THE SPIRITUAL MAGAZINE, AND ZION'S CASKET. "For there are Three that bear record in heaven, the FATHER, the WORD, and the HOLY GHOST: and these Three are One."-1 John v. 7. "Earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints."-Jude 3. "Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience."-1 Tim. iii. 6. THE GOSPEL PULPIT. THE POOL OF BETHESDA. A Sermon, Preached at the Independent Chapel, Bedworth, on Lord's Day Morning, May 18th. 1845. BY THE REV. MR. FRENCH. "Now there is at Jerusalem, by the sheep market, a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue, Bethesda, having five porches. In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water. For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in, was made whole of whatsoever disease he had."John v. 2, 3, 4. WHAT an infinite mercy it is, though literal Jerusalem is laid in heaps, yet the spiritual signification remains the same down to the end of time. This is given us in the present sense, now there is." Looking at the words literally there is not now, because it has received the fulfilment of Christ's words in reply to his disciples, who bid him look at the costly and precious stones of which the temple was built, he said, "the hour should come, when one stone should not be left upon another, that should September, 1845.] not be thrown down," therefore we cannot say of it literally "now there is." But in a spiritual point of view, we remark it is so, that, God the Holy Ghost invariably speaks in the present tense, when he speaks home a promise of consolation to the souls of his people. "Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market," not a goat market, Christ does not keep any market for goats, he has got a sheep market, a pool, which is the standing ordinances of God's house, the means of grace, it has five porches; say you, I wonder what that means? When I read the scriptures, I often wonder what it means, till the Holy Ghost opens my understanding and my heart, to receive the truth in the power and love of it, then I know what it means; say you, I think I know the meaning of the next pas"In these lay sage, that finds me out, a great multitude of impotent folk." John in the Revelation says, he heard a great multitude that no man could number, of every nation, tribe, and kindred who were saved in the Lord with an everlasting salvation, some of you know what it is to have been blind, and deaf, but when the Lord visited you, sight was given; some of you know what halting 2 D 66 means, ready to halt; you know also what it means to have wred, because you could not he pure water of life; like a tree planted in a thirsty land, that withers because of the drought. But it is said " They waited for the moving of the waters." Would to God, if it were his blessed will, there might be some waiting now for the moving of the waters, for sure I am that as far as regards attendance on the means of grace, dependence on the ordinances of God's house, and the application of God's truth, the inspired word itself will afford no saving consolatory effect, but as the angel descends and troubles the waters. I bless my covenant God, that he has got certain seasons, and certain periods, as well as a certain people that nothing can alter or pervert what God designs to do when the set time is come, An angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water; whosoever then, first after the troubling of the water stepped in." Well say you, I would rather you had taken the following verse, for I am one of that description of character, but I cannot step in. As sure as you answer the description of characters here given, you will be put into the pool; that cannot be me, say you; now do not be so unbelieving, why cannot it be you? whosoever.”—Do not bring your long list of doubts, fears and sins, they are no preventative," whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had." This is left upon record to shew that there was no individual ever come to Christ that he was unable to cure. There is no instance that any individual was brought to Christ too bad for him to effect a cure; there is then, poor sensible sinner, no ground for despair for any, if they feel the plague of their heart. it says 1. The circumstance, there is at Jerusalem by the sheepmarket, a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue, Bethesda, having five porches.' ་་ 2. The characters. • In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water." 3. The remedy. "For an ange went down at a certain season, &c." 1st. The circumstance. Now the e is at Jerusalem; the word Jerusale1, implies two things, 1st. Prospe 2nd possession. It implies vision, an possession of peace. Now there is at Jerusalem a prospect of peace for every poor sensible sinner, there is a prospect of peace for every soul whose eyes the Holy Ghost hath opened. 'I wish to see it,' say you; I wish to behold it, and believe it, If the vision tarry, wait for it." But, say you, 'I am so impatient.' The word of God says, "the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry!" There is a vision of peace, a prospect of peace for every soul whom God from eternity has placed in his covenant, who are the objects of his everlasting love, adopted according to his own sovereign grace, vessels of mercy afore prepared unto glory. Say you, I should like to know what is an evidence that I shall have peace; I tell you, one evidence is distress. Well, say you, what a contradiction, distress an evi- the peace of God which passeth all understanding" says the apostle, "shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." Now there is at Jerusalem. Jerusalem not only implies vision, but possession of peace. Believers have not only a good hope through grace, not only a prospect of peace by the blood of Christ in the spiritual enjoyment and prospect here, but that they shall be in the full possession hereafter. There is to be possessed by every elect vessel of mercy, that peace which is derived from the pardon of sin, the justification of our persons, our adoption into the family of God; eternal life, pardoning love, and finally rejoicing and triumphing over inbred corruption, the world and Satan, when the soul shall 'Then shall I see, and hear, and know, Fear not. I cannot help it, says one. Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep-market." This implies in the next place, a purchasing, in the margin, it is gate; I rather take the word market, because I wish to endeavour to remove a mistaken notion. Perhaps some of the children of God in the earlier stages of their experience seem to suppose, and so express themselves, that it is thought Christ in what he did, purchased the Father's love. That is a mistake. The doing and dying of the Lord Jesus was only an emanation of the Father's love, not the purchase of it; because the apostle says in reference to Christ, "thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift." It was the gift of the Father--Christ did not purchase the Father's love; then, say you, in what sense are we to understand the term purchase? The Lord Jesus purchased the Church; he paid the full price, all that the law and justice of God demanded. Therefore, he declares "he came not to destroy but to fulfil; that heaven and earth should pass away, but not one jot or tittle should fail till all be accomplished." The church of God, with the rest of mankind, having fallen in Adam-transgressed the law, under the curse, that they might be redeemed, purchased, and brought back, and that consistent with the law, and in harmony with the everlasting, infinite justice of God. Here it is, by the sheep market, this is effected. That as the apostle says, The church of God which he hath purchased with his own blood." Again, "and ye are not your own, for ye are bought with a price, therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's." "By the sheep market a pool." Another idea is, by the word pool, it means a contracted, a limited space of water, we sometimes term pond. This pool has an allusion to the means of grace, the ordinances of God's house. Through the instrumentality of these means, the ordinances of God's house, the Jehovah angel, by troubling the waters of salvation in this pool, the means of grace, effects a cure in the souls of the redeemed. "A pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue, Bethesda." Another idea here presents itself. I love the Hebrew names, they are so full of meaning; I sometimes wish I was an Hebrew scholar,. I have not that foolish idea that some people talk of, they think we shall talk the Hebrew tongue in heaven. I do not know whether we shall talk the Hebrew tongue, but this I am sure, all there will be everlastingly happy, and everlastingly holy, singing, "not unto us, not unto us, but worthy is the Lamb that was slain." The word Bethesda implies, in the first place, effusion; secondly, mercy; and thirdly, pity. What a field opens to us; here is a trinity again; I was going to say I find a frinity without seeking after it; but, to alter the phraseology, a trinity finds me. Effusion the effusion of the Holy Spirit. O, my dear friends, would to God whenever we meet together in this place, we may find that effusion, the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, in rich and copious abundance 'Come, Holy Spirit, heav'nly Dove, With all thy quick'ning pow'rs; Come shed abroad a Saviour's love, And that shall kindle ours.' My dear friends, I speak to the living in Jerusalem, whatever you do, or whenever you enter the sanctuary of God, wrestle with him for the outpouring of the Spirit to your hearts. I believe truly, where God gives a spirit of prayer in the souls of his people, a prominent desire for the Holy Eternal Spirit, that is a living and spiritual congregation. How cold is the service except the Holy Spirit pours out his grace on us; how cold is the soul except we feel renewed in the Spirit; how cold is the sanctuary if the glory of the Lord does not fill the place; how empty the soul enters the sanctuary if the Holy Spirit does not descend with his rich savour and heavenly dew; every sentence drops lifeless from the preacher's lips. Well might the apostle say, "Brethren, pray for us, that the word of God may have free course, run and be glorified." 66 The word also implies, mercy. It is forgiving mercy. Having been brought to the pool of Bethesda, the Lord's pool, you are highly interested in forgiving mercy. To the comfort of your poor soul, whether you now know it not, you are highly interested in the forgiving mercy of God; so poor that you lay in the porches of this pool; the period will come, when you shall say, We have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of his grace." But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved) and hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus." According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, when the Lord Jesus, by his Spirit, says to some distressed soul: Son, or daughter, be of good cheer, thy sins, which are many, are forgiven thee, when he but commands, it stands fast for ever. Thirdly. There is pity. We do not see much difference, say you, between the term mercy and pity. It is drawing the thing too tight. Bless the Lord for ever, it cannot be drawn too tight. If we are in the covenant it is said, "two shall withstand him, and a three-fold cord is not quickly broken." I have only told you of two parts: The out-pouring of the Spirit, in the riches of his grace, and the forgiveness of sins through the blood of the Lamb; I am now speaking of the paternal pity of our heavenly Father, Is there not something most consoling in it, when we have such a promise as this applied, even as a Father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him." There, say you, I am at a stand again. There you make the minister pause again and again; say you, "like as a Father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him." Do I fear him? says one, am I of this description of character? Let me ask you this question, Do you love sin? Do you love the world-the flesh? Do you love iniquity? Are you satisfied with formality? No, says the soul; but I want to know what the fear of the Lord is? The fear of the Lord is to wait till he comes to us. I pray the Lord he may touch the heart, "the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom," to depart from evil, that is, understanding. This is the description of character that has an interest in the pity comprised in this portion of God's word. "the Lord pitieth them that fear him; for he knoweth our frame, and remembereth that we are dust." The pool of Bethesda is said to have five porches; you must view these porches First, as regards dispensation; Second, doctrine; and Thirdly, as regards experience. There are five porches, or various dispensations in the church of Christ; some individuals think this is straining the text, 1 bless God that it came very easy to mc, it is not strained in that respect. I think I can give the five dispensations, and I defy any one to give a sixth; there are but five : the Adamic, Abrahamic, Mosaic, Prophetic, and the Gospel dispensation. In the word of God there are five porches of the same description; this relates to the church of Christ, long before Jerusalem was known, the people of God were considered in the mind, covenant, and purpose of the eternal Three before the world was made, 'He gave us grace in Christ his Son, Before he spread the starry sky,' If you read the word of God concerning the Adamic dispensation, you will find it as I have said, so I need not dwell on that part, but pass on to the Abrahamic dispensation. If you read the word of God you will find some of this description; read the Mosaic dispensation, in the word of God you will find some of this description; read the Prophetic you will find in the word some of this description; come down to the Gospel and you will find some of this description. The five porches doctrinally considered; with regard to the five porches. First, the porch of election; second, justification; third porch, redemption; fourth, regeneration; fifth, perseverance. Here are five porches, and I cannot do without any of them. Say you, don't you want another porch, glorification? No, that is not a porch; I leave the porch then and go into the house. There are only five porches at the pool of Bethesda. 1st. Election; "elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father." Blessed be God for putting us in that porch. 2nd. Justification. And by Christ all that believe are justified from all things, from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses. 3rd. With regard to regeneration. "Who hath saved us, and called us |