutability of God's counsel, and inviolability of his sacred oath. He cannot deny himself who hath sweetly assured us, "in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thee." Hear the whisper of the Redeemer, Methinks thine "believest thou this?" answer will be, "Lord, I believe, help thou mine unbelief." Important answer, "Lord, I believe." For thou didst not always believe; neither wouldst thou now have believed but for omnipotent grace, which decreed thy faith as well as thy salvation. Yes, decreed thy faith in all its acts and workings, in all its strugglings and wrestlings, in all its fightings and faintings, in all its sorrows and joys, in all its conflicts and conquests, in all its terrors, trials and triumphs. Well may we cry every morning, noon, and night, "Lord, help my unbelief." For unbelief, vile traitorous foe, darkens the mind, hardens the heart, damps the spirit, weakens and wearies the soul, binds hand and foot, gags mouth and ears, stops up the pathway to the eternal throne, surrounds the bloodfilled and love-opened fountain with impenetrable mists of gloomy doubts and fears, misconstrues the varied dispensations of divine providence, perverts the Scriptures of inviolable truth; yea, unbelief not only robs us, spoils us, and torments us, up heaven from the longing eye of the tried and tempted traveller to Zion, and opens hell's gates to the feeble and fearful follower of the Lamb of God. The poetic lines of Fawcett are very appro

but shuts

MR. JOHN STENSON'S REPLY TO MR. TRIGG. MY GOOD BROTHER-I have received lengthened epistle of the 13th inst.; and therefrom plainly discover that God the Holy Ghost has been graciously pleased to lead you into those dark, intricate, perplexing and mysterious paths which are altogether hidden from and unknown to the worldly-wise, the nominal professor, the proud pharisee, and the huge host of hypocrites that swarm the hallow-priate— ed gates of Zion. Bless Jehovah's great and "O my soul, what means this sadness? governing name, that he by his soul-searching,

Wherefore art thou thus cast down?

Christ can turn thy griefs to gladness,
Make thy restless fears be gone:
Look to Jesus,

And rejoice in his dear name.
"What though satan's strong temptations,
Vex and teaze thee day by day,
And thy sinful inclinations
Often fill thee with dismay :
Thou shalt conquer

Through the Lamb's redeeming blood." Well then, let us glory in this that we know that "tribulation worketh patience, and patience, experience; and experience, hope; and hope, maketh not ashamed, because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts, by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us." And we know, not in mere theory, or sentimentally, but experimentally, "that all things work together for good to them who love God, to them who are called according to his purpose." Therefore "we reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us." Patiently bear the cross, in hope of the crown prepared for and promised to "the poor of this world, rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom." Remember, you wear the yoke of Jesus, be not ashamed thereof. But continually bear in mind, after the yoke, the crown. The crown of immortal life, unfading righteousness, and eternal glory is reserved for all those who are here crowned with lovingkindness and tender mercies. Verily, God has put "a beautiful crown" upon your head; and its untarnished beauties shall gloriously appear in the bright world above, where it will be, I trust, your happiness to cast your crown at Jesu's feet, and God in Christ adore. The ways of the wonder-working God of grace, have truly been mysterious and past finding out, in all his providential dealings with you; yet, no doubt, you can often say, to his honour and glory, "he has led me by the right way to the city of habitation." Murmur not at the roughness of the road, the darkness of the night, the emptiness of the purse, the hostility of hell, the wrath of the wicked, or the rebukes and reproaches of the righteous, but rather join with David and say, "My soul shall make her boast in the Lord, the humble shall hear thereof and be glad." One look from love's all-smiling countenance penetrating thy sighing heart, will scatter all thy doubts, sink all thy fears fathoms deep, soothe all thy heavy griefs, spread light around thy tent, and generate godly gladness in thy troubled soul. The whisper that breathes into thy heart the omnipotent words “It is I, be not afraid," is a sure earnest of deliverance from all trouble and distress, as oft as desired by the praying, groaning, weeping, wrestling saint, whose eyes often fail with looking upward. Give thanks to God that He has made you to know that "the way of the upright, is his delight." And while Christ is the heaven-approved way of all vital intercourse with God, as the Father of mercies, and glorious giver of every good and perfect gift, the ever-adorable way of all new-covenant communications to the chosen seed, and the all-hallowed way of acceptance, for poor,

perishing, sin-polluted worms, approaching
the mercy-seart with their heart-felt, heavy
cry," God be merciful to me a sinner." The
upright love him who "leads in the way of
righteousness, in the midst of the paths of
judgment." The Almighty leader, feeder,
and weeper of Israel, has pre-determined all
the paths through the which he will have the
poor of his people to pass, nor shall all the
powers of hell be able to turn them therefrom,
for "the righteous shall hold on their way,"
ever looking forward to the fast approaching
"perfect day." Then, (not through types and
figures, signs and shadows, ordinances and
ceremonies), shall we be able to see clearly and
perfectly the perfection of Jehovah's will,
work, and word, as exhibited in the perfection
of his ways whereby he has fully wrought out
the amazing wonders of his infinite, eternal,
and unchanging will. Unfading, unvaried,
undying perfection is reserved for "the perfect
day." There, in the land of perpetual peace and
joy, in the immediate presence of God and
the Lamb in the midst of the angelic throng,
shall be found the perfect assembling of the
grace-enrolled, blood-redeemed, spirit-sealed
saints of the Most High God, who have
travelled safely, sometimes sighing, sometimes
singing, through traceless tracks of tribulation,
have waded through unfathomable depths of
dark waters, which were not suffered to over-
whelm them, and which have passed unhurt
through flaming fires and fiend-like foes, relying
on omnipotent grace, all-conquering love, and
ever-precious blood. With this glorious land
of perfection in view, press forward "to the
mark of the prize of your high calling of God
in Christ Jesus." Faint not in the day of
adversity, but, though your heavenly Father
may see good that you should still "eat the
bread of affliction, and drink the water of
affliction," yet cast yourself with all your
cares, into his paternal hands, with unshaken
confidence in his unfailing word of grace.
who hath hitherto helped you; at the voice of
your cry, will still your helper be, till he uplift
you to your love-ordained mansion on high.
Trust in him at all times, let appearances be
what they may, knowing right well that
"there is nothing too hard for the Lord."
The covenant God of salvation cause his Spirit
divine to descend and rest upon you, illumi-
nating your understanding in the knowledge
of "the glorious Lord," as Israel's Lawgiver,
Judge, and Saviour; enriching your heart
with the imperishable treasures of gospel
truth; enlarging your mind in searching the
lively oracles of heaven's revealed will; ex-
panding your views of the mysteries of the
cross; and endearing to your soul, him whom
you have acknowledged again and again as
"all your salvation and all your desire."
The sweet peace of God be with you, and all
needed grace abound towards you for Christ,
the Mediator's sake. So prays, your's in the
truth,
JOHN STENSON.

