Beloved hearers, permit me to pause for the moment, and ask with all affection, Is he your Captain, and doth he indeed rule sovereign? Remember it is not, Matt. viii. 21. What say you to this, a doing of the word, and not hearers only. Look to it well, I pray you, and be not deceived, Gal. 、vi. 7, 8. Examine yourselves then, 2 Cor. xiii. 5. If therefore our glorious and almighty David be indeed a captain over you, then have you been sweetly constrained to deny yourself and all things pertaining to the flesh, to take up your cross, and follow Jesus through evil as well as through good report. For no man that warreth as a good soldier of Jesus Christ, entangleth himself," 2 Tim. ii. 4; Luke iii. 14.

But it is time to close.

Yes indeed, they were with him, being in him, by reason of their grace and glory union from everlasting, and never can be separated from him, either by Satan, sin, death or hell. Rom. viii. 35-39. Then again they were with him in his birth, when the nation was born at once. They were with him in his sufferings, death, resurrection and ascension to glory. Rom. vi. 3-11. Wherefore exults Paul in one place, Gal. ii. 20; and in another, Gal. vi. 14. Thanks unto God then, who is rich in mercy, Gal. ii. 4—10. How needful the inquiry, Am I with him? That is the question. For we must remember there is such a thing as our meeting together either in this poor large upper room, or in their splendid churches

and chapels without, and yet our not being gathered together by the Lord God of Israel unto himself. Jesus said unto his disciples, " When two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." To meet, therefore, is an act and deed which is oftentimes more earthly, sensual, and devilish, than any thing else: whilst to be gathered together unto him, to be with him, is the Lord's work. Psalm cxlvii. 2; Luke xvii. 17.

[Run out this part of my subject from scripture testimonies; what we were so gathered together for, even to fight the good fight of faith, &c. Gave in also illustrations that our weapons in this battle were not carnal, Eph. vi. 11—20, Yea, though," Psalm xxiii. 4, 6.]

In a word, our Lord establisheth the whole in those comprehensive words to his divine Father, as set forth in John xvii. 24. If we then," Col. iii. 1-4.

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One word more or so and I have done which shall be respecting "about four hundred men." Which word four, viewed in a figurative sense, at once denotes that the children of God are gathered from out the four corners of the earth, Luke xiii. 29, with Jer. xxxi. 7,8,9. But enough, for you must perceive every one of the chosen generation, the royal priesthood, &c. shall be gathered in in due time, and none others. Matt, xxiv. 51. Hear ye therefore the parable of the tares and the wheat. Matt. xiii. 37-43. Hearken

unto me therefore, men and brethren, who profess the name of Jesus, and say, Art thou indeed following Jesus, the great Captain of our salvation, through evil as well as through good report? Or art thou only following this or that man, and walking in a vain show, disquieting thyself? Oh, mind God will search it out, and bring upon thee shame and misery, "for whatsoever is not of faith is The apostle found much of

sin."

this old leaven in the church of Christ, and therefore rebukes them sharply. 1 Cor. iii. 1-7.

The Lord help you, beloved brethren and sisters, to a right understanding of his precious truth, in this dark, evil day of blasphemy and rebuke, when truth is fallen in our streets, and equity cannot enter; when professors of all parties and denominations will not endure sound doctrine, but call it highly dangerous, when it is highly honourable to God, and highly comfortable to the elected, redeemed and regenerated children, but highly dangerous to pharasaical pride. "From all such turn away," with pity for them, as they know nothing better. For unto the pure," Titus i. 15, 16. These then are they who turn away their ears from the truth, and are turned unto fables, or, at the best, traditions of men. 2 Cor. vi. 17, 18. And now, brethren, I commend you to God and the word of his grace," Acts xx. 32.

A TIME OF REFRESHING.

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UNITED elders in truth and love, the much esteemed Editors of the Spiritual Magazine and Zion's Casket, which periodical we christians having read for years, call The Lord's Bread Basket, the Basket of Consecrations, Lev. viii, 31. Because in it, by the will of the Lord, is handed through christendom, not only children's consecrated bread, Matt. xv. 26, but also for the most God-exalted and God-blessed pastors and churches. Therefore we pray you insert in your next month's Magazine, for God's praise and Zion's benefit, the two following blessed christian letters.

Honoured and Dear Sir,

As my visit to Marden to hear you, and the blessing I received, on Good Friday last, April 5, is sweet and fresh on my heart and mind, in

God's blessing, even savoury and unctuous on my soul, the sacred truth and divine blessing greatly comforting me in the house of my pilgrimage; I desired, for the praise and honour of your blessed Lord and Master, to give you some account of the exercises of my mind, previous to and since I was favoured in hearing you preach. But then I could not write, nay, I thought to have buried all in silence, until this morning, when I read your last publication, entitled, A New Year's Gift for the Israel of God. Whilst reading that sweet and precious book, especially the letter of that old savoury disciple, Elizabeth Bowers, I could not refrain from blessing and praising the Lord for such a testimony, in union with his sacred word of promise, For even unto old age will I carry you; I have made and I will bear, even I will carry and will deliver you,” Isa. xlvi. 4. And as the sweet Psalmist beautifully has it, "By thee I have been holden up from the womb: thou art he that took me out of my mother's bowels, my praise shall be conwhat a confirmation of him, and of tinually of thee," Ps. lxxi. 6. Oh, his most sacred truth who cannot lie. And oh, what a sweet and lively testimony of your being the Lord's sent servant; truly such shall be your joy and crown in that day. I desire to bless God for his blessing of feeling union of spirit to such persons, and scriptural testimony; it watered my soul, yea, my soul failed when

the medium of the letter. All praise my beloved Jesus spake through to our beloved Jesus, who is "fairer than the children of men, grace indeed is poured into his lips," Yea, he was anointed without measure. And, as you testify, he hath a great high-priesthood, and ever liveth to make intercession for his dear people. Heb. vii. 25.

Now I must attempt to inform you of my mind and soul exercises, which, if I had not a feeling sense

of Jesus' love, in and upon my spirit, through his blessing in reading your book, I could not have done the thing. You will please first to notice, that about six weeks past, our affectionate friend, Mr. John White, of Yalding, dropped me a line saying, Mr. Greenfield will preach at Marden ou Good Friday, desiring me to attend; and afterward I heard of it through my much esteemed and reverend friend Gravener, whom I love in the truth. From these invitations I secretly made up my mind to be at Marden, God willing, at the time appointed; for I had always held you great esteem, and more especially since I saw your print, The Mani. festations of Jehovah, two years ago, knowing it to be God's revealed truth, and that he does and will continue to reveal himself, his will and way, to his servants the prophets. Thus, dear Sir, I had a desire to hear you preach. But on the eve of Thursday, and on the morning of Good Friday, I felt a great deadness and a gloom cast upon my spirits through manifold temptations. However I arose early in the morning, and found inwrought a heart's desire and prayer to the Almighty, for power and for wisdom to direct me through the day; and I did believe that He who hears the groaning of the prisoners, and looseth those who, in their own feelings, under temptations and oppression, seem appointed to death, heard me also; so that I could and can now say with David, "I love the Lord, because he has heard my prayer.” In that blessing and soul exercise, I took my Bible, and begged of God to see something in his word to direct me, which he graciously granted, for I opened the Bible in the cxviiith Psalm, and my heart and eyes were fixed on the 21st verse to the last. When I came to the 26th verse, these words, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord," I said to myself, It relates to God's servant coming to Marden. Though