Chelsea, December 20, 1854.

He

"Reason, like Zaccheus, is low of stature, and cannot see mercy in a crowd of sins."Rowlandson.

[88]

ов,

THE PRISON OPENED AND THE CAPTIVE LOOSED.

sinners, is every thing, and more than all things. What are ministers, be they ever so talented? What are congregations, be they ever so crowded? What are societies, be they ever so successful? What are meetings and anniversaries, be they ever so pleasing? If satan's kingdom is not entered, ransacked, and lessened-if poor, fallen, depraved, guilty wretches are not quickened and raised, justified and saved-if the power of God be not put forth in the Gospel-if the blood of the Lamb be not laid home on the hearts of men if Jesus Christ is not revealed, received, embraced, enjoyed, and his glorious kingdom entered all is in vain-all is death, all must come to destruction.

WHAT an awful place is this London !-floods | our readers; for, after all, the manifestation of iniquity run down those dark passages of the Redeemer's finished work in the where mortals do by millions move-and effectual calling and entire conversion of saved scenes of every sort may be witnessed, in proof that man's heart is deceitful and desperately wicked. Bad, however, as London is, there is not such another place in all the world. Here we have more of God's wordmore of the true servants of Jesus Christmore of the living elect of heaven-more pure christian benevolence, and evangelical philanthrophy-more christian privileges and advantages and more out-and-out gospel truth-than can be found in any other city, capital, or country on the face of the globe. London is a wonderful place-the very best and the busest of men are here. The noblest institutions, and the deepest dens of infamy, are within its walls-the greatest amount of that which is good, surrounded by immense masses of all that is evil, found both in the visible and the invisible of this crowded and incomprehensible market for the whole family of man.

Ever and anon, from the very centre of satan's dark regions, SOVEREIGN MERCY brings forth a ransomed sinner; the Holy Spirit of God quickens the soul into newness of life; sanctifies the mind; changes the heart; purifies the conscience by a faith's view of JESUS' precious blood; turns the lion into a lamb; the infernal into the spiritual; opens the blind eyes; turns the current of the affections; and causes the tongue to talk as did that ancient shepherd, who said, "the sorrows of death compassed me, and the floods of ungodly men made me afraid. The sorrows of hell compassed me; the snares of death prevented me. In my distress, I called upon the LORD, and cried unto my God; he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him. HESENT FROM ABOVE!" (What a display of Divine Sovereignty! What a genuine testimony, expressive of the origin and source of a sinner's salvation !)"He sent from above; He took me; He drew me out of many waters :"-(the grace of God is distinguishing and personal: the grace of God takes a firm hold of a ransomed sinner's heart, and it perseveres, "out of many waters" moreover, the grace of God completes what it begins:) "He brought me forth, also, into a large place; He delivered me, because He delighted in me.'

Such miracles of mercy are here and there to be found in the secret places of this modern Babylon; and when the evidence of their real conversion to GOD is sound, scriptural, and satisfactory, it pleases us well to herald the tidings thereof to the thousands of

Blessed be God, we are favoured now and then to witness such things as prove that a TRIUNE JEHOVAH is still going forth conquering and to conquer. We have run on too far in these preliminary remarks. We have to make an exhibition of the true grace of God as we hope, although the evidence is not quite so perfect as we could wish. But to the point-here is a handsome little volume entitled, "The Prison Opened, and the Captive Loosed; or, the Life of a Thief as seen in the Death of a Penitent. By JOSIAH VINEY. London: John Snow."

The volume is neatly got up; but such a narrative ought to have been published at such a price as should put it within the reach of the millions. Pages of Mr. Viney's remarks might have been omitted; the value of the book would not thereby have been lessen ed, but the price might have been. However, we thank Mr. Viney for the book; and shall now enter into its very vitals, and bring out all that is calculated to shew the mighty contrast there is between the wages of sin and the glorious fruits of saving grace. The memoir is published "at the earnest request of a dying man."

The first part of the narrative confirms the fearful impression of our minds, that the wickedness and carelessness of parents is the first instrumental cause of more than half the iniquity of the rising generation. We do, therefore, feel a deep interest in the pros.. perity of Ragged Schools, Sunday Schools, Evening Schools, and other like seminaries : under God's blessing, these institutions may do more toward checking vice than all the policemen, prison cells, or transport ships in the world.

We shall name the subject of this narrative DAVID DASH; who, being in early life left

E 3