in a higher sense it refers to Christ, yet I believe it alludes to his servants or ambassadors, who are the Lord's mouth. From that moment I was enabled to proceed to Marden to hear you, on Good Friday. Thus Sir, about ten o'clock, I started, but it was through temptations I passed all the way; indeed I was like one of whom we read coming to Christ, in Luke ix. 42. For as I was coming to Christ in Marden, Satan raged against me, and strove to cast me down into the fire of temptation, and then into the waters of despondency. I had various and strange temptations and suggestions, not fit to mention. But you know it is recorded he cannot go beyond his permitted bounds, for our God says, "Thus far thou shalt go and no further." Abraham we find set out for the land of Canaan, and into Canaan he came; and so shall all those finally enter into heaven, the better than Canaan, who are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise. But I cannot, by reason of unbelief and temptation, always say so in comfort and peace. You must know, also, that I was much hindered in my journey to Marden, the train being half an hour later than usual. Then our adversary the devil insinuated that you would preach in the morning only, so that the sermon would be ended before I should reach the place. But notwithstanding all, I still eyed the promise, and put my trust in him who holds the winds in his fist, and who measures the waters in the hollow of his hand." So looking unto Jesus we arrived at the station at about twenty minutes after twelve, and I ran away immediately to the chapel, and entered it at the door behind, from the garden, as you, no doubt, recollect seeing me. I believe Jesus was there; for as "he must needs go through Samaria," so, I believe, he was also at Marden, and acted, as he did at the marriage in Cana of Galilee, for I found the best wine, which I wanted, was added at

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the latter end of the feast, that in love, joy and peace I was compelled to cry out, "Thou hast kept the best wine, or the good wine until now." Then I blessed the Master-the blessed Jesus, and esteemed you, his servant, as no mean instrument, whilst I experienced the Lord's gracious invisible presence, and his blessing, through your ministry, sweetly dropt upon me, yea, like dew it distilled on me, and entered my wounded spirit, whilst a still small voice spoke in me, "Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away:" come, poor sinner, look to the Man, Christ Jesus, preached by a minister of his, and receive all you need. Oh, how blessedly did you set forth Christ Jesus as a lover and a Saviour, lifting him up in all his beauty, to the eyes of my mind, so that I saw him as Moses saw him, as the all- glorious and immortal Jesus, whom Paul saw and testified of. Then " I sat under his shadow with great delight, and his fruit was sweet to my taste." Oh, how I did bless you in the name of the Lord, praising and adoring the Lord Jesus for sending you to Marden, there to lay him doctrinally down as an immortal foundation, the chief corner stone, which the builders of Satan's sending refuse.

Thus, my dear Sir, the immortal Jesus has become all and in all to me, as we read in the Scriptures. Oh how good is the word of the Lord! You did not only lay him down for a sure foundation for the building of mercy, but also lifted him up in all his manifested excellencies. Oh, thou man of God, go forward, as strength ened, and lift up the immortal Saviour as a glorious standard, an ensign unto the nations. Publish ye, praise ye; say unto Zion, Behold thy King cometh!

Ob, Sir, before I heard you preach so blessedly at Marden, concerning the great God and our Saviour, who gave himself for us that he redeem us from all iniquity, I had been la

bouring under the awful doctrine of the mortality of Christ. Not that I had been drinking the deadly doctrine, for as soon as I discovered the same I wrote a letter to Mr. Fenner to know if it was his present belief, to which he replied, It is! Then, as well as I was able, I shewed him, by letter, the word of the Lord, and his errors, when he sent me a long letter in reply, which brought such confusion on my mind as I was not fully delivered out of until I heard you at Marden from the before mentioned text, and received the blessing of love, joy and peace. There was also such blessings of comfort and feeding with knowledge whilst you spoke of that righteous man Noah, and of his infirmity, temptations, and fall into sin; and how his son Ham uncovered him, but the other two sons, Shem and Japheth, went backward with a covering on their shoulders, in filial fear of God, and in sorrow, grief, and christian love to their father, opposed to Ham, and laid it over their father. That covering you proved was a figure of Christ's righteousness imputed to Noah, and a figure of the mercy and love of the Father and Holy Ghost in and through Christ and his righteousness that (under the divine chastening rod) covereth all sins. Psalm xxxii. 1, 2; Prov. x. 13. Oh, how sweetly this covered the poor old man and his naked soul. At such a sight of the immortal Saviour's and the Father's and the Holy Ghost's rich mercy and great love, in and through Christ, in delivering the people of his choice from all iniquity, I had the blessing of the gift of faith, in hope and love, to touch the hem of his garment, and virtue came from him, who only hath immortality, and I found health and cure in a moment. Such blessings did I receive and such beauty apprehended, in and through Christ, that I could not, neither I now describe it. The place was to me, truly, God's house, yea the very gate of heaven.

You also set forth the Lord Jesus

Christ as immortal food for returning prodigals; and, feeding on him, joy sprang up in me, so that I forgot my poverty, and Satan dared not condemn, for "justified by faith, I had peace with God, even the Father, by our Lord Jesus Christ." Then I blessed him that spread the feast, Christ, the fatted Lamb, was so sweetly set forth. Indeed, Sir, can you believe it, I did feed on Christ, and trust I shall live for ever. John vi. 51. Yea, and I drank also of the water of life, flowing from his fulness, as you discoursed, and verily believe the same will be in me living waters springing up into everlasting life. John iv. 14. Oh, I had certain knowledge, and am now assured, that the water was and is the communicable love of Jesus's heart, which gives life and vigour to all his members; first issuing mystically in the eternal purpose, because from eternity he says, "His delights were with the sons of men," Prov. viii. 31; and from thence flowing down, in these latter days, by the Spirit and blessing, to myself and to thousands. Ezek. xlvii. 8, 9; Rev. xxii. 1, 2. “And it shall come to pass that every thing that liveth and mov. eth whithersoever the water shall come, shall live, and shall be healed." Thus we find by Scripture and experience, as you testify, that all life and healing for the Zion of the Holy One comes down from the Father, through the immortal Saviour, our adorable Lord and God.

Truly, dear Sir, I shall ever have cause to thank, bless and praise my covenant God for sending you to declare his truth and minister his blessings at Marden, as well as at other places.

I will now proceed to inform you what further blessings the good Lord has given me through your ministry. In the afternoon of Good Friday, at Marden, you came up with golden words, for, as Solomon says, I found your text to be like apples of gold in pictures of silver." The text was, June, 1844.]

"But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood," Heb. vii. 24. Oh, how very sweetly therefrom did you set forth and preach Christ, and the stability of the everlasting covenant of redemption and grace, as ordered in all things. and sure, for all salvation and all desire. I found to my joy you had the tongue of the learned, and that you was enabled to speak to the comfort of the weary soul, as to those in heavenly delights, and with power to expose errors and bruise Satan's head. And being blessed in the hearing I did bless you in the name of the Lord. At the close of the opportunity I returned to my own home rejoicing and praising God for all I had heard and seen.

When I got home I related as much as I could to my father, both about the King eternal, immortal, and of you, together with the gospel feast and the banquet of wine in the banquetting house, shewing him, by the Scriptures, the robe, the ring and the shoes. And my father caught a sight of all, and said it was a blessing so precious, and fit for eating, drinking, covering and adorning, that he wanted a fresh manifestation, which induced him to come with me to hear you on the following Sabbath-day at Matfield Green. I must confess, to the everlasting praise, honour and glory of our immortal King Jesus, the preaching was sweet, both to me and my father, and no doubt to multitudes of those assembled. Your text was, “I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the vallies. As the lily among the thorns, so is my love among the daughters. As the apple tree among the trees of the wood, so is my Beloved among the sons. I sat down under his shadow with great delight, and his fruit was sweet to my taste," Sol. Song ii. 1. 2, 3. The blessing was so great that I shall never forget you nor the opportunity as long as I have recollection.

But, dear Sir, I fear you will think

